Gynaecomastia/ Male breast reduction

Gynaecomastia, better known as male breast reduction is surgical procedure for men is rapidly growing in popularity. This surgery is used to treat male patients who have excess fat or breast tissue on their chest causing them to look like small breasts.

There are two main causes for the formation of breasts on a male:

1. Fatty tissue which has formed in the area
2. A breast gland has developed on the chest

Development of breasts can be a combination of the two above factors also.

The surgery procedure

• Liposuction
• Gland removal

If the breasts have formed in the area as a result of a build up of fatty tissue, this can be solved by having Liposuction to the area which will get rid of the excess fat. This procedure is simple and quick and, if laser lipo is suitable for the patient's needs, it can even be performed under a local anaesthetic.

The Liposuction procedure

Liposuction involves the insertion of a cannula through a small incision made on the edge of the nipple areola (the dark pigmented skin that surrounds the nipple), the fat is then sucked from the area and a small stitch is placed. Following surgery, patients are asked to wear a compression garment for around 4 – 6 weeks depending on the surgeon's recommendations.

The Gland removal procedure

Gland removal is a slightly more complex procedure and can only be done under a general anaesthetic. It, again, involves the surgeon making an incision around the areola (sometimes only around half of the areola circumference depending on the size of the unwanted gland) and removal of the gland and any excess skin if necessary. The area is then stitched closed. Following surgery, patients are required to wear a support garment for a couple of weeks.

If patients require a combination of the two surgery options in order to achieve desired results, the gland would be removed first and then a small amount of liposuction would also be performed on the area.

Risks

As with all surgery, there are some risks involved. The main risks associated with Gynaecomastia are;

• Infection
• Haematoma
• Asymmetry

However, all of the above are low risk factors and precautions are taken; usually antibiotics are given to prevent infection, and the nurse will check on you regularly over your nights stay to check for any signs of haematoma. As far as asymmetry is concerned, all good surgeons will do their utmost to make sure that both sides are even and that the patient is satisfied with their post surgery appearance.

Cost £3,000 - £5,000