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Male breast (gynaecomastia)

Gynäkomastie

For many men, the development of female breasts is an aesthetic problem that can easily be solved by surgery.

Gynaecomastia - surgery of the male breast

Duration OP
approx. 2 hours
Aftercare
Slight swelling for approx. 1 week, stitches are self-dissolving, compression garment is worn for 6 weeks
Sociability
after 2-3 days
Sport
after about 4-6 weeks
Pain
low

WHAT IS A MAN'S BREAST?

A man's breast, also known as a man's bosom or gynaecomastia, describes an increase in breast tissue around the nipple in men. This causes the breast to increase in volume and can resemble a female breast appendage. Affected men find this particularly disturbing when exposing the upper body or wearing tight clothing, as the feminine features of the breast become obvious. Men with gynaecomastia often avoid bathing establishments or beaches as well as public showers or saunas due to this self-consciousness. Find out more about the causes, symptoms and treatment options for gynaecomastia to regain your self-confidence.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GYNAECOMASTIA AND LIPOMASTIA

When we talk about real male breasts, also known medically as gynaecomastia, we are talking about an increase in glandular tissue. Of course, there may also be additional fatty tissue in the breast, which must then be removed by liposuction. The incision on the nipple to remove the male breast is always necessary in this case, as a purely liposuction of the male breast cannot achieve a satisfactory result. However, the subsequent scar is hidden in the area of the nipple and is therefore not visible.
A "false male breast" is characterised by a small glandular body (which every man has) and plenty of fatty tissue around it. This leads to the development of a man's bosom and can take on extreme forms. In contrast to the real man's breast, the false man's breast is soft and the glandular body is barely palpable. The operation consists of liposuction of the male breast (liposuction). We work almost exclusively with a very modern technology, namely water-jet assisted liposuction, also known as Bodyjet®. This is a device that is superior to conventional liposuction devices and allows us to perform very targeted and gentle liposuction.
In some cases, it may make sense to supplement this technique with so-called HDL. High-definition liposuction (HDL) is an innovative method of targeted liposuction that emphasises the contours and definition of the body. By precisely removing fat around muscles, particularly defined contours can be achieved. This technique makes it possible to emphasise muscular structures and achieve visible, athletic definition. Find out more about high-definition liposuction for customised body contouring.

FIND OUT IF YOU HAVE A 'REAL' MAN'S CHEST OR A FAT CHEST!

Discover whether you have 'real' man boobs or love handles with simple self-examinations. If you feel golf ball-sized, shifting tissue behind the mammary glands, this is gynaecomastia. This requires removal of the glandular portion by surgery, possibly accompanied by liposuction for an athletic breast shape. If, on the other hand, the tissue is soft and feels like fat, liposuction is often sufficient. Self-examinations can already give you an indication of the optimal treatment method. The symptoms of gynaecomastia, apart from aesthetic problems, include unilateral or bilateral enlargement of the mammary glands, feelings of tension and hypersensitive nipples. These complaints can make surgery necessary, regardless of aesthetic aspects. The causes of male breast enlargement can be due to puberty, certain substances or lifestyle factors. Hormonal changes or medication can stimulate breast growth. This leads to a mixture of glandular and fatty tissue, which is perceived as disturbing.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF TRUE MALE BREASTS?

Gynaecomastia, or true male breasts, goes beyond purely aesthetic problems. Affected men suffer from specific symptoms and therefore often wish to have their breasts removed by liposuction. The symptoms include

  • Enlargement of the mammary glands on one or both sides
  • Persistent or episodic tightness in the breasts
  • Hypersensitivity of the nipples These symptoms can be so distressing that therapeutic intervention is required, although aesthetic improvement is often a secondary factor.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF MALE BREAST ENLARGEMENT (GYNAECOMASTIA)?

The most common cause of gynaecomastia is hormonal changes during puberty. During this phase, more sex hormones are produced, which can lead to a temporary enlargement of the mammary glands, similar to that seen in women during puberty. This breast enlargement can recede after puberty, but can also persist as gynaecomastia. Furthermore, certain factors such as steroid hormones, growth hormones or medication can stimulate breast growth and thus contribute to the development of male breasts. Lifestyle, diet and physical activity also play a role in the development of gynaecomastia. Ultimately, a combination of glandular tissue and fatty tissue develops in the breast region, which is perceived as disturbing.

TREATMENT OF THE MALE BREAST (GYNAECOMASTIA)

Drug treatments based on hormones are rarely successful in correcting gynaecomastia and interfere strongly with the body's physiological processes. In comparison, surgical treatment of male breasts is considered a comparatively harmless procedure and is therefore often recommended. In the case of "false male breasts" (pseudogynaecomastia), where only fatty tissue is present, liposuction is often sufficient. This method is preferably performed in our Rosengarten practice clinic using water-jet assisted liposuction (WAL, Bodyjet), if necessary in combination with a tightening high-definition liposuction (HDL), as it is gentle and prevents complications. The procedure is usually performed under twilight sleep or light anaesthesia. Patients can leave the clinic after a short recovery period. We recommend wearing compression garments for 6 weeks and taking a break from sport for approx. 2-3 weeks in order to achieve optimum results.
In the case of true gynaecomastia, the procedure is somewhat more complex. In this case, the treatment requires a combination of liposuction (water-jet assisted liposuction) and surgical removal of the glandular tissue via an incision at the edge of the nipple. This combined surgical technique is particularly necessary for gynaecomastia when both enlarged glandular tissue and excess fatty tissue are present.

 

For further information, please see the bottom of the page. This is where the advantages and disadvantages of the procedures are presented and the risks and side effects are explained. However, this cannot replace a personal consultation (also via video), in which these aspects are explained and adapted individually. We therefore look forward to a personal consultation with you!

Who is it for?

The operation is suitable for patients who tend to have female breasts despite being of normal weight or doing a lot of sport. We strongly recommend that you reach your desired weight beforehand. Before the operation, pathological factors such as a hormonal imbalance or tumour formation in the breast must also be ruled out (by ultrasound examination).

Details

There are various techniques for removing gynaecomastia, depending on whether glandular or fatty tissue is involved. Glandular tissue is usually removed via an incision at the edge of the nipple, through which the tissue is surgically removed. The scar is not visible later. The fatty tissue, on the other hand, is removed using cannulas, as in classic liposuction. A skin incision of a maximum length of 1 cm is made through which the cannula is inserted. This can be treated well with scar care during the healing phase. If a tightening of the upper skin layers is desired at the same time, liposuction can be combined with treatment using the BodyTite procedure. This is particularly useful if gynaecomastia is still present after significant weight loss. Depending on the extent and technique, the operation can be performed under general anaesthetic or local anaesthetic with twilight sleep. For longer procedures, we generally recommend a general anaesthetic to ensure that the operation is pain-free.

After the treatment

After the operation, you will be given a compression girdle to wear for six weeks. The pressure created by the compression allows the skin layers to grow back together without wrinkles. It also prevents adhesions and ensures a symmetrical overall result. Depending on the procedure, sport and heavy physical exertion (e.g. heavy lifting) should be avoided during this time. Depending on your choice of profession, you should take 6 (office job) to 14 days off work.

Results & Risks

The correction of gynaecomastia is visible immediately after the operation. After around four months, the healing process is complete and the final result is visible. This operation can permanently restore a male breast, which in many cases leads to a new self-confidence and makes the fear of public swimming pools disappear.

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