Male Breast Reduction (GYNECOMASTIA)

Gynecomastia, or enlarged male breasts, is an extremely common condition with many different causes. Dr. Karaaltı uses various techniques to correct male breasts and tailors the procedure to each individual.

Gynecomastia is defined as a feminine-like appearance of the male breasts, meaning, more specifically, enlargement of the male breast. it can range from barely noticeable to severe. In moderate and severe cases, the male breast can be noticed through clothing. Gynecomastia can be caused by certain medications, changes in male hormones, steroids, marijuana, weight gain, aging, and various other health conditions. Because our focus is on your health and patient safety, the plastic surgeons at the medical staff of “My Medi Expert” will likely run a variety of medical tests to rule out any medical cause of male breast enlargement.

Most cases of gynecomastia in adult men, however, are not related to hormones. It is usually a result of an individual having more breast tissue or more fat in the chest. Gynecomastia is not a disease – some men just naturally have larger breasts than other men. The condition can cause much frustration and embarrassment, especially in social situations when one is expected to go shirtless, such as at the beach, locker room or gym. Surgery, and/or liposuction to contour and streamline the chest tend to greatly improve self-confidence and restore pride in one’s appearance.


What is a Male Breast Reduction or Gynecomastia Surgery?

Gynecomastia comes in many different forms, and various techniques are used in male breast reduction. In some cases, the amount of breast reduction needed may be very minimal, with low fibrous tissue under the nipple. In such cases, Dr. Karaaltı may be able to perform your male breast reduction using only liposuction. However, in most cases, the tissue under the nipple is very fibrous and cannot be removed with liposuction alone. In these situations, a small incision under the nipple can be made to directly remove the breast tissue and contour the chest with a well-hidden scar. In more severe cases of male breast enlargement, excess skin may be present, which requires skin removal. In these cases, Dr. Karaaltı will have an extensive discussion with you about your goals and expectations and will discuss different procedures to help remove the excess skin. Dr. Karaaltı will take great care to conceal your scars for a natural result. Sometimes, our male breast reduction patients may also have complaints of enlarged nipples or areolas. Dr. Karaaltı can address these concerns during the gynecomastia or breast reduction procedure. Dr. Karaaltı aims to achieve the best possible result for you. Whether you want a flat chest or a more muscular and toned appearance, we encourage you to communicate openly with Dr. Karaaltı to achieve your best look. Male breast reduction is typically performed under general anesthesia and as an outpatient procedure.


Male Breast Reduction with Dr. Karaaltın

You are not alone! Many men around the world suffer from the distress of enlarged male breasts. Many of our patients have tried weight loss, diet, and exercise with little or no success. Abnormal breast tissue that becomes visible under clothing can be very discomforting for many men. Dr. Karaaltın’s clinic team will take great care to conceal male breast reduction scars and ensure that your chest looks natural, enhancing your confidence whether you are wearing a shirt or not.


What to Expect from Male Breast Reduction Surgery

Dr. Karaaltı believes in the ability to restore your chest to its best form. He wants you to feel comfortable by the pool, in the gym, or in clothes. Dr. Karaaltı aims to focus on your specific goals and anatomy to achieve the best result possible. It is important to discuss with Dr. Karaaltı how important contour and form are to you versus the significance of scars. Additionally, discussing whether you prefer a flatter or more muscular chest is crucial. Dr. Karaaltı is committed to working with you to reach these goals and will discuss different techniques to provide you with the best result.


What to Expect at Your Initial Consultation for Male Breast Reduction

After your inquiry, our Dr. Karaaltın Clinic representatives will guide you in selecting the most appropriate treatment option:

  • They will listen carefully to your specific complaints and goals.
  • A thorough evaluation will be performed, taking into account your individual anatomy.
  • Depending on your goals for male breast reduction, our team will discuss the details of the surgical procedures offered and which approach is best for you. Information regarding scars and techniques will be provided.
  • The risks and benefits of male breast reduction and other plastic surgery procedures you may be considering will be thoroughly outlined.
  • You will have ample opportunity to ask questions about male breast reduction surgery to both Dr. Karaaltın and our team.

