5 Things You Should Know About Gynecomastia Surgery

Gynecomastia surgery (or “male reduction mammaplasty” more technically) is a plastic surgery procedure to reduce breast size, flattening the chest contours and improving the breast shape in men. Gynecomastia is a condition that affect boys and men by the development of large mammary glands. In serious cases of this condition, the weight of excess breast tissue may cause the breasts to sag and stretch the areola. In such severe cases, the position and size of the areola can also be improved, and excess skin may be removed. 

The first sign of gynecomastia may be a lump of fatty tissue under the nipple. Sometimes this lump may create tenderness or pain. This may make the men worry that they have breast cancer, which is very rarely seen among males. Gynecomastia is not mostly a sign of cancer, but your doctor may run some tests for exact diagnosis.

Gynecomastia is generally thought to affect attractiveness and as a result cause damage to self-esteem in male patients. However, “man boobs” are today easily treated through gynecomastia plastic surgery of various types. Here, we would like to present you the matter of male breast reduction in 5 simple, accessible points.

READ: Attractive Choices of Plastic Surgery for Men

Who Decides on Gynecomastia Surgery?

There exists a widespread belief that lack of physical activity and sports causes gynecomastia or “man boobs” and it is possible to get rid of it with bodybuilding exercises. However, scientists don’t agree with this superstition. In many cases, gynecomastia is caused by the appearance of enlarged glands and this tissue cannot be removed by any other way than gynecomastia operation, such as gynecomastia excision or liposuction. The condition is much more common than it is guessed; up to 70% of adolescent boys develop physiologic gynecomastia which often goes away of its own accord within 2 years. It develops more seriously in older males, and surgical intervention may be much more beneficial for them because of this.

Male Breast Reduction Is a Popular Plastic Surgery

Many men abstain from even thinking about cosmetic surgery, even as important for self-confidence as gynecomastia plastic surgery, due to another stereotype circulating in modern society: it is not “manly” to have such a surgery. However, this mentality is changing with time, and as the data from the USA and UK show, male breast reduction is on the rise. According to the figures published by The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), gynecomastia surgery was chosen by more than 240.000 patients worldwide in 2017.

As you also see in thousands of gynecomastia before and after pictures in clinics web sites, that taboo was broken, and you don’t need to worry anymore whether your social circle will accept your decision to undergo gynecomastia procedure. Most important is your personal comfort. Therefore, many people who were troubled with the question “how to get rid of gynecomastia” decide for one of the various male breast reduction methods.

There are Several Types of Gynecomastia

The first type of gynecomastia plastic surgery consists of various gynecomastia excisions. One of them is so-called Webster Incision and includes an incision just under the nipple. Another, called trans axillary incision, is favored for the small scars it leaves, however, it may deem removing glandular tissue a harder task. However, there are other methods than gynecomastia excision. If the reason for the gynecomastia is stubborn, excessive fat tissue, liposuction is proposed. The gynecomastia treatment procedure using liposuction is typically performed under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia and generally involves a small incision on each side of the chest.

However, it is not useful in the case if glandular tissue is a reason for gynecomastia. Choosing the best type of gynecomastia plastic surgery is something like you and your surgeon need to discuss and decide together.

Recovery and Effects of Gynecomastia

As with other plastic surgeries, gynecomastia surgery requires a recovery period that lasts for several weeks. The time of male breast reduction recovery is dependent on the scale of the operation. As for the final effects of your “man boobs surgery”, they are expected to be fully visible within the first three months after the operation. If your gynecomastia resulted from the use of certain prescription medications, drugs (including steroids) or weight gain you should absolutely be free from these substances and have a stable weight in order to maintain your results.

Most of the patients are satisfied with the results of gynecomastia plastic surgery, especially since it reduces the possibility of man boobs recurrence if the treatment was aimed at removing glandular tissue. Post-surgery, it is often recommended that the patient wear a compression garment such as a gynecomastia vest which helps reshape the chest as well as prevent scarring.

Possible Complications and Side Effects of Gynecomastia Surgery

Since it is an invasive procedure, gynecomastia plastic surgery is connected to certain risks and possible complications. Patients who undergo male breast reduction may get an infection. This risk may be largely avoided by taking showers instead of a bath and taking prescribed medications regularly. There is also an issue of scars. Incisions performed during gynecomastia plastic surgery may be more or less visible. It is up to many factors, one of them being the type of male breast reduction performed (excessive gynecomastia excision will leave large scars while for example, Webster Incision may leave almost no sign). There are also some common surgical risks related to gynecomastia as well, such as anesthesia risks or blood clots.  Still, many people decide to take risk and enjoy improved appearance as well as self-esteem.

Cost of Gynecomastia Surgery

There are several factors that determine the final cost of gynecomastia surgery, such as the type of anesthesia, the experience of the plastic surgeon, and the clinic you choose. If you consider going abroad for this surgery, you may choose Turkey among the best possible options, in order to save money and have a great vacation during your pre- or post-surgery. The average cost of gynecomastia surgery in Turkey is € 1930.

Learn more about Gynecomastia in Turkey by comparing costs and reviewing the clinics and doctors.

This content is edited by Flymedi Team in 2023.