Gynecomastia, enlarged male breasts, is a very common problem that men don’t usually talk about much but one that can be very stressful to bear. Enlarged, often feminized breasts, can present quite a challenge to a guy’s self-esteem, particularly to the machismo of men in their teens, twenties and thirties.
There’s nothing like hyping one’s masculinity in front of others including by flexing those sinewy biceps and showing off the finely sculpted six pack abs – and then accidentally take off ones shirt revealing … “C” cup sized man boobs!
“Wow!”
“Nice breasts you got there, Bob (or whatever the name is)!”
Not a real good scene … particularly if you are that guy.
Fortunately, as I have indicated in multiple previous blogs including most recently, The Success of Male Breast Reduction Surgery for the Treatment of Gynecomastia, treatment of this problem is usually quite straightforward and successful – physically, mentally and emotionally.
The following patient of mine is another quite representative example of a male bothered by his bilateral gynecomastia which is worse on one side. He is 21 year old and has had this problem since puberty – it never resolved, unlike that which occurs in a majority of men (Fig. A, C and E). He felt very self-conscious and, in fact, avoided removing his shirt in public including when engaging in a variety of sports.
A) Gynecomastia – before surgery (frontal view)
B) After liposuction and R. breast tissue excision
C) Gynecomastia – before surgery (oblique view)
D) After liposuction and R. breast tissue excision
E) Gynecomastia – before surgery (side view)
F) After liposuction and R. breast tissue excision
Treatment for him consisted of ultrasonic assisted liposuction of both breasts with direct excision of breast tissue from the right side which was larger (Fig. B, D and F). Following surgery, he was placed in a compressive dressing which was then replaced by a tight fitting elastic garment two days later. He experienced little discomfort from the procedure and which was well treated by a minimal amount of pain medication. By three weeks, he was able to work out and engage in sports without limitations.
If you would like more information on male breast reduction surgery for the treatment of gynecomastia or for any other plastic surgery procedure that I perform, please call my office at 480-451-3000.
Steven H. Turkeltaub, M.D. P.C.
Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona