Enlarged or over-developed breasts in men are medical condition called gynecomastia. This condition can be acquired by men of any age which can be a result of a disease, use of certain drugs, hormonal changes, and heredity conditions. There are medications which can minimize the enlargement of the male breast but the most common treatment for this condition is male breast reduction.

Gynecomastia is distinguished by the excess development of glandular tissue on the male breast which can be unilaterally (only in one breast) or bilaterally (both of the male’s breasts). This condition can cause stress and emotional discomfort which can impair self confidence in most men. Some men with gynecomastia avoid physical activities and being intimate with women because of their condition.

Male breast reduction which is also called mammaplasty is a plastic surgery procedure to correct gynecomastia. This procedure reduces size of the breast, enhancing and flattening the contours of the chest. There are severe cases when the heaviness of the excess breast tissue causes the breast to sag stretching the areola which is the pinkish, brownish, and sometimes very dark skin that surrounds the nipple. If this is the case, excess skin will be reduced in order to improve the size and the position of the areola. During the surgical procedure of the male breast reduction, the choices of anesthesia will be general or intravenous sedation. The doctor will always recommend what will be best for you. Liposuction techniques may be used alone when the breast enlargement is only a result of excess fatty tissues. An example of a liposuction procedure is done by inserting a cannula which is a thin vacuous tube into several tiny incisions. The thin vacuous tube will be moved back and forth in a very controlled manner to shake lose the excess fat. When the excess fat has loosen it will be remove out of the body with the use of a vacuum suction.

Undergoing a surgery for male breast reduction can pose risks and potential complications such as unfavorable scarring, blood clots, hematoma, infection, poor wound healing, breast shape and chest contour irregularities and changes in the sensation of the nipples and breasts which can be possibly permanent or only temporary. Severe complications may be bruising and swelling, permanent pigmentation changes, skin discoloration, damages to the lungs, nerves, muscles, and blood vessels that may be temporary or absolutely permanent, fat necrosis, fluid accumulation, allergies to injected agents and blood products, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary and cardiac arrest. After the surgical treatment of gynecomastia, some scars which were due to the many incision lines made during the procedure may be visible. These scars are necessary result of a successful male breast reduction.

The decision to have a male breast reduction surgery should be done personally by you, the benefit of this procedure should help accomplish your goals and decide whether the risks and potential complications will be acceptable for you. Before you undergo this kind of surgery your doctor will give you a detailed explanation of the risks and potential complications that will be associated with the surgery and will ask you to sign a consent form to ensure your full understanding of the male breast reduction procedures.