GYNECOMASTIA COSMETIC SURGERY

Gynecomastia, also known as “man boobs”, is swelling of the glandular tissue in the breasts in boys or men, sometimes causing discomfort and/or nipple tenderness. It is usually the result of an imbalance of the hormones estrogen and testosterone. Gynecomastia may go away on its own, but if it persists, medication or surgery may help.

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Why it's done?

Newborns, boys going through puberty and older men may develop gynecomastia as a result of normal hormonal imbalance. In general, it is not a serious problem, but it can be hard to cope with since men and boys sometimes have pain in their breasts and may feel embarrassed. It is usually caused by the decrease in the amount of the hormone testosterone compared with estrogen (most people think of estrogen as an exclusively female hormone, but men also produce it in small quantities).

Enlarged man boobs can occur due to natural hormone changes in infants (due to the effects of their mother's estrogen), during puberty (up to 70 percent of boys in early to mid-puberty experience gynecomastia and it usually fades away within six months to two years), and in men between the ages of 50 and 69 (at least 25% men in this age group are affected). It can also be caused by medications (antiandrogen medications for enlarged prostate, anabolic steroids, AIDS medications, antidepressants, antibiotics, chemotherapy, heart medications), alcohol and street drugs (amphetamines, marijuana, heroin, methadone) and various health conditions.

Signs and symptoms of gynecomastia include swollen breast gland tissue and breast tenderness in one or both breasts, sometimes unevenly. You should see your doctor if you have swelling, pain, tenderness and nipple discharge.

Male breast reduction

When medical treatment is not effective and all serious medical conditions that may be the cause of gynecomastia are ruled out, surgical removal of breast tissue has been used to treat gynecomastia. Two gynecomastia surgery options are (and can be combined):

Liposuction (it removes breast fat, but not the breast gland tissue itself)
Mastectomy (this type of surgery removes the breast gland tissue)

The surgery is often done endoscopically, meaning only small incisions are used. This less invasive type of surgery involves less recovery time.

Gynecomastia Surgical Procedure

The extent of surgery depends upon the severity of the breast enlargement and whether there is also excess fatty tissue.

Among the treatments for gynecomastia and pseudogynecomastia (when man boobs are caused solely by fatty tissue), liposuction is often discussed as a minimally invasive surgical solution that is carried out without leaving large or unsightly scars. Liposuction tackles fatty tissue and it will not remove breast tissue, so in men where all (or nearly all) of the swelling is caused by enlarged breast tissue, liposuction would not be the right choice. For the majority of men, man boobs are caused by a combination of the two types of tissue

If liposuction is not thought to be suitable or likely to be effective, the surgeon may suggest doing a mastectomy, which is the more major form of man boobs surgery. During this procedure most of the glandular tissue of the breast is removed, to try and keep it from growing back in the future. A mastectomy can be performed as a traditional open procedure, which is performed through a curved scar that follows the lower edge of the areola or using minimally invasive techniques that are achieved by inserting instruments away from the breast itself, and passing them under the skin to the breast area. Where the scars are positioned and how big they are, depends on the techniques used by the doctor.

In some cases, where the gynecomastia has been particularly large or present for a long period of time, a surgeon may consider removing excess skin tissue along with the glandular tissue of the breast itself. Skin removal and refashioning should always be undertaken by an experienced plastic surgeon as the risks of the procedure are larger.

What you should know

Surgery for gynecomastia can provide immediate results, and is often the most effective treatment option. Gyno surgery is generally safe, but as with any type of surgery, risks and complications can include infection, bleeding, and complications of anesthesia. You should discuss with your doctor the pros and cons of surgical procedure before agreeing to proceed.

Expectations and recovery

Many people are very happy with the final appearance following liposuction. After surgery, the patient may have to wear an elastic pressure garment for two weeks. It will usually take about 6 weeks to return to a normal daily routine. Complications from surgery are rare.

Liposuction is not necessarily permanent. If the man gains weight after the procedure, new fatty tissue can build up in the area treated by the surgery and cause the man boobs to appear again. If the patient maintains his weight, the improved appearance should last for a long time.

Gynecomastia surgery cost (price)

Gynecomastia surgery costs vary greatly and depend on a wide range of factors. The first is where you live and where you are having the treatment, while other factors include surgeon’s fee, medication costs etc.

Plastic surgeon prof. Dr Milan Jovanovic

Prof. Dr Milan Jovanovic is a specialist in plastic reconstructive and aesthetic surgery. As a surgeon with 27 years of surgical experience, Dr Jovanovic is one of the best experts in anti-ageing, plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery in the region.

He is a professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, where he teaches general education to students of the fifth year, as well as at the postgraduate education for doctors who specialize in the field of plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery. He is the Head of the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade.

About the Surgeon

Hospital for plastic and aesthetic surgery

Health institution General Hospital – Medical System Belgrade – MSB is a system which combines all medical and dental specialties.

Exceptional and complete services in the fields of anti-ageing, plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery are provided by the Center for Aesthetic Surgery MSB (Medical System Belgrade). Along with the necessary safety, quality, comfort and discretion, our main goal is – a satisfied patient.