10 Man Boobs Reduction FAQs answered

GYNECOMASTIA & MALE CHEST REDUCTION

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Are you looking to do something about your man boobs? You’re not alone. Though a procedure rarely discussed, man boob reduction is in fact one of the most popular surgical procedures among men, with many seeking increased confidence or completing final steps after weight loss.

If you’ve just started thinking about the procedure, you may understandably have a lot of questions at this point, and we’re here to help. We answer some of the most frequently asked questions we receive in clinic, including outlining what “man boobs” are, why you have them, your treatment options, and how the procedure differs for patients who’ve undergone weight loss.

What are “man boobs”?

The medical terms for “man boobs” is Gynaecomastia. It is a condition that occurs when there is an excess of glandular tissue in the male chest, giving an irregular appearance.

Psuedogynecomastia represents a form of the condition, also taking the appearance of “man boobs,” but occurs when a build-up of excess fat is instead the issue.

Certainly not uncommon, Gynecomastia affects 15% of adult men.

Why do I have gynecomastia?

There is no one right answer – Gynecomastia can be a result of various factors. However, in most cases, the condition is due to an imbalance between oestrogen and testosterone. A period in which hormone levels can vary greatly, puberty is often the cause. Also, general ageing can be responsible – as men age they produce less testosterone, which again leads to breast tissue growth. In rare cases, gynecomastia can be a result of certain medications, excessive alcohol, illegal drugs and health abnormalities.

For pseudo-gynecomastia patients, obesity or high Acidic ph levels may be the cause, the latter of which can arise due to excessive junk food consumption. Drug addiction can also lead to the condition.

How to treat Man Boobs?

And what can I do about man boobs? In most Pseudogynecomastia, and many Gynecomastia cases, the preferred method is a liposuction-assisted mastectomy (suction lipectomy).

If the tissue is found to be thick and hard to remove using Micro Liposuction alone, it could be that Vaser Liposuction is useful.

For patients with a large amount of fat for extraction, Surgical Liposuction is best. And for those desiring ultimate body contouring and definition, the variant of Vaser Liposuction – Vaser High-Definition may be more appropriate.

More persistent pure glandular Gynecomastia, on the other hand, may instead necessitate an open mastectomy, involving surgical removal of surplus glandular tissue, via a skin incision. For very bulky Gynecomastia cases, an even more complex treatment – the Interior Pedicle Breast Reduction Treatment could be required, involving reduction of the skin envelope.

In some cases, liposuction can be used first, and an excision procedure after 6-9 months (when maximum skin contraction has taken place) if there is still excess breast or skin tissue.

For both Gynecomastia and Psuedogynecomastia patients, often there is minimal excess skin in the chest reason. This is usually not problematic, as the surgery stimulates skin from the inside, and allows it to then retract post-procedure.

During your surgeon consultation, you should be individually evaluated to gauge which surgical method is most suitable. At The Private Clinic, we also tailor the suitable treatment to your individual needs, as we know that every patient’s requirements are unique.

How Long Does the Procedure Take?

Male Chest Reduction usually lasts between one to two hours. However, this will vary with the amount to be removed in each case, and the anaesthetic to be required.

When will I see results?

You will be able to see results immediately. Although, in the months after the procedure, the most improvements will be revealed.

How long will my results last?

Male Chest Reduction has permanent effects – when fat cells are extracted they are removed once and for all. Although, to make sure your great results last, and your other fat cells do not expand, it’s import to keep to a healthy diet and exercise regime.

Are there any complications associated with the procedure?

Bruising and swelling will occur after the procedure, and you can expect this to continue for up to a few weeks. To minimise bruising and swelling, your clinic should provide you with a special compression garment, to be worn temporarily after treatment.

As with any treatment, there are risks involved, and they should be explained fully in your consultation. Choosing a highly experienced, qualified and recommended medical team, however, ensures that all risks are kept to a minimum.

How do I choose a Male Chest Reduction clinic?

Make sure that the clinic offers only board certified surgeons with several years of experience in the procedure. It’s also important to verify that the provider (clinic or hospital) is registered with the CQC (Care Quality Commission) – the independent regular of health and social care services within England.

Alex’s results with Male Chest Reduction

One of the best ways to achieve an idea of what you can expect with a clinic, is check out their portfolio of before and after photos. And equally important is reading patient reviews and stories, which can help you achieve a great indication of the experience and results you can anticipate.

See our male chest reduction before and after photos
Read our patient reviews,
Make sure to take a look at our Male Chest Reduction treatment information page. Giving a great insight into the procedure
We also showcase the Male Chest Reduction story, of our patient Alex, who discusses his procedure journey and comments on his results!

Does the procedure hurt?

Micro Liposuction and Vaser Liposuction are both performed using local anaesthetic, so you will not experience pain in the procedure. Some discomfort may be experienced, although, this is often minimal. Downtime, again is minimal, so you can quickly return to work.
Surgical Liposuction can be carried out through general anaesthetic, so again, no pain will be felt during treatment. You will usually be advised pain killers to help your recovery period, in addition to post-operative advice, to allow you to have the easiest healing period.

How does Male Chest Reduction differ following weight loss?

Many of our patients for the condition are moderately overweight, with some of them seeing us after experiencing substantial weight loss.

After significant weight loss, a patient’s chest fat can completely or mostly disappear, resulting in sagging, redundant stretched skin in the area. Such circumstances requires a more complex procedure, involving removal of surplus skin. Usually, for this procedure, longer skin incisions are needed, and more contouring. If any surplus fat still remains however, this can also be discarded with additional liposuction.

For weight loss patients, scarring, ultimately, will be more visible. Although, this is the only way to ensure an optimal breast shape. In the more severe cases, the incisions must be made around the areola border, down to the inframammary fold as well as in the breast crease, leaving an inverted T-shape looking scar. This is called the anchor reduction technique, and has commonalities with the female breast reduction procedure, in terms of the incisions and scarring.

Why choose The Private Clinic?

We are the UK’s leading non-invasive cosmetic group and have some of the most experienced gynecomastia surgeons in the country working with us. For over 40 years we have successfully treated thousands of patients.

By coming to us for your male chest reduction procedure, we will look after you to make your journey an exciting one.

No hidden costs.
Committed patient care before, during and long after every procedure.
Dedicated Patient Coordinator, who you can call as much as you need, throughout your Private Clinic journey.
We have industry-leading, highly experienced doctors and surgeons.
Our aftercare promise – you can call, email and visit us to discuss how we tailor-make each procedure and offer ethical and professional aftercare for every patient.
We are contactable 24/7, 365 days a year
We are competitively priced for the expertise and professionalism we provide every patient.
Read our extensive FAQs
View our male chest reduction before and after gallery results
Find out more information about gynecomastia in our male chest reduction blogs
We offer consultations with our specialist Male Breast Reduction plastic surgeons nationwide, in Birmingham, London, Manchester, Leeds and Northampton.