Male Breast Reduction: Treatment, Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

Gynecomastia is the swelling of breast tissue in men. Imbalance of hormones estrogen and testosterone causes gynecomastia affecting one or both breasts unevenly. Underlying conditions like malnutrition, hypogonadism and cirrhosis may also be its cause. This condition can affect all age groups- newborns, boys going through puberty as well as older men. Gynecomastia is generally a harmless problem but it may be uncomfortable and embarrassing for the person who is going through it. It take on the self esteem of the person and decreases the self confidence. You must consult a doctor if you feel pain, swelling, tenderness or nipple discharge in one or both breasts. In some cases, it may go away on its own. If the problem persists, you may have to go undergo medications or surgery to get rid of it.

Breast reduction is reducing the size of breasts surgically. It can have life-changing effects in both males as well as females who need it. It affects the physical as well as the emotional state of the individual. Important symptoms associated with the need for breast reduction are:

• Neck, shoulder, and back pain on a chronic basis
• Pain-related to the nerves.
• Poor self-esteem due to larger breasts.
• Irritation or rashes in the skin underneath breasts
• Drooping breasts due to excessive weight.
• Improper or bad posture resulting from weight due to larger breasts.
• Sleeping difficulties due to large breasts.
• Unequal sizes of breasts are noticeable.
• Improper fitting of clothes due to larger breasts

Summary: Larger breasts may be a reason for poor self-confidence and awkwardness in males as well as females. Breast reduction is the solution for it which includes a reduction in the size of the breasts through plastic surgery.

The causes behind breast reductions in men mainly include the development of enlarged breasts, a condition known as Gynecomastia. Overdeveloped breasts in such conditions are mainly caused due to hormonal imbalances, obesity, genetic inheritance, or certain drugs side effects.

Men prefer to undergo breast reductions in such conditions due to the following reasons:

• Emotional discomfort
• Loss of self-confidence
• Discomfort in doing various activities like exercises, playing, etc.
• Discomfort during intimacy with the partner
• Improper fitting of clothes which induces a feeling of awkwardness
• Nerve pain

Summary: Men suffering from Gynecomastia or overdeveloped breasts often face physical or emotional discomfort in their lives. This leads to the loss of self-esteem in them, resulting in a need for breast reduction.

Breast reduction is the surgical procedure for the elimination of excess fat tissues from the breasts so as to achieve a right breast size proportionate to the body. It is associated with some major or minor side effects. Some of them include:

• Adverse or unfavorable reactions to the anesthesia. Temporary bruising.
• Scarring of the skin tissues.
• Inappropriate symmetry of the breasts after surgical alteration may require further surgery.
• Risks of bleeding or infections.

Summary: Breasts reduction is the way of reducing the size of the breasts. The procedure may be related to certain side effects such as bleeding of infections, inappropriate symmetry, bruising, scarring, etc.

You will have to undergo blood tests and mammograms to determine the cause of gynecomastia. If your condition is detected at an early stage, the doctor may prescribe you with medications like tamoxifen, raloxifene and aromatase inhibitors. In most cases, this problem can get solved by these medications. If medications do not work, there are surgeries that can be done remove the male breast. Liposuction is a surgery that is a popular preference. It will remove fat and not the breast gland tissue making the appearance of your body much better. Mastectomy is a surgery that will remove the breast gland tissue itself. Small incisions are used to do this surgery. It is done when there is a high chance that the problem may increase in the future.

If you are a male, who is facing uncomfortable and painful male breasts, you may consult a doctor and go for any of these treatments.

Slight increase in the size of breasts may heal on its own. Do not panic. Give it some time before going for a treatment.

The medications may cause temporary nausea, itchiness or redness in skin, headache and fatigue. Do not worry; these effects go away after some time. Surgeries may leave you with scars or spots on your body.

You should stay away from alcohol and drugs. Consume a healthy diet and exercise regularly. Follow the instructions provided by your doctor.

The time period of recovery depends on the severity of your condition. It may take one to six months to recover completely.

Liposuction may cost between ₹50000 and ₹250000. The cost of mastectomy may be between ₹100000 and ₹150000.

The results of the treatment are mostly permanent.

A healthy and well-balanced diet is essential for a faster recovery after male breast reduction. The surgery involves incisions that need proper healing. Hence, a nutritious diet is imperative for this. Important foods and food habits post breast reduction include the following:

• Intake of adequate fluids: This includes consumption of plenty of water or fresh-fruits juices so as to ensure proper hydration of the body.
• Intake of easy-to-swallow foods: It is quite painful and discomforting to have solid foods in the initial days of surgery. Hence, easy-to-swallow foods are preferred such as soups, smoothies, different shakes, pudding, etc.
• Solid food items: After a few days of the surgery one can start to have solid food items which should include a healthy and nutritious meal. Fresh fruits, vegetables, and healthy proteins are preferred.

Summary: Recovery after male breast reduction is an important phase that needs proper care in terms of nutrition. Hence, it is important to take a healthy and well-balanced diet that includes fresh fruits, vegetables, smoothies, juices, etc.

There is no need for male breast reduction on an urgent basis as far as the body's physiology is considered. Enlarged breasts do not interfere with the normal physiological functions of the body. An individual can survive with the condition. But, surgical intervention is necessary for conditions when the individual is facing physical as well as emotional trauma in his social life.

In case he is experiencing symptoms including chronic pain in the neck, shoulder, or back, poor self-esteem, poor posture, noticeably enlarged or unequal breasts, and restricted physical activities like exercises, he should go for breast reduction surgery.

Summary: Breast reduction is important and necessary in males who are experiencing physical as well as emotional symptoms in their life. Such symptoms are usually depressing and lead to loss of self-esteem in the men.

Physical exercises should be preferred in specific cases of Gynecomastia. If the cause for the enlarged or overdeveloped breasts is obesity or being overweight, then exercises may prove to be an effective remedy to overcome the condition.

Such exercises should be targeted against the chest so as to reduce fat in the breasts region while strengthening the pectoral muscles. Important forms of exercises beneficial in Gynecomastia mainly include:

• Pushups
• Butterfly-pose
• Bench-press
• Aerobics such as swimming, walking, jogging, cycling, etc.

Summary: Physical exercises may prove to be beneficial in cases when enlarged breasts arise due to obesity or being overweight. These exercises help to reduce fat in the breasts region and also strengthen the pectoral muscles.

Application of certain medications is one of the options to overcome the condition of Gynecomastia or enlarged breasts in men. Other options may include surgical intervention through plastic surgery or non-surgical intervention methods including physical exercises, elimination of causative factors, etc.

Medications used in gynecomastia mainly include medicines used in the treatment of breast cancer. Those include:

• Tamoxifen
• Anastrozole or Arimidex which are aromatase inhibitors

Summary: Based on various researches, it has been found that medicines used in the treatment of breast cancer are effective against Gynecomastia or enlarged breasts. Those medicines are Tamoxifen, Anastrozole etc.

Gynecomastia goes away on its own in about two years, if left untreated.