Confidence is a critical aspect of the good life. Without the assurance that you look your best, it’s hard to engage fully in intimate relationships, to feel good in the boardroom or the office, to wake up feeling like yourself each morning.
Many men, have fullness in the chest that they are either born with or develop over time, giving the appearance of male breasts. This can be result genetic and hormonal factors, weight changes, and the normal aging process. Male breast tissue, or gynecomastia, is extremely common, and can greatly affect the self- esteem of teenagers and grown men.
Are you among the many men who suffers from this problem? Do you wish you could tighten, flatten, and tone your chest? Would you love to wake up, look in the mirror, and feel more masculine every morning? If so, New York City Plastic Surgeon Dr. Schulman can help, with a simple male breast reduction surgery that will have you back on your feet and looking awesome in a few months or less.
Breasts are one of the defining characteristics of women. However, male breast formation is more common than you may realize. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgery, up to 50% of men in the United States experience some degree of gynecomastia during their lifetime. It is extremely common in teenage boys, and as you can imagine, this can have a significant negative effect on them emotionally.
Male breasts may form from the use of some prescription medications, recreational drug use, hormonal imbalances, genetic predisposition, cancers, and weight changes. Most commonly, though, is no specific reason at all. In all cases, the result is the same: enlarged and firm tissue that gives the appearance of breasts.
Diet and exercise to reduce fat and tone chest muscles may improve the appearance slightly, but will be ineffective at reducing the glandular breast tissue. Also, if your chest enlargement is excess skin from weight loss, then additional diet and exercise may actually make it look worse. The treatment is usually a male chest reduction, or gynecomastia surgery.
Male breast reduction (also known as gynecomastia surgery) offers men more masculine chest contours through a minimally invasive approach. Dr. Matthew Schulman has been performing male breast reduction in New York City for many years to help men:
How does the surgery work? It will depend on exactly what your problem is. So you have excess fat, enlarged breast tissue, excess skin, or a combination of these? If your enlarged chest is from excess fat, then you may simply require a liposuction procedure. A special cannula is inserted through a tiny hidden incision, and the fat is removed with suction. This can be a very effective and minimally invasive approach for male chest reduction. If you have enlargement of the glandular tissue, than liposuction will be followed by direct removal of this breast tissue through small hidden incisions around the nipple. If there is also significant excess skin that is unlikely to tighten up on its own, then this skin can be removed during the procedure. The specific incisions and scars needed to remove the skin will depend on how much excess skin you have. But Dr. Schulman will take care to minimize the appearance of scars, making incisions and removing tissue from around the nipples or at natural creases in the chest. The result is a return to a smooth contour, with the appearance less of breasts and a more masculine appearance.
“Your enlarged chest probably makes you feel self-conscious. It may be preventing you from taking off your shirt at the pool and beach, or it may make you feel embarrassed in the locker room. The enlargement may have developed during puberty or it may have been the result of weight gain or weight loss. The good thing is that if you want to reduce your chest, you have the opportunity.
Treating an enlarged male chest may involve liposuction to remove the excess fat and tissue, removal of excess skin, or a combination of both. We will figure out the best plan for you and help you get on your way to improved confidence.”
Before you schedule a surgery, you will come in for a comprehensive consultation with Dr. Schulman. He will answer all your questions about surgery, as well as discuss your goals with you. You will also discuss health history, lifestyle and other factors that might affect the long-lasting nature of your surgery, to make sure that now is the right time to do it.
During your consultation with Dr. Schulman, he will consider the degree of excess breast tissue, the amount of redundant skin, breast firmness, and skin elasticity and recommend the most appropriate procedure for you. Dr. Schulman will also discuss anesthesia choices, recovery aids and guidelines to follow in order to help ensure the best outcome for your procedure.
Additionally, the doctor will discuss any other cosmetic surgical procedures you may be interested in, such as male liposuction or male tummy tuck. Together, you and Dr. Schulman will develop a treatment plan to achieve all of your appearance goals.
My chest got larger when I was 14 and I was really embarrassed about it. It took me almost 20 years to do the surgery and I only regret not doing it 19 years earlier.
Dr. Schulman performs male breast reduction in fully accredited surgical suite in New York City. He understands the sensitive nature of gynecomastia surgery and is committed to your privacy. The details of the surgical procedure will depend on your anatomy and goals for surgery. Dr. Schulman may employ liposuction and reposition existing breast tissue to form a more masculine chest contour, or both.
The exact type of surgery you will have will dictate its length. Typically it takes between 1 and 2 hours, though it may be longer if you have additional procedures planned at the same time, or if there is a large amount of tissue to excise.
