Male breast reduction (gynecomastia surgery) is a procedure that removes excess fat, glandular tissue, and, in some cases, skin to achieve a flatter, firmer chest with a more classic masculine contour. Dr. Herbstman performs the surgery for men who want to feel more comfortable with and confident in their appearance.
Gynecomastia Overview
Why Patients Choose to Have Gynecomastia Surgery
The condition of having enlarged male breasts, or gynecomastia, is relatively common, affecting between 40 and 60 percent of all men throughout the United States. There are several possible causes of gynecomastia, but in most cases no specific cause is identified.
Male breast reduction surgery is an effective and increasingly popular treatment option for men who are troubled by the appearance of their chest. Female-to-male transgender patients also may have the procedure, and almost any person in good health will be a candidate for the surgery.
Men often come to Dr. Herbstman for treatment because they aren’t able to get the flat and firm chest that they want despite weight loss and exercise. Many patients are very reluctant to take their shirts off in public, going to the beach or the pool, or wearing tight clothing. Some have spent their entire lives trying to hide their appearance.
Gynecomastia surgery presents them with the opportunity to make a change they may have wanted for years. Those who have the procedure are among the most satisfied patients that our practice supports, and helping them achieve their goals is emotionally gratifying for both them and for our staff.
Your Initial Consultation
Schedule an appointment with Dr. Herbstman. When you come for a visit, you’ll find our practice to be a welcoming and private environment to receive care. During your consultation, you will have extensive time to talk with Dr. Herbstman about your concerns and about treatment options for gynecomastia.
Some patients are reluctant to consider a procedure because they feel that they are somehow being excessively self-conscious. One of the most important things you should know about gynecomastia surgery is that it is very common, effective, and, for many patients, life-changing. If you are bothered by the shape or appearance of your chest, having the procedure can resolve your concerns permanently and with minimal downtime.
As part of your consultation, you will have an opportunity to see before and after photos and to review the costs of treatment. Educating patients is the hallmark of our practice. Our patients also like to know that gynecomastia surgery takes place in an outpatient surgical suite. Overnight hospitalization is not required. Typically no drains are required.
What to Expect With Gynecomastia Surgery
Once you have decided to have your procedure, Contemporary Plastic Surgery will help you schedule your surgery. We will also provide you with pre-operative instructions, advise you about the day-of process, and answer any questions that you may have.
Typically, patients receive twilight anesthesia to keep them comfortable and relaxed during their procedure. Dr. Herbstman usually completes gynecomastia surgery within 2 to 3 1/2 hours. A variety of factors can affect the length of your procedure, such as the amount of contouring Dr. Herbstman must do and the techniques that he needs to use to achieve your targeted results. These techniques may include:
- Performing liposuction to remove areas of unwanted fat around the chest.
- Removing and sculpting the breast tissue to give patients a masculine appearance.
- Excising skin to get rid of excess hanging tissue.
Dr. Herbstman works with a great deal of care and brings more than 20 years of experience to his procedures. Generally, his gynecomastia surgery patients have no obvious scars around the surgical site, promoting a natural-looking and aesthetically appealing outcome.
Recovery After Your Procedure
You can expect to be discharged within a couple of hours of your surgery. You will be wearing a compression vest that will help shape the area and support your healing process.
Most of our patients are surprised at how little discomfort they feel following gynecomastia surgery. Our practice provides multimodal pain management strategies, including pre- and post-operative medications and medication during the procedure to reduce discomfort. There is very little need for opioid-based pain management following surgery.
You should be able to return to work and other normal activities within a few days, though you should avoid exerting yourself physically or working out for several weeks. By the end of the first week, patients are generally thrilled about the way that they look. Though they are still healing and might have some swelling, their body contour will already have a more masculine shape, even in a form-fitting t-shirt.
While you will have full function within only a few weeks, it will take about one year to see the complete results from your gynecomastia surgery. Dr. Herbstman will see you several times over the course of this period so that he can monitor your progress and answer any questions that you may have. The results that you see should be permanent, barring effects that certain medications can have on the breast tissue and about which our practice can advise you.
Dr. Robert Herbstman takes a personal approach to each patient’s care. See the difference when you visit his office in East Brunswick or Red Bank. To learn more about gynecomastia surgery, request a consultation online or call our practice at (732) 253-4404.