Male breast reduction surgery (gynaecomastia)
Male breast reduction
Gynaecomastia, also known as enlarged male breasts or man boobs, affects almost 70% of males at some point in their life. The condition is due to enlarged glands, caused mostly by a hormonal imbalance or an accumulation of fatty tissue in the chest area. Other causes include kidney failure, overactive thyroid gland, alcohol excess, some prescription medication and cannabis or anabolic steroids. It can also have serious causes such as lung, liver or testicular cancer but these are rare. Blood tests can be useful to exclude some of these conditions and sometimes no identifiable cause is found. Breast imaging can help rule out breast cancer.
Treating any underlying cause can help to reverse the changes associated with gynaecomastia. Medical treatment may be effective based on hormonal manipulation and surgery can be helpful in specific cases.
Surgery for gynaecomastia
This can be done by making a small cut around the nipple and removing some skin as well as breast tissue or using liposuction or a combination of both. In some cases with more extensive swelling the scars may need to extend beyond the nipple in order to get a good cosmetic outcome.
Length of surgery- The operation takes 1-2 hours depending on the complexity of the case. Can be done as a day case or overnight stay in hospital.
Post-op dressings- The wounds are covered most commonly with steristrips and a waterproof dressing. It is important not to get the wounds wet for 48 hours after surgery and the dressings will be usually removed a week later. A tight vest is recommended to be worn after for 6 weeks.
Drains- These are not commonly required and if present, kept in for 1-2 days.
Time Off Work & Exercise- Patients should allow an initial period of 2 weeks to recover. Most patients can go back to work after this time but can vary based on what job is being done. Heavy manual work and strenuous exercise using the upper body should be avoided for at least 4-6 weeks.
Driving- Patients should be able to drive by 7 days. They should have no restriction of movement, be pain free and feel confident in their ability to perform an emergency stop (in order not to invalidate car insurance).
Potential Complications
Unsightly scars, infection, bleeding and clots in the legs/lungs can arise with any type of surgery. Asymmetry, altered nipple sensation can occur and nipple loss is rare but this risk tends to be higher in smokers and obese patients. There is also a small chance that the gynaecomastia can recur in the future.
If you smoke, stopping at least six weeks before the operation will help to reduce the risk of complications.
Patients who have male breast reduction surgery tend to be very pleased with the results, however, it is important that they have realistic expectations. They need to understand what can and cannot be achieved and the limitations of surgery.
Speak to a member of the team
If you would like to get in touch to ask our team any questions or you would like to book an appointment please contact us via the details below.