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This complete guide to Male Breast Reduction (Gynecomastia) Surgery covers everything you need to know about this procedure, including:

Your surgery explained
How to assess if you are a good candidate
Planning for your surgery
Answers to most frequently asked questions
Before and after gallery
Learn more about Male Breast Reduction (Gynecomastia)

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What is Gynecomastia?
Male Breast Reduction Benefits
Male Breast Reduction Candidates
Signs of Gynecomastia
Male Breast Reduction Procedure
Male Breast Reduction Recovery
Male Breast Reduction Results
Male Breast Reduction Scars
Male Breast Reduction Cost
Non-Surgical Gynecomastia Treatment
Male Breast Reduction FAQs

What is Gynecomastia?

Gynecomastia is characterized by enlarged, bulging, or overdeveloped breasts in men. While usually medically harmless, gynecomastia can negatively affect men on a social, interpersonal, and psychological level. Enlarged breast tissue often resolves for many men throughout their teenage years, and may simply result from hormonal changes that occur during puberty. However, factors like genetics, obesity, steroid and medication use can cause some men to experience magnified breast tissue into adulthood.

Whether you are a teenager or an adult, our plastic surgeon understands that the ability to comfortably take off your shirt without the fear of embarrassment can be essential to reclaiming your self-confidence. Dr. Gryskiewicz can reduce male breasts using advanced techniques designed to leave little to no evidence of surgery.

Learn about Gynecomastia (Male Breast Reduction) with Dr. Joe: Play Video

What are the Benefits of Gynecomastia Surgery?

When under the care of a talented plastic surgeon like Dr. Joe Gryskiewicz, male breast reduction can improve your emotional and psychological health as well as your appearance. Male patients often report that the procedure alleviates common symptoms associated with puffy or overdeveloped breasts in men, which generally include feelings of depression, insecurity, and anxiety.

Enhanced self-confidence and self-esteem
A more positive body image
Restoration of masculine contours in the chest
Greater comfort in locker rooms, pools, and intimate settings
No scarring on the chest
Better fit in tee shirts and clothing

On top of the potential benefits listed above, Dr. Gryskiewicz also takes care to conceal any evidence of surgery by making incisions in the ribcage rather than the chest. This technique is not available at all practices that offer male breast reduction, giving Minneapolis patients access to a higher caliber of natural-looking results.

Who is a Candidate for Male Breast Reduction?

Treatment for gynecomastia can benefit any male patient bothered by overdeveloped breast tissue. The surgery is for individuals self-conscious about their appearance as a result of their gynecomastia. Certain behaviors — such as avoiding locker rooms, gyms, intimate situations, or removing your shirt in public — may signify that you can greatly benefit from male breast reduction. Ideal candidates for surgery are in good overall health (with no medical conditions that may inhibit the healing process), and have realistic expectations for the outcome. The best results are also seen in men who have good skin elasticity, which enables the skin to contract around your more masculine chest contours.

Signs of Gynecomastia

Indications of gynecomastia are often physically evident. If you suspect you have overdeveloped breast tissue, your doctor may ask you about your medical history and any medication use, as well as conduct a physical exam to evaluate your concerns. Gynecomastia doesn’t typically require treatment from a medical standpoint, but you may consider a male breast reduction procedure if the appearance of your chest is interfering with your ability to live fully and confidently. Common signs of gynecomastia typically include:

Visible or overly developed breasts
Pain or tenderness
Swelling in the breasts
Puffy or sensitive nipples

In some cases, patients may exhibit a form of the condition known as “pseudogynecomastia” — this means the appearance of overly large breasts is caused more by fatty tissue in the chest rather than glandular breast tissue. In these situations, your concerns may be resolved by performing power-assisted liposuction (PAL) in the targeted areas, often allowing a brief recovery period compared to surgical excision. In either case, our plastic surgeon can help you develop the right treatment plan to restore flatter chest contours according to your needs.

How is Male Breast Reduction Performed?

Dr. Gryskiewicz has developed an innovative approach to male breast reduction that does not require any incisions on the nipples or breasts, therefore leaving no telltale indications of surgery when you take off your shirt! Through one small incision placed on the ribcage, our plastic surgeon first uses power-assisted liposuction to remove fatty tissue contributing to an enlarged breast appearance. This involves suctioning out fat through a vibrating cannula to restore a sleeker, more masculine contour in the chest. By using the power-assisted technique, fat is broken down and extracted more easily when compared to a traditional liposuction procedure. Next, custom-designed surgical instruments are utilized to remove all of the glandular tissue in the chest area. The result should be a smoother, flatter look that appears natural and masculine with your body contours. Male breast reduction is typically performed under general anesthesia as an outpatient procedure.

I went to Dr. Joe with concerns of excess fat in my chest giving me “man boobs”. From the consult, to surgery to the follow up I am beyond happy and impressed with the way him and his staff treated me. I had Lipo to the chest with one small incision on each lower side of the chest. One week post op and I am very pleased with my results. I have a nice flat chest I can be proud of! Thanks so much Dr. Joe and team.

