What is Male Breast Reduction (Gynaecomastia)?
Gynaecomastia is a medical term for the enlargement of the male
breast. In the majority of cases there is no known cause and,
although rarely talked about, it is a common condition. For men who
feel self-conscious about their appearance, breast-reduction
surgery can be helpful. The procedure removes tissue from the
breasts, and in extreme cases excess skin.
What does this involve?
The breast is made up of two main components, glandular tissue
(firm and dense) and fatty tissue (soft). The ratio of glandular to
fatty tissue in any breast varies from individual to individual and
in gynaecomastia there may be an excess of both.
If there is predominantly a diffuse fatty enlargement of the
breast, liposuction is the usual treatment. This involves sucking
out the tissue through a small tube inserted via a 3-4mm incision
(see Liposuction for more detail).
If excess glandular tissue is the primary cause of breast
enlargement, it may need to be excised (cut out) with a scalpel.
This will leave a scar, usually around the nipple edge and can be
performed alone or in conjunction with liposuction. Major
reductions that involve the removal of a significant amount of
tissue and skin may require larger incisions that result in more
obvious scars.
Most operations for gynaecomastia take about 90 minutes to
complete and are performed under general anaesthesia, or in some
cases, under local anaesthesia with sedation. Drainage tubes are
frequently used and will be removed within a short period of time.
You may need to remain in hospital for three to four days.
Following the procedure you will be taken from the operating
theatre into the Recovery Suite where you will be looked after
until you are fully awake following the anaesthetic. After this,
you will return to your room, where nursing staff will check your
dressings and monitor your pulse and blood pressure at regular
intervals.
Your anaesthetist is likely to prescribe painkillers to reduce
any potential discomfort and you should take these regularly for
the first few days. Pain can slow down your recovery, so it is
important to discuss any discomfort with the nursing staff.
Until the affects of the anaesthetic have passed, you will need
to rest. In the meantime you will be visited by your surgeon who
will assess your progress and answer any questions or concerns you
may have. Your nurses will also give you advice on getting out of
bed, personal hygiene, and diet.
Hospital contact details will be provided should you require any
advice once you have returned home, and a post-operative follow-up
appointment with your surgeon will be arranged.
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When will I recover?
Following the surgery the chest is swollen and bruised for a
while and it can be difficult to assess the full effect of the
operation. To help reduce swelling, patients are often instructed
to wear an elastic pressure garment continuously for one or two
weeks. It is advisable to refrain from exercise for about three
weeks and, in general, it takes about six weeks before one can
return to completely normal activities.
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What risks should I know about?
Any major operation with a general anaesthetic carries a small
risk of chest infection particularly among people who smoke and
there is also a small risk of thrombosis in the veins of the leg,
particularly for patients who are taking the contraceptive
pill.
The potential complications of the surgery are relatively rare.
They include inadequate removal of breast tissue, an uneven contour
to the chest and reduced nipple sensation. If an excision has been
performed, rather than liposuction, then a blood clot can form that
may need to be drained at a second operation.
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Circle care
Male Breast Reduction is carried out at CircleBath, our state of
the art hospital, which provides you with the best facilities and
superb patient care. We have a dedicated team of Cosmetic
Surgeons and Nurses who will guide you through the process from
first consultation to after-care and will be available to answer
any questions or queries you may have
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