Male Breast Reduction Q&A

Deciding to receive cosmetic surgery is a big decision that should be considered carefully. It’s natural to have questions about male breast reduction, but common online resources don’t always provide you with the level of information you need. Dr. Joseph J. Castellano believes that every patient should be fully informed about their procedure before they move forward with surgery. Here, Dr. Castellano addresses the less common questions that men in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area may have about breast reduction for men.

If your male breast reduction question isn’t answered below, contact us online today to schedule a consultation. Dr. Castellano is a skilled cosmetic surgeon who specializes in body contouring, and adopts a personalized approach to cosmetic surgery that ensures that you have a positive experience with us from consultation through recovery.

• I’ve considered male breast reduction for a while now, but I’m still not sure if I’m ready. How will I know when I’m ready to move forward with surgery?

  The decision to undergo cosmetic surgery should never be rushed. However, even if you’ve taken your time, it can be hard to actually make the final decision to take action. If you’ve done your research and considered all of your options carefully, the next step I would recommend is scheduling a consultation for a more in-depth look at your procedure. A consultation is a risk-free assessment of your needs and goals, and can give your surgeon more insight about how to deliver the results you’re looking for. If you’re stuck on the fence, speaking one-on-one with a surgeon who’s experienced in performing male breast reduction can help you feel confident about your decision either way.

• I’m tired of feeling self-conscious about my chest, but surgery seems like a big step. Can’t similar results be achieved with diet and exercise?

  Unfortunately, for patients suffering from the condition known as gynecomastia, diet and exercise may not be effective options to give you the more masculine, chiseled look you want. Gynecomastia occurs from hormonal imbalances that cause abnormal growth of glandular breast tissue in the chest. Exercise and fat loss may help the problem a little if the issue is related to being overweight, but as anyone who has gynecomastia can attest, glandular breast tissue can’t be removed through these measures. For men with noticeable gynecomastia, cosmetic surgery can provide the most natural looking results. This can often be accomplished through liposuction, surgical excision of glandular breast tissue or a combination of both.

• I want to have a more masculine-looking upper body but I’m embarrassed about my condition. Will it be obvious to others that I’ve had a male breast reduction?

  Feeling uncomfortable with excess fatty tissue on your chest is understandable. However, male breast reduction is one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures for men, and there’s nothing embarrassing about wanting to feel confident about your appearance. After your procedure, you’ll need to wear bandages and a compression garment for at least a week. Rest assured though, these fit neatly under your shirt and won’t make it obvious that you’ve had a procedure. Incisions will be kept as inconspicuous as possible to make sure that scars are discreet, and should heal up to nearly invisible over time.

• I work a physically demanding job and I can’t afford to take much time off work. How long will a procedure like this keep me off my feet?

  Depending on how extensive your procedure is, a full recovery will usually take several weeks, but most patients can return to work and other basic activities after only a week. If extensive correction is needed (for example, after major weight loss), you might find that your healing time is a little longer than average. If your job requires a fair amount of physical exertion, you’ll need to gradually ease into the more demanding work over the several weeks and months following your surgery, but you shouldn’t have a problem resuming your more basic duties.

• Is there a chance that my “man-boobs” will come back after I have my procedure?

  That depends on why your gynecomastia is occurring. True gynecomastia is caused by a hormonal imbalance that causes abnormal breast tissue growth, which is unlikely to return once it’s removed. However, if the fatty tissue in your chest has developed due to lifestyle factors, then it may be possible for fat to return to that area in response to weight gain. To maintain your results, it’s important that you keep a healthy diet and participate in regular exercise in order to control unwanted fat storage.