Gynecomastia Surgery - Procedure for Male Breast Reduction

According to unofficial estimates in 2004, about 15% of males may suffer from gynecomastia or the abnormal enlargement of male breasts. That is about 16 million men in the USA. However, the actual figures cannot easily be determined since only about 10% of the cases underwent treatment through gynecomastia surgery.

In 2008, men who sought help from a board certified plastic surgeon to avail of male breast reduction numbered only around 17,000 more or less according to statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Despite the small numbers, it is actually one of the top five male cosmetic surgery procedures in the United States.

The number ofgynecomastia surgery procedures reported has steadily increased over time. It is still a question whether this indicates an actual increase in gynecomastia incidences or simply a result of a growing acceptance formale breast reduction surgery because of exposure in mainstream media and availability of information on the Internet.

Overview of Gynecomastia Surgery

Gynecomastia surgeryis not prescribed for all cases of enlarged male breasts. For some, a simple weight loss program may be all that is needed to eliminate the condition. For many cases, however, male breast reduction surgery is the only viable treatment. Prior consultation with a qualified plastic surgeon will help in confirming whether surgery is actually needed by the patient.

Depending on the extent of the condition, either local or general anesthesia may be used. Excess breast tissue is removed surgically with incisions made just below the nipples or below the armpits. In some cases liposuction may also be used to reduce the fat in and around the breasts. Combining liposuction with tissue excision is also a common procedure for many cases. Unless the operation is quite extensive, thegynecomastia surgery should be done in less than 2 hours.

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