What to Expect on the Day of Your Male Breast Reduction Surgery

On the day of your gynecomastia or male breast reduction procedure, Dr. Karaaltın will meet you in the preoperative area to review any last-minute questions or concerns you may have regarding your surgery. Dr. Karaaltın will make preoperative markings and perform thorough checks to ensure high-quality care and safety. You will also meet the anesthesiologist and their team, as well as the members of the plastic surgery operative team.

During the procedure, Dr. Karaaltın pays meticulous attention to detail and works as a team to ensure an excellent result with a focus on safety and quality. Depending on the specifics of the gynecomastia procedure, your surgery will typically last between 1.5 to 2.5 hours.


Recovery After Male Breast Reduction or Gynecomastia Surgery

After your surgery, you will wear a special post-operative garment. You will have dressings covering the incisions, and you can expect drainage from the areas where liposuction was performed. Swelling is common after the procedure. You may shower 24 hours after the surgery. Dr. Karaaltın uses a multimodal pain management approach to reduce or eliminate the need for narcotic pain medication, allowing patients to recover quickly and feel better soon after surgery. Most of our male breast reduction patients are ready to return to work within 1-2 weeks. Initially, Dr. Karaaltın and the team will see you or communicate with you daily to ensure proper healing. Most of the swelling starts to subside within the first week or two and typically resolves by 4-6 weeks.

Dr. Karaaltın will advise you to avoid strenuous activities or lifting more than 5 kg for 4 weeks during the healing process. Unless you experience significant weight gain, the results generally last for a long time.


What procedures are often performed with a Male Breast Reduction surgery?

Most often, male breast reduction is performed along with other body contouring procedures such as liposuction or male tummy tuck (abdominoplasty). Some of our male breast reduction patients are looking for a more chiseled, muscular look. High-definition liposuction can be performed to help sculpt areas of the body including ab etching, pec etching and etching of other areas of the body to bring out muscle definition and create the illusion of a six pack or etched chest. More and more of our male patients are also undergoing fat transfer to areas such as the buttock and chest for a more sculpted, muscular look.


Facts & Fictions about Male Breast Reduction

Gynecomastia and hormones

Gynecomastia-the enlargement of male breast tissue in men-is a common finding, frequently observed in newborns, adolescents, and old men. Physiological gynecomastia, occurring in almost 25 % of cases, is benign and self-limited; on the other hand, several conditions and drugs may induce proliferation of male breast tissue. True gynecomastia is a common feature often related to estrogen excess and/or androgen deficiency because of different endocrine disorders. Biochemical evaluation should be performed once physiological or iatrogenic gynecomastia has been ruled out. Non-endocrine illnesses, including liver failure and chronic kidney disease, are another cause of gynecomastia which should be considered. Treating the underlying disease or discontinuing medications might resolve gynecomastia, although the psychosocial burden of this condition might require different and careful consideration.


Liposuction Assisted Gynecomastia Surgery with Minimal Periareolar (around the nipple-areola) Incision: Does it work?

Many studies Show that, Small incisional design for breast parenchymal removal in gynecomastia assisted by liposuction showed a good technical approach for consistent improvement in quality of life.


What is the Gynecomastia Surgery-Impact on Life Quality of Male patients?

Several studies show that Gynecomastia surgery significantly improved men's life quality in all aspects and especially in the social aspect and psychical health. This indicates that adult men with gynecomastia are a specific group of patients, in which surgery may result in life quality improvement even over the average scores.


What is the Aesthetic Units of the Male Chest and How are they related to Gynecomastia treatment?

The zones of the male chest are described as follows:

  1. Zone0. This is the area immediately beneath the nipple-areola complex and is always the source of the gynecomastia tissue present. The most localized form of gynecomastia “puffy nipples”.
  2. Zone1. This is the area of the frontal chest superficial to the pectoralis Muscle. Is is often elliptical in shape and horizontally oriented with the nipple-areola complex at its apex. Fullness in this zone is most common gynecomastia presentation. This zone surrounds zone 0.
  3. Zone2. This is the area lateral (side of) the frontal chest (zone1), caudal to the axillary area and can extend to the latissimus Muscle border posteriorly.
  4. Zone3. This is located along the upper lateral border of the pectoral Muscle adjacent to the axillary crease.
  5. Zone4. This area is caudal to the inframammary fold (lower fold of the breast) and can extend from the midline of the chest to the lateral thorax. Its shape is typically oblong.

What is Vibrosat pro technology and