Male Breast Reduction in Long Island, NY

Liposuction is usually used to remove the fatty component of the enlarged breast tissue. In some patients, Liposuction alone can effectively treat the gynecomastia. In other patients, a small incision is made at the edge of the areola to remove any firm breast tissue that cannot be effectively treated with Liposuction alone.

The scars are placed at the edge of the areola. These scars generally heal well and are either invisible or barely visible.

A compression garment is worn for 3-4 weeks after surgery. This helps to reduce swelling and expedite healing.

Following the post-op instructions provided by Dr. Breitbart and attending your follow-up visits are vital for the recovery process and your results. The general timeline for healing includes:

• 1-3 Days: You can expect to experience some tightness, tenderness and discomfort in your chest right after surgery, managed with pain medications. Drains are removed the day after surgery. Wear your compression garment, and avoid getting the area wet for the first 72 hours.
• 1 Week: Pain and swelling decreases. Return to work within a few days and resume light physical activity. Continue to use the compression garment and avoid strenuous physical activity.
• 2 Weeks: You may start to feel like your usual self with little to no pain performing daily activities. Continue avoiding vigorous exercises, especially ones that involve the pectoral muscles. Wear compression garments at least 12 hours a day.
• 3-4 Weeks: Dr. Breitbart may clear you for regular exercise. You may stop wearing compression garments, and the swelling from the procedure should be mostly gone after four weeks.
• 4-6 Weeks: Most patients are fully recovered and free to resume all activities. You may have slight residual swelling in the chest that resolves in the coming weeks or months.

Puffy nipples can be a symptom of gynecomastia because the breast tissue underneath the nipples pushes the nipple-areolar complex outward. Gynecomastia correction removes the excess glandular tissue from your chest, which typically causes nipple puffiness to decrease significantly. Many male patients find their nipples shrink down and appear natural after gynecomastia surgery. If the primary male breast reduction doesn’t satisfactorily improve enlarged areolas, an additional minor procedure may be necessary to address nipple concerns.

Gynecomastia surgery has a very high satisfaction rate among Dr. Breitbart’s patients with extremely successful results. In Dr. Breitbart’s experience, the need for revision surgery is quite rare, as is the chance of gynecomastia recurrence after surgery. For patients with substantial excess skin, minor touch-up surgery may occasionally be necessary if the patient has residual excess skin after healing. Obviously, it is in the patient’s best interest after surgery to avoid things which can contribute to gynecomastia, such as steroid supplements and marijuana use.

Gynecomastia is a medical condition affecting many ages and body types. Muscular, average, and overweight physiques can all qualify for male breast reduction. It’s not so much your body type that affects your procedure but the severity of gynecomastia, which is broken into grades:

• Grade 1: Minimal increased muscle growth (hypertrophy) with no drooping (ptosis) or less than 250 grams of breast tissue
• Grade 2: Moderate excess growth without ptosis or between 250 and 500 grams of breast tissue
• Grade 3: Severe hypertrophy and moderate drooping tissues, or over 500 grams of breast tissue
• Grade 4: Severe increased growth and severe ptosis with over 500 grams of breast tissue

Patients with all body types can struggle with gynecomastia. You may qualify for male breast reduction if you have a high BMI, an athletic body, or an average physique.

There is no age limit for male breast reduction. Dr. Breitbart has treated patients ranging from teenagers to those in their 70s. However, younger patients around puberty may have to wait to ensure the condition is persisting, as gynecomastia may be temporary during adolescence. Dr. Breitbart determines candidacy on a case-by-case basis, and severe cases of gynecomastia in younger patients may warrant male breast reduction sooner.

Gynecomastia is linked to testosterone, which decreases with age. Men may develop enlarged male breasts as they get older. Old age is not a factor for candidacy. If you are in good overall health and understand the benefits and risks of the procedure, gynecomastia surgery may be an option for you.

Hormonal imbalances may trigger gynecomastia in men, particularly a decrease in testosterone or an increase in estrogen. The condition often affects male infants due to the mother’s estrogen but goes away after a few weeks. Some boys experience gynecomastia during puberty when hormones fluctuate rapidly. Adult men may develop gynecomastia because of other health concerns such as hypogonadism, tumors, hyperthyroidism, kidney failure, aging, malnutrition, liver failure, and cirrhosis.

Medications can cause gynecomastia, such as anabolic steroids, AIDS medications, ADHD drugs, anti-anxiety medications, tricyclic antidepressants, antibiotics, chemotherapy, heart medications, and drugs used to treat ulcers. Illicit or recreational drug use and excessive alcohol consumption can also lead to gynecomastia.

Men who are most at risk for gynecomastia include adolescents, older men with certain health conditions, and those who use anabolic steroids for increased athletic abilities.

Gynecomastia is a common concern among men, but male breast cancer is a rare occurrence. The risk of the enlarged male breast tissue turning cancerous is very small. However, men with breast cancer in their family history or a gene mutation linked to breast cancer have a higher risk. Men are encouraged to do self-examinations to feel for lumps or changes to their breast tissue and schedule an appointment with their healthcare provider if they notice changes or concerns during the self-check.

You will usually be under general anesthesia during male breast reduction and won’t feel any pain during the procedure. You can expect some discomfort during recovery with swelling, numbness, or tingling in the chest, and possibly some bruising. Most patients manage pain with over-the-counter medications. Dr. Breitbart’s patients often report the discomfort is mild and tolerable. Take your pain medicines as directed at the right time intervals to reduce discomfort; and follow all post-op instructions.

Male breast reduction permanently removes the excess breast tissue, which will not grow back. However, there is some risk of regrowth if the patient continues medication, drug use, or unhealthy lifestyle related to gynecomastia development. Patients who use marijuana after surgery may experience some recurrence and untreated adrenal or pituitary tumors or hormonal imbalances may cause gynecomastia to return. Pseudogynecomastia treated with liposuction may reoccur with weight gain because the remaining fat cells can expand.

Most health insurance plans do not cover male breast reduction. Dr. Breitbart offers financing options to help patients cover the cost of gynecomastia surgery with set monthly payments — our offices partner with CareCredit, Alphaeon Credit, United Credit, and PatientFi Credit.