Gynecomastia, or enlargement of the male breast area, is a condition that is rarely talked about, though it’s actually quite common. Surprisingly, it affects an estimated 40 to 60 percent of men. It may affect only one breast or both.
While there are some factors that can contribute to this, such as anabolic steroid use, excessive marijuana use, and certain prescription drugs, the majority of cases happen with no apparent underlying cause. If this affects you it’s no laughing matter. It’s for real and a real problem.
For most individuals gynecomastia begins in the teen years when an adolescent male goes through puberty. The amount of enlargement can increase with weight gain, but generally the size of the breast mass is unaffected by weight reduction or level of fitness. It’s just always there. For some the amount can be very little with just some fullness under the nipple areolar complex. In others it can look like a fully-formed female breast. For the unluckiest there can be full breast development, as well as sagging of the breast tissue and skin.
Recent studies have shown the intensively negative psychological effect this can have in young men on both their self-esteem and sexual identity. The adolescent passage is hard enough without this added burden. It’s not just developing males that struggle with this – it’s adults as well.
Men who suffer from it tell us that it has a major impact on their confidence and lifestyle. It is a factor in the clothes they wear and even in the activities they choose. One grateful patient confessed that the reason he had never learned to swim was because he did not want anyone to see him with his shirt off.
How to remove gynecomastia.
As difficult as this condition is, the good news is that we have some very effective treatments for it. Most involve surgery, and what is done depends upon the type of breast development that a man has. In normal breast tissue there is a combination of both fat and denser breast tissue. In some there is also skin looseness that must be addressed. If the only issue is fatty tissue, liposuction alone is quite effective. There are even a few men who can be managed with CoolSculpting, or non-invasive fat reduction.
The majority of men also have some denser breast tissue which cannot be removed with liposuction. In most cases this tissue can be removed with a small incision at the base of the areola, leaving a fairly well concealed scar. For men who have excess skin that must be removed, there will be additional scars. Certainly men with considerable hair growth can conceal these scars better. However, there are very few complaints about the scars given the degree of improvement that can be achieved with these surgeries.
It’s wonderful to see the effect that correction of gynecomastia can have on how men feel about themselves. Sometimes patients can be quite emotional as a huge burden they have carried all their lives is removed. It is very freeing, and in fact, life-changing for those with the most severe cases. Despite any scars, most men are extremely happy with the shape of their chests, the improvement in their self-esteem, and their new-found freedom in terms of lifestyle and activity.
Most of our gynecomastia patients, who come to our practice from the Knoxville area, Johnson City, Cookeville, Cleveland, and beyond, tell us they wish they had not waited so long to get it done.
Dr. Reath explains a bit more about the procedure in the video below.
Here are some of Dr. Reath’s gynecomastia patients
Correction of Gynecomastia (Male Chest Reduction) Before & After Photos
Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.
Before and After Treatment for Gynecomastia- He is 5’10” and weighs 192 pounds. Here is a 26-year-old who began breast development during puberty which continued into adulthood. Dr. Reath performed excision of gynecomastia surgery and he is pictured here 6 months later. He told us the surgery was literally “life-changing”. Read More
He is 6'1" and weighs 210 pounds. Here is a 38-year-old man who wanted to get rid of the excess tissue in his chest that he had since puberty. It was still there regardless if he gained or lost weight. Dr. Reath performed a gynecomastia treatment and he is pictured six months after his surgery. Read More
Here is a 54-year-old man before and three months after one CoolSculpting treatment. The area she placed the applicators is drawn on his before picture.
Before and After Surgical Treatment of Gynecomastia- He is 6 feet tall and weighs 260 pounds. Here is a 20-year-old who was bothered by breast development that started during puberty and remained regardless of his weight and workouts. Dr. Reath performed a surgical excision of gynecomastia procedure and he is pictured before and six months after... Read More
Before and After Correction of Gynecomastia- He is 6’5” and weighs 257 pounds. He explained that he had always had fullness in his chest area ever since the fifth grade. Even when his weight changed this area refused to budge and he was very self-conscious about it. He is very pleased that he decided to have Dr. Reath perform this surgery. Read More
Here is a patient of Dr. Reath's who had issues with gynecomastia since puberty regardless of his weight and fitness. He lost 40 pounds through diet and exercise. Still, he realized that his discomfort about his chest was interfering with activities he wanted to do with his children and the clothes he could wear. He is very pleased with his results... Read More
He is 6'5" and weighs 252 pounds. This patient had severe gynecomastia all his life. Not only did he have breast/chest enlargement, he had a significant amount of excess skin. The surgical approach required not only the removal of the breast tissue, but excision of a large amount of skin. To do this, the nipples were completely removed and... Read More
How old do you need to be to have gynecomastia correction surgery?
Some of the patients who come to our office are teenagers who are troubled by the teasing of their classmates and want male breast reduction surgery. Because bodies develop quite differently, there is no set age requirement. One consideration is whether or not the chest area has stabilized and is not continuing to grow. This happens usually from age 15 to age 18. The other important consideration is the emotional maturity of the patient. If you have questions about whether you or your son is a candidate, a consultation with Dr. Reath is a good idea.
David B. Reath, MD
Board-certified plastic surgeon David B. Reath, MD is renowned for his surgical skills and his commitment to public education. Practicing in Knoxville, Tennessee since 1986, his personal approach with patients is what truly sets him apart.
Read Dr. Reath’s blog about SNL’s McGruber Skit “Betty White Got It Wrong”.
Betty White got it wrong.
If you haven’t seen Saturday Night Live’s show from last weekend, you need to. This was a very funny show, as only SNL can do, that was hosted by Betty White. Her appearance on the Mother’s Day show was in response to a facebook campaign to have SNL invite her on as a host. She is … Read more »
In this podcast, listeners will hear an ASPS member surgeon discussing the causes of gynecomastia and courses of treatment, as well as his patient, Matthew, describing how he coped with his condition before surgery and his post-surgical outlook on life.
So you can be better prepared for your consultation, we have prepared a list of important plastic surgery questions you will want to ask your doctor before you have your surgery. If your consultation is with Dr. Reath, please feel free to print this out and he will be happy to go over everything with you during your visit. Top Ten Questions to Ask your Plastic Surgeon
Even though the majority of cosmetic surgery patients are pleased with their results, the decision to have a procedure is a big one. It is normal to have questions, and it’s important to answer them honestly. In the end, you want to be completely comfortable with your decision.So, are you clear about your motivations for surgery? Are your expectations realistic? Test yourself by answering these important questions.How to Know if You Are Ready for Plastic Surgery.
