Gynecomastia Male Breast Reduction Surgery

Serving clients near Mansfield, Arlington, Fort Worth & Dallas, Texas

What is male gynecomastia?

Gynecomastia in a condition in adolescent boys and men who have enlargement and swelling of their breast tissue.  It is commonly caused by hormone imbalances between testosterone and estrogen, whereby excess estrogen abnormally stimulates the breast tissue to enlarge.

What causes gynecomastia in adolescent males and grown men?

The cause of gynecomastia is not clear although it may relate to an imbalance between testosterone and estrogen hormones.  Therefore, it may be appropriate to measure levels of circulating hormones, including estrogen, testosterone, and prolactin by your private physician to complete the differential diagnosis.

Gynecomastia may also be acquired through the use of exogenous steroids and hormones or by the ingestion of specific types of medications, herbal vitamins, and work-out supplements that may interfere with the normal balance of circulating testosterone and estrogen.

Are you a gynecomastia surgery candidate?

Mostly, adolescent male gynecomastia is self-limiting and is managed with reassurance and nonsurgical therapy but in some individuals male breast reduction surgery may be required to remove the abnormally enlarged breasts with glandular tissue.  However, male clients who are experiencing visual abnormalities in the size of one or both areola, developing tenderness or discomfort in their breast tissue, or noticing an undesirable male aesthetic appearance when going without a shirt are considered candidates for male gynecomastia surgery.

What can I expect during my gynecomastia surgery consultation with Dr. Michael Thornton?

During your gynecomastia consultation, you will meet privately and exclusively with Dr. Thornton and collectively share in the decision making process about your personal needs, desires, and expectations regarding gynecomastia surgery cost and procedure.  Dr. Thornton will take measurements and assess the amount of gynecomastia tissue and any potential skin excess that may require additional surgical measures.  A complete surgical treatment plan will be outlined along expected recovery.

What are the surgical steps for male breast reduction or gynecomastia surgery?

VASER liposculpting and high definition liposuction will be performed to permanently remove the breast fatty tissue above your pectoral muscles.  However, performing liposuction alone will not remove the residual breast gland tissue that is left behind.  Therefore, it is important to not only remove the surrounding fat but to also remove the fibrous glandular breast tissue, otherwise you will not achieve an ideal aesthetic appearance.

Finally, some men may require excess skin removal around the areola or a male breast lift procedure to tighten the skin and provide the ideal aesthetic appearance.  These clients have usually lost weight and present with loose chest wall skin.

Does Dr. Thornton perform secondary or revision gynecomastia surgery?

Dr. Thornton performs secondary or revision gynecomastia surgery when a male client presents with retained or left-over breast tissue following improper liposuction or breast gland removal.  Therefore, if you have had previous liposuction of the chest and or improper gland removal and you are still able to feel a lump or mass under your nipple areola complex, then you are an ideal candidate for secondary or revision gynecomastia surgery.

Is gynecomastia surgery painful?

You will experience mild soreness following surgery and may last 24-48 hours. You will be provided with a postoperative garment during the recovery process that will aid in minimizing the discomfort. You will also be prescribed strong pain medication.

How long does gynecomastia surgery take to perform?

On average the surgery will take 2-4 hours to complete from start to finish. For minor gynecomastia conditions and small breast gland enlargement, simple chest liposuction and gland excision is all that is required to complete the surgery. However, individuals will have longer surgery if they require excision of loose and excess skin around the areola and chest complex.

Can gynecomastia return or come back after surgery?

If the gynecomastia surgery is performed properly and all glandular tissue is removed then there is zero chance for the condition to come back after surgery.

Is gynecomastia surgery safe and where will I have my surgery?

Yes, gynecomastia surgery is an safe and outpatient procedure that is performed at Baylor Surgicare at Mansfield, a AAAHC certified surgery center, located in Mansfield, Texas. On average, it will take 2 – 4 hours to complete, depending upon the complexity of the case.  Furthermore, all gynecomastia procedures are performed under general anesthesia as provided by board-certified anesthesiologists and certified anesthesia providers. Because of the delicate nature of the areas treated, our office does not perform ‘awake’ gynecomastia surgery procedures.

Male breast reduction gynecomastia surgery for men:  What is the bottom line?

Dr. Thornton is a double-board certified cosmetic surgeon who has vast experience in surgically treating gynecomastia.  Contact our office and schedule an appointment if you have been experiencing the feeling of a lump or “puffy nipple” under the areola of one or both of your breasts.

During surgery, Dr. Michael Thornton will perform VASER liposculpting of your chest to flatten, sculpt, and permanently remove the fat including the direct removal of the fibrous glandular tissue that causes gynecomastia.  Dr. Thornton also performs secondary or revision gynecomastia surgery using VASER technology that effectively breaks through old scar tissue and liquifies the remaining fat.  Bottom line — VASER is the perfect tool to treat this condition and lowers gynecomastia surgery cost and recovery time.