As cosmetic surgery for men becomes more mainstream, thousands of patients are flocking to their doctors for a procedure known as “male breast reduction surgery” to flatten and eliminate enlarged male breasts.
For this procedure, plastic surgeons use a small incision to enter the breast area to remove excess fat or tissue that may be causing the chest or nipples to appear “puffy,” “feminine” or “enlarged”.
This procedure is typically performed under general anesthetic and can be performed using liposuction and/or a combination procedure where some tissue may need to be excised.
Atlanta plastic surgeon Dr. John Connors is not surprised by this trend. As a surgical partner at the Swan Center for Plastic Surgery in Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Connors believes male breast reduction surgery is a dream come true for men suffering from gynecomastia.
“For decades, men have been suffering the embarrassment and low-self esteem that accompanies enlarged male breasts. So it’s no surprise then that men are openly embracing a procedure that allows them to combat enlarged breasts with very little pain or downtime.”
Enlarged male breasts are usually the result of a genetic condition known as gynecomastia. Gynecomastia can occur in one breast or both, and usually will not resolve with a traditional diet or exercise routine.
And while most cases of enlarged male breasts are genetically caused, certain medications such as Zantac, Celexa, Zoloft, Xanax, Vytorin and Cipro are also known to cause enlarged male breasts as a side effect.
“While some men have noticed the presence of enlarged breast due to certain medications or weight gain, for the most part, the male breast reduction patients we see on a daily basis have suffered with this condition since puberty. They often come in with painful stories of how they used to feel embarrassed to take their shirt off in the locker room or how they’ve always felt uncomfortable on the beach,” says Dr. Connors.
“We see a variety of young adults, mainly because their doctors realize that one simple procedure can save them from years of embarrassment and insecurities caused by a condition that is beyond their control. High school and college is a period when young men should be having the time of their life-not feeling humiliated to take their shirt off at the pool or feel uncomfortable with certain clothing because of how it makes their chest look."
The American Society for Plastic Surgery ranked male breast reductions as the 4th most popular procedure for men in the United States last year.
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