Male breast reduction surgery is an outpatient plastic surgery procedure that is intended to remove a condition called “Gynecomastia”. Gynecomastia is defined as the presence of excess breast tissue in men. This tissue often gives a man’s chest a somewhat female appearance, though the severity of each case varies wildly.
Gynecomastia is not medically dangerous, but can be psychologically devastating for most men, particularly teenagers. Male breast reduction surgery is an option for any man who has the presence of excess breast tissue and wishes to remove it. The gynocomastia surgery itself is relatively short. It involves the use of general anesthesia, which means the patient will not be conscious during the surgery. While the patient is unconscious, the doctor will perform two procedures: “Excision” of the existing breast tissue, which is the physical removal of tough, fibrous breast tissue, and liposuction of the general area, which is intended to remove excess fat. Though some doctors perform only liposuction, the general consensus among plastic surgeons is that the patient should always request excision. This is because gynecomastia can return over the years if the tissue is not completely excised from the chest.
The cost of the procedure varies by geographic region. Near bigger, more expensive cities, the procedure can cost between 5,000 and 10,000 dollars, which includes the cost of renting hospital space and general anesthesia. In smaller, less expensive cities, the procedure generally costs between 3,000 and 5,000 dollars. Since male breast reduction surgery is an outpatient procedure, many people who live in expensive areas travel to have the surgery performed. Should you opt to do this, make sure you take travel expenses into your cost accounting, as you will either have to stay in your surgeon’s city for some weeks or make several trips. Unfortunately, insurance generally does not cover male breast reduction surgery.
If you are overweight and concerned about having gynecomastia, many plastic surgeons will suggest you lose some weight to gauge if your problem is real gynecomastia (that is: the presence of actual breast tissue) or simply the presence of inconveniently placed fat. You can test this yourself by pinching the tissues. If your breasts have the consistency of the fat on your stomach or thighs, you likely do not have gynecomastia. However, if there is the presence of tough, fibrous tissue, then you have the condition.
Gynecomastia can be an incredibly difficult problem to deal with. All told, the procedure is quite affordable considering the psychological relief it can provide.