Gynecomastia Surgery (Breast Reduction Surgery for Men)

Gynecomastia is the overgrowth of the breast due to reduction of testosterone hormone in men and can be seen at all ages. Gynecomastia can occur in the forms of regional fat deposition, development of gland tissue, excess mammal skin and excess in a single breast or both.

Firstly, the reason for gynecomastia should be sought before the surgery. This can be due to hormonal change, obesity, genetic reasons or side effects of some drugs. All other cases than those that occurred due to hormonal reasons are treated with surgical procedures. After the procedure to be applied under general anesthesia, it is possible to permanently get rid of overgrown breasts.

It is possible to get rid of Gynecomastia with the method liposuction.  Besides that, if the patient has excess mammary texture, it may also be required to use VaserLiposuction.  The method is determined after the specialist plastic surgeon sees the patient.

Gynecomastia surgery must be realized under general anesthesia, in the operating room. The corset recommended by the specialist doctor must be worn for almost 1 month after the surgery.

After the surgery, bruises, edema and swelling can be seen in the treatment area. These reduce and get recovered after the 3rd week. Breasts will gain their shape after approximately 3 months.

What are the Symptoms of Gynecomastia?

Gynecomastia is usually bilateral enlargement of the breast seen in men. Since unilateral breast enlargement is a sign of a more serious problem, it requires doctor control as soon as it is felt.

In gynecomastia, male breast tissue can be seen due to fatty deposits or an increase in breast tissue that does not normally develop in men.

Growth in male breast tissue is usually first felt by visual change and is generally thought to be due to weight gain. However, even if there is no weight gain, breast enlargement can be seen in men due to breast tissue growth. When the growth in the breast tissue is touched, it can still be partially felt.

How is Gynecomastia Diagnosed?

Adolescents, the elderly, anabolic steroid and androgen users, and those with kidney, liver or thyroid disease may be at risk for gynecomastia. 

Your doctor will inform you about your physical examination and medical history. To rule out other diseases, your doctor may also order some tests (blood tests including hormone studies, urine tests, mammography, breast ultrasound, small breast tissue sample).

Breast ultrasound is the most important diagnostic tool that shows us whether breast enlargement is due to growth in the mammary gland or due to fat. More detailed tests such as mammography may be requested in any abnormal condition seen during ultrasound.

Your doctor will plan the appropriate surgery for you by evaluating your general health, health history, test results and age.

Issues That Cause Gynecomastia

Gynecomastia in men is a disorder caused by irregular or unbalanced estrogen and testosterone hormones. If there is a decrease in the amount of testosterone hormones or an increase in the amount of estrogen hormones in the male body, gynecomastia occurs. There may be many reasons for this hormonal change. Most of these changes are natural and there is no other situation. We can list other causes of gynecomastia as follows.

A.Hormonal changes:

Testosterone and estrogen hormones are hormones that control sex characteristics in humans. Testosterone hormone determines male characteristics such as muscle mass and body hair, estrogen hormone determines female characteristics such as breast growth. A small amount of estrogen hormone is synthesized in men. When this balance of testosterone and estrogen hormone in men is disturbed, gynecomastia may occur when there is an increase in the direction of estrogen.

Gynecomastia in infants: More than half of babies are born with large mammals due to the estrogen passed to them from their mothers. Large breast tissue disappears spontaneously within two to three weeks from birth.

Gynecomastia in Adolescence: The emergence of gynecomastia due to hormonal irregularities during adolescence is a very common condition. In 90% of cases, swollen breast tissue returns to its normal shape within six months to two years.

Gynecomastia in adults: The rate of gynecomastia increases in men between the ages of 50-69. One out of every 4 men between the ages of 50-69 experiences gynecomastia.

B.Use of narcotic substances:

Use of narcotic substances causes gynecomastia. Therefore, these substances should be avoided.

  1. Alcohol use:

Alcohol use causes gynecomastia. Therefore, these substances should be avoided.

D.Various health problem:

  • The normal balance of hormones can be disrupted by health problems and cause gynecomastia.
  • Kidney failure
  • Liver failure and cirrhosis
  • Malnutrition and hunger
  • Hypogonadism
  • Tumors
  • Hyperthyroidism

E.Drug use:

  • Some drug groups can cause gynecomastia. We can list these drug groups as follows:
  • Tricyclic antidepressants
  • Some antibiotics, ulcer medications
  • Some antiretroviral drugs used to treat AIDS
  • Some heart medications
  • Anabolic steroids, androgens
  • Anti-androgen drugs used to prevent prostate enlargement or for the treatment of prostate cancer

Who are good candidates for gynecomastia surgery?

  • Male patients whose condition cannot be treated with alternative medical methods;
  • Persons who do not have medical conditions preventing healing or have a life-critical illness;
  • Physically healthy men in normal weight and men who complain about enlarged breasts.

