Male Breast Reduction in South Africa

Male breast reduction is a cosmetic procedure conducted as a part of treatment for gynecomastia or enlarged breast in men. During this cosmetic procedure, overgrown breast tissue from underneath the skin id removed.

The skin of the breast and nipple is kept intact to maintain the natural looks of the breast. This procedure gives a firmer, flatter, and masculine contour of the breast in males. Male breast reduction can be conducted in males of any age, including teenagers and young males.

Gynecomastia may affect certain makes because of several reasons. Some of the reasons include the following:

• Use of certain medications
• Unspecified reasons
• Genetics

Gynecomastia removal is best suitable for patients who are self-conscious about the appearance of their chest. Even though it is a benign breast tissue enlargement, the feminine appearance that results may be embarrassing. The enlarged breast tissue, located at the areola of the nipple is soft, mobile, and compressible on palpation.

There are two approaches to conduct breast removal in males. It can be done either through liposuction or tissue excision. Both the procedures are conducted on an outpatient basis and rarely require a hospitalization stay.

Male Breast Reduction Through Liposuction

Liposuction is performed if you are obese and have excessive fat tissue underneath the skin. A cannula fixed to the vacuum pump is inserted through the incision and suctioning is conducted to remove the subcutaneous fat. The following steps are performed:

• Local anaesthesia with sedation or general anaesthesia is administered prior to the procedure.
• An incision on either side of the chest is made. The exact location of the incision depends on the targeted areas from where the fat must be removed.
• The excess fat or glandular tissue is removed through the incision.
• While removing the fat from the targeted areas, the surgeon sculpts the chest to give it a new look and contour.
• A drainage is applied for a few days.
• The incision is closed with the help of sutures and stitches.

Male Breast Reduction Through Tissue Excision

Patients with stretched and sagging skin around the breasts are mostly required to undergo this procedure. The following steps are performed:

• Local anaesthesia with sedation or general anaesthesia is administered.
• Incisions are made on either side of the chest, depending on the target areas.
• A greater amount of glandular tissue or skin is removed from the incisions as compared to the liposuction approach.
• A drainage is applied.
• The incisions are closed with the help of sutures and stitches.

• As the anaesthetic effect starts to wear off, you may start experiencing pain.
•  Your surgeon is likely to prescribe you a few medications to manage pain during the first few days.
• The drainage tubes can be removed immediately after the procedure or left as if for a day or two.
• Any signs of inflammation or redness should be immediately reported as it may indicate an infection.
• Placement of ice packs will provide pain relief to you after the surgery.
• You may be given chest binding wear to maintain pressure on the chest, to prevent fluid accumulation in the breast cavity.
• You may return to work after one week of the surgery.
• You can back to exercising gradually or as advised by the surgeon.
• You should take sponge baths till the incision would heal, to prevent the occurrence of infection.
• You should keep the arms elevated to prevent the accumulation of fluid in the breast cavity.