After your surgery, our highly experienced staff will assist you every step of the way through your recovery process. The results will be evident immediately following surgery. Most men are able to resume normal activities within a few days, although it will be several weeks until you can resume normal exercise. You will likely need some help around the house during that time, especially if there are young children involved.
Before going into surgery, it’s wise to learn everything you can about it. While Dr. Schulman is always happy to answer specific questions during the consultation, your questions will be much more targeted if you get some of the basics out of the way first. Accordingly, here are some of the most frequently asked questions and their answers.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Male Breast Reduction Surgery?
Good candidates for breast reduction surgery are those who:
Can the Surgery Work for Teens?
The surgery can work for teens, though note that if teens are not yet done developing or have a medical condition that has not stabilized, they may need additional surgeries in future. If you are concerned about a teen’s self-confidence, it may be worth it to do the surgery even though the teen’s body will continue to change.
Who Is NOT a Good Candidate?
Men whose bodies are still in flux do not make good candidates for gynecomastia surgery. That might mean men who are still gaining weight, men who are in the process of losing weight but still carrying considerable extra pounds, men whose medical conditions are uncertain or unexplained, and those who are generally experiencing a lot of other changes in their lives.
For one thing, surgery in this case could prove a waste of money. If they are in flux, the results of the surgery are likely to be wiped out within a year or two. For another, they will only see temporary results, which is both frustrating and even worse for confidence.
Does Health Insurance Cover the Cost?
Unfortunately, health insurance is unlikely to cover the cost of an elective cosmetic surgery. There is a chance, if your surgery is related to a medical or genetic condition, that you may be able to get some of it covered. You will need to discuss this with your insurance company and pay the remainder of the fee upfront. If you cannot afford the surgery in a lump sum, there are several financing options available. Our team would be happy to help you determine what they are, so don’t hesitate to reach out today.
Where is the surgery performed?
The procedure is performed in Dr. Schulman’s fully accredited office operating room. You will be given anesthesia to make you fall asleep and you will be continuously monitored by our Board Certified Anesthesiologist. After the procedure, you will remain in our recovery room until you feel good enough to go home the same day.
Why Is It Important Not to Smoke?
In addition to causing problems with your heart and your lungs, smoking can significantly affect your healing after cosmetic surgery. Nicotine and other chemicals in cigarettes constrict blood vessels, reducing the amount of nutrients and oxygen that can reach the site of the wound. This can cause necrosis of tissue (which is when it dies off instead of healing), increase the risk of infection, and cause delayed healing. Moreover, smoking can dramatically increase the chances of scarring. Exposure to second-hand smoke can have similar negative effects on your healing as well.
How Long Is the Recovery Time?
Most men will take about a week off of work and can resume quiet activities around the house just a few days following surgery. In some cases, it may take longer, especially if your surgery requires a more significant tissue reduction. Dr. Schulman will be able to discuss with you exactly how long your recovery will take.
Will I have drainage tubes after my surgery?
It is quite possible that following the surgery, you may have drains placed to prevent a buildup of fluid. You will empty these drains daily and most men have the drains removed 5-7 days after surgery. Whether or not drains are required will depend on exactly what type of procedure you are having done.
Will I need to wear a compression garment after the procedure?
Yes. A surgical compression garment is helpful during the recovery period to control swelling and bruising. It will also help your skin to retract, improving your overall results. You will have the compression garment on when you wake up from surgery and will continue to wear it for 6-8 weeks. Most men find this garment comfortable and easy to hide discretely beneath clothing.
How Bad Is the Scarring?
Dr. Schulman takes care to place scars where they will be least noticeable and have the least trouble healing. Any visible scars will be well concealed and will continue to fade over time, especially if you use the recommend scar creams and do not smoke or resume activity too soon. However, you may have some visible scarring in the chest fold and around nipples, so follow your healing instructions to the letter if you want them to be as unnoticeable as possible.
Will my breasts regrow?
They shouldn’t. However, major fluctuations weight may affect the results and cause tissue to regrow. This is why you will need to maintain a healthy lifestyle to preserve the results of any cosmetic procedure. Also, if your breast tissue is the result of medications, recreational drug use, or hormonal abnormalities that are not corrected, then the tissue may regrow. This is why it is important to try to figure out the cause of your tissue growth before the surgery, so that changes can be made to help preserve your surgical results.
Are you interested in taking control of your appearance through a male breast reduction in New York City? Learn more about how gynecomastia surgery at our New York City practice may help you to enjoy a more pleasing chest contour and enhanced self-confidence. There’s no time like the present to look and feel your best, so schedule your consultation today.
