close
Gynaecomastia (also known as male breast reduction)What is Gynaecomastia?Many normal men feel embarrassed by the shape of their chest. It may prevent them from wearing shirts or T-shirts, or even going to the beach or pool. During puberty the glandular breast tissue that men have can grow under the influence of hormones that are at high levels. Normally these tender breast swellings settle within a few years, but if they don’t they can be treated with an operation. Other men, with higher percentage of body fat, find that weight loss can reduce the amount of fat on their chest but it can still be disproportionately large compared to the rest of their body. Which operation is the best one for me? There are two types of operation performed for this problem depending on the anatomical problem: 1. Excessive fat - if no firm, glandular tissue can be felt behind the nipples and the chest feels soft then most likely the problem is one of too much fat tissue. Liposculpture of the chest can improve the shape. 2. Excessive glandular tissue - firm tissue behind the nipples. A surgical procedure is required to remove the enlarged breast tissue. This can be safely done under sedation and local anaesthetic. In some men both problems exist, and if this is the case can be addressed at the same operation. What is the procedure like? With local as well as sedational anaesthetic, the excess fat is be removed using a liposculpture technique. Through small 3mm incisions a cannula is passed under the skin to extract fat under negative pressure. For men with overgrowth of glandular tissue as the main problem, an incision is made at the lower half of the nipple and the glandular tissue is removed. Sutures are used to close the incision, which generally heals well. Each procedure usually takes around an hour and patients can go home after a period of observation. How long is the recovery time? Most patients feel a little sore for 2 or 3 days and can usually return to work after about 5 days. A compressive garment is worn for 3 weeks to promote healing, and if sutures are used are removed at the one week stage. Antibiotics are taken to reduce the chance of an infection. Pain is manageable with simple medication (Panadeine type); patients are encouraged to commence gentle activity the day after their procedure and can usually get back to normal exercise after 3 to 4 weeks. Are there visible scars? For most people the scars are nearly invisible and cannot be seen after a few months of healing and remodelling of the tissues in the area. Is there a Medicare rebate? For some men there may be a Medicare rebate applicable; this can be determined during your consultation with Dr Topchian. Are special blood tests required? For most healthy men no blood tests are required. What if I have more questions? Not all patients are suitable for this procedure, and a consultation is required to assess your suitability, medical history and general health & fitness, and to allow you to discuss the procedure including risks and complications with Dr David Topchian. Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second medical opinion. Consultations can be arranged by appointment by calling the Endless Solutions on (03) 9681 7311 or by email to |
