Male Breast Reduction(Gynecomastia)

Gynecomastia is the medical term used to describe breast tissue in the male. This is a very common condition, affecting 40-60% of men, and can be corrected surgically in an outpatient procedure. There are several medications that can promote the development of breasts in a man, particularly medications to treat prostate cancer, the diuretic spironolactone, tricyclic antidepressants, certain heart medications and many others (you can use the PDR Online website (http://pdr.net/login/Login.aspx ) to see if any of your medications could be the cause). Other causes of excess breast tissue in a man include street drugs (including anabolic steroids, marijuana, alcohol and heroin), herbal products (ie: tea tree oil, lavender) and health conditions ranging from hypogonadism to liver and kidney failure.

It is essential that all street drugs, herbal products or other stimuli to the development of gynecomastia be stopped before pursuing surgical options. Additionally, for very obese patients, surgery will be deferred until the patient is near their ideal body weight. Once you have been cleared for surgery by your primary medical doctor, Dr. Le can offer a subcutaneous mastectomy, a procedure in which the breast tissue is removed, in order to give a flatter, firmer and contoured appearance to the pectoralis (pec) muscle and chest wall. Liposuction of the sides of the chest may also be appropriate to give the best cosmetic result.

What you can expect:

Most male breast reduction operations last 1-2 hours and can be done either under local anesthesia or general anesthesia. You will most likely go home the same day and will have a special compressive garment to wear. You should continue to wear the special garment provided for several weeks after the surgery and adhere to the guidelines for limitation in activity that we will provide to you in order to minimize complications and get the best cosmetic result. You can expect some bruising, swelling, soreness and areas of numbness that may or may not resolve. It is important to know that all male breast reduction surgery carries the risk of bleeding, infection, asymmetry, difficulty healing and permanent loss of sensation. Generally, strenuous activity is prohibited for 1 month after male breast reduction surgery. It takes several months to a year for your scars to mature and reach their final result.

Correction of gynecomastia is sometimes covered by your insurance. We will help you by providing medical documentation to support your submission to your insurance company.

It would be our pleasure to answer your questions and provide you with more information about male breast reduction surgery. Please call our Los Gatos Office at 408-370-1110 for an appointment with Dr. Le or email our New Patient Coordinator, Tiffany To, at tiffany@drjonathanle.com