Procedure can be applied to adolescents, but if growing continues, a second operation might be required.

Is any scar left in the surgery site?

If the reason for the enlargement of the breasts in men is the increase in fat at the breast area, the excess fat tissue is removed with the liposuction application and the breasts become smaller. When liposuction is applied to the patient, since the procedure will be made through small holes, there is no surgical scar. Because of the vaser device’s thin cannulas, small incisions are opened in the procedure area and fat tissue is melted with the help of ultrasonic sound waves and removed through these incisions. Therefore, no scar is left in any site after the procedure. Furthermore, due to the tightening effect of the device, the muscles might get more prominent after the operation.

If there is gynecomastia caused by enlargement in the breast glandular tissue, it should be surgically removed. The surgical technique may vary depending on the size of the existing breast glandular tissue. Which surgical technique will be applied and what kind of scar can be formed are explained in detail during the doctor’s consultation. If the breasts are very large and close to the female breast, the remaining scar may be large. These scars can be placed around the breast and under the breast or to the sides of areola.

Recovery After Gynecomastia Surgery

The process after gynecomastia surgery in men varies according to the technique to be applied in gynecomastia surgery. If the vaser liposuction technique is preferred in gynecomastia surgery, the recovery process of the male patient passes very easily. After the vaser liposuction application in the gynecomastia surgery of the fat tissue in a male patient, the person gets effective results after almost 3 weeks and can easily perform the activities in his daily life. 

If gynecomastia surgery will be performed with surgical intervention, the operation is performed under general anesthesia in a fully equipped hospital.If the glanduler tissue is excessive and the breast is small, the regional numbness and sedation process in the breasts are sufficient for patient comfort and operation. Gynecomastia with a large and excess breast glanduler tissue is preferred for general anesthesia. 

If your operation was performed with local anesthesia or sedation, you can be discharged on the same day. The person can be discharged from the hospital on the day the doctor deems appropriate after the gynecomastia surgery. 

Since the operation will be performed under general anesthesia, the person may need to stay in the hospital for one night. Swelling and edema may occur after surgery. These conditions are very normal and go away on their own within a week. The patient may feel pain and not move much for 3 days after the surgery affects the healing process positively.

Does Breast Regrow After Gynecomastia Surgery?

Because excess breast tissue is completely removed with gynecomastia surgery, breast growth is not expected again. But if a male patient gains weight in excess figures such as 25-35 kilograms after the operation process, there may be an accumulation of fat in this area along with his entire body, as fat accumulation will occur, and a similar situation may occur. Therefore, it is necessary to take care that no excess weight is gained after the operation process.

How should I use a pressure garment after gynecomastia surgery?

Gynecomastia post operative corset is a medical product that should be used as recommended by your doctor after surgery. The issue that the male patient should pay the most attention to is the constant use of the pressure garment or bra, as the doctor says, after surgery. This garment is quite easy to use, it should be worn immediately after gynecomastia surgery and is used continuously for the period indicated to you by your plastic surgeon (this period is up to 2-3 weeks). 3 Weeks later the gynecomastia surgery is over, the garment should only be worn during the day and during heavy activities. This period is about 6 weeks.

How much does gynecomastia surgery cost?

The price for gynecomastia surgery for men varies according to the methods to be applied in the surgery as a result of the examination. Gynecomastia surgery is a surgery preferred by men today. 

The gynecomastia surgery cost  istanbul varies according to many features. Since it will be a surgical intervention, it is very important to use which method is suitable for the patient.The price will vary depending on the method. Your plastic surgeon will find and apply the most suitable method for you. 

In order to get detailed information about the gynecomastia surgery price Turkey, your doctor should first examine you. For this, you can create your examination appointment. For Ministry of Health-accredited centers, it is not legal to specify prices on their website.  Therefore, please dial 0212 241 46 24 to contact our polyclinic and get information on our Gynecomastia surgery prices.

Who are the fit candidates for a gynecomastia surgery?

  • Male patients whose condition cannot be treated with alternative medical methods;
  • Persons who do not have medical conditions preventing healing or have a life-critical illness;
  • Physically healthy men in normal weight and men who complain about enlarged breasts.

Procedure can be applied to adolescents, but if growing continues, a second operation might be required.

Is any scar left in the surgery site?

Because of the vaser device’s thin cannulas, small incisions are opened in the procedure area and fat tissue is melted with the help of ultrasonic sound waves and removed through these incisions. Therefore, no scar is left in any site after the procedure. Furthermore, due to the tightening effect of the device, the muscles might get more prominent after the operation.

How much do gynecomastia surgery cost?

For Ministry of Health-accredited centers, it is not legal to specify prices on their website.  Therefore, please dial 0212 241 46 24 to contact our polyclinic and get information on our Gynecomastia surgery prices.