MALE BREAST REDUCTION
What is Male Breast Reduction Surgery?
Known as Gynaecomastia, this condition can result from a hormone imbalance or from being very overweight, which can increase levels of Oestrogen and cause breast tissue to grow.
Breast Reduction Surgery is an option for men with this condition. It may also be used to tighten the breast area after dramatic weight loss that has caused the skin to sag.
However, it is not suitable for men whose large breasts are simply excess fat from being overweight.
What are the risks of the Surgery?
Breast Reduction Surgery can occasionally result in problems, including:
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Thick, obvious scarring
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Unevenly shaped breasts or nipples
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Wound healing problems
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Loss of nipple sensation
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Bleeding inside the breast tissue (Haematoma) – this generally occurs within the first 24 hours after the operation
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Developing Lumps, Bruising or Swelling
Also, any type of operation carries a small risk of:
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Excessive bleeding
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Infection
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An allergic reaction to the anaesthetic
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A blood clot forming in the deep veins
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Mr Khan will explain how likely these risks and complications are, and how they would be treated if they occurred.
Side effects that are expected after the Surgery
It's typical after Breast Reduction Surgery to have:
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Sore breasts for a few weeks
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Scars – these may take several months to fade
Most men are just left with a scar around the nipple. But a large Breast Reduction operation may also result in a scar that runs down vertically and horizontally across the breast crease.
The Surgery
Breast Reduction Surgery is usually carried out under general anaesthetic.
There are several techniques that Mr Khan could use, but generally the operation involves:
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Making a cut (incision) around the Nipple
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Using liposuction to suck out excess Fatty Tissue
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Extending the cuts and repositioning the nipples if there is a lot of tissue to remove
The operation takes about 90 minutes. You usually need to stay in hospital overnight.
Recovery after Male Breast Reduction Surgery
It can take a few weeks to fully recover from Breast Reduction Surgery. You may need to take a few days off work. It can take up to six months to see the full results.
You will need to wear an elastic garment day and night for a few weeks after the operation.
The length of time you need to keep the dressings on depends on how quickly your wounds heal.
After one or two weeks, your stitches will either dissolve or be removed at an outpatient clinic.
You should avoid stretching, strenuous exercise and heavy lifting for up to six weeks after the operation. You can drive again when it's no longer painful to wear a seatbelt, which may be several weeks.