What is Recovery for Male Breast Reduction Like?

Patients who have undergone male breast reduction can return to full physical activity two to three weeks after their procedure. For men treated with CoolSculpting®, there is virtually no downtime following the in-office procedure, and you can make an immediate return to normal activities. Those who have undergone surgical operation can expect some degree of temporary bruising and swelling. Strenuous exercise or taxing labor should be avoided until cleared by our plastic surgeon. He may recommend that you wear a pressure garment for three to six weeks to avoid sun exposure and allow the skin to adjust to its new contours.

How Long Do Results From Male Breast Reduction Last?

The outcome of male breast reduction lasts forever, allowing men to live fully and openly without the burdens of visible breast tissue. For this reason, surgical gynecomastia treatment is often considered a life-changing procedure. While your masculine contours are permanent, weight gain after the procedure may redistribute excess fat to the chest. To help preserve the results of male breast reduction, Dr. Gryskiewicz recommends living an active, healthy lifestyle to help maintain a stable weight. We encourage you to take a look at our before-and-after photos from male breast reduction so you can get an idea of the types of results you can expect after the procedure.

Will I Have Noticeable Scars From Male Breast Reduction?

Dr. Gryskiewicz prioritizes a masculine aesthetic with as little evidence of surgery as possible when performing male breast reduction. For this reason, incisions are placed in discreet locations that blend into the natural contours of the chest. This allows any scarring to look inconspicuous and undetectable to outside observers. Dr. Gryskiewicz also does not make incisions around the nipple because they are easily visible when patients take their shirt off. This is a completely unique approach, not available elsewhere. Our plastic surgeon will be able to show you where you can expect your scars to appear during your consultation. In many cases, visible scarring fades and lightens over time — especially if patients closely follow post-operative instructions and take good care of their incisions after surgery.

How Much Does Male Breast Reduction Cost?

The costs associated with male breast reduction are determined according to the technique utilized, the complexity of the procedure, and the unique details of your treatment plan. Following a consultation with our plastic surgeon, a member of our team will provide you with a personalized quote detailing the expenses of your gynecomastia treatment. Plastic surgery financing from CareCredit® or ALPHAEON™ Credit can be very helpful in providing qualified patients with a more manageable way to pay for their male breast reduction. Please don’t hesitate to contact our office for additional information about the cost of gynecomastia treatment, or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Gryskiewicz.

Is Non-Surgical Gynecomastia Treatment Possible?

Non-surgical techniques are usually not enough to make a meaningful difference in reducing male breasts. If your gynecomastia mostly consists of excess fat, CoolSculpting® — which uses controlled cooling to “freeze” and destroy fat cells — may be able to provide somewhat of an improvement; however, this typically requires multiple treatment sessions to obtain the desired result, and a plastic surgeon’s control over the aesthetic outcome is often limited. Furthermore, most cases of gynecomastia are caused by glandular tissue in addition to excess fat, which cannot be extracted without surgery. Our plastic surgeon’s unique male breast reduction technique remains the most effective and powerful way to correct enlarged breasts in men. The results achieved should last for a lifetime provided your weight remains stable.

Additional Gynecomastia Surgery FAQs

Is liposuction enough to get rid of gynecomastia?

If the main cause of fullness in the chest is excess fat instead of overdeveloped breast tissue, power-assisted liposuction may be enough to flatten the chest according to your desires. Liposuction is not effective in removing glandular tissue, but can smooth and resculpt the chest for cases of pseudogynecomastia (male breasts caused by fat buildup). That said, enlarged breasts are most often composed of a combination of fat and breast tissue, which requires surgery with male breast reduction to effectively treat. Dr. Joe prefers to use the VASER system to reduce actual firm, white, breast bud tissue.

What happens if gynecomastia goes untreated?

Gynecomastia usually doesn’t present any medical concerns, so there is no need for treatment unless a patient makes the personal decision to pursue surgery. However, the condition is known to be linked to feelings of anxiety, depression, embarrassment, and low self-esteem. These symptoms can reduce one’s emotional well-being and lower overall quality of life, which is why patients elect to undergo male breast reduction.

Will gynecomastia resolve on its own?

No, gynecomastia will never resolve naturally unless your overdeveloped breasts are solely caused by fat accumulation. In these cases, working out may be able to strengthen the pectoral muscles and reduce the appearance of enlarged breasts. Dr. Gryskiewicz can evaluate your concerns and talk to you about the best treatment plan to restore a flat, masculine chest according to your goals.

Will male breast reduction fix puffy nipples?

Yes, gynecomastia treatment can be very effective in addressing puffy, enlarged nipples. In fact, puffy or sensitive nipples are considered a common indication of the condition. The outcomes exhibited in our patient gallery can provide a better understanding of how surgery is able to reduce puffy nipples with natural-looking results.

Please call or text our office to schedule your consultation today.

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