Teleos Plastic Surgery Radiance Spa Medical Group
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Max R. Lehfeldt, M.D.
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

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Breast Reduction for Men (Gynecomastia)

Many men suffer from excessive breast tissue (gynecomastia) and/or excessive breast skin with nipples that are too low. Some gynecomastia conditions may be related to hormone and endocrine issues.

Improvement of the male chest contour through surgery is very satisfying for patients. Men with excessive chest fullness often feel very self-conscious about their appearance and they often avoid situations where they may have to remove their shirt. This sense of trepidation regarding poor chest contour can readily be corrected with a simple, straightforward, and minimally invasive surgical procedure.

Male Breast Reduction Options

There are several surgical techniques for optimal correction of gynecomastia. Our plastic surgeon, Dr. Max Lehfeldt, has perfected the following approaches to gynecomastia correction:

The specific technique used is determined by the patient’s unique anatomy and aesthetic goals. Dr. Lehfeldt will help you determine what the optimal course of treatment may be for your condition.

A minimally invasive approach using state-of-the-art Smartlipo® laser-based liposuctioning is ideal for patients with mostly fatty excess chest tissue with good skin tone/quality. The laser-liposuction allows for minimal access incisions (only 2-3 mm) and benefits from laser-based energy that literally “melts” excess fat away. The laser energy also may provide additional heat that can lead to additional tightening of the overlying skin. Smartlipo® laser liposuction often results in less bruising, less trauma to the tissues, additional skin tightening, and shorter recovery periods – usually less than a few days! Smartlipo® laser liposuction can often be done in the office using local anesthesia. Smartlipo® laser liposuction results in less risks (no general anesthesia), less costs (no operating room fees nor anesthesia fees), and greater patient convenience and comfort.

Any liposuction technique can result in laxity of the skin and appropriate patient selection is the key. Patients having liposuction procedures will likely need to wear a compression vest for a couple of weeks following their treatment. Sometimes a “staged” approach involving liposuction followed by a second small surgical excision of excess skin/tissue that has not completely tightened up after liposuction may be warranted. Dr. Lehfeldt will help guide you regarding the best option for you.

Sometimes gynecomastia patients have a mixture of both excess chest fatty tissue AND male breast tissue. Male breast tissue can be very dense and often cannot be effectively removed with minimally invasive liposuction techniques alone. In these cases a “hybrid” approach using both laser-based and/or power-assisted liposuction (PAL) along with direct-excision may be the ideal option. Direct-excision involves making a small incision around the nipple to allow surgical removal of excess male breast tissue.

There are circumstances where men have lost a great deal of weight and their breasts/chest tissue are excessively droopy and the nipples are very low. In these unique circumstances, Dr. Lehfeldt has an elegant approach that allows repositioning of the nipple into a higher position while still removing excess chest skin and male breast tissue. This specialized technique maintains blood supply to the nipple by preserving a dermo-subcutaneous pedicle of tissue. This is similar to techniques used to reposition the nipple for female breast reduction, but the technique is modified to minimize the amount of tissue for the male patient. This allows for maximum tissue removal – both skin, fat, and male breast tissue – while simultaneously allowing for maximum nipple repositioning and resizing. The incisions on the chest using this approach are more extensive compared to other gynecomastia reduction techniques, but this specialized surgery provides the maximum improvement in chest contour and fit in clothing for patients that have excessive chest skin/fat and male breast tissue.

Dr. Lehfeldt is absolutely committed to seeing you achieve your goals and he has the expertise, vision, and meticulous surgical technique to help you on your journey! If you would like to see if you are an ideal candidate for male breast reduction or to see if your insurance will cover this procedure, please call 888.96.DR.MAX (888.963.7629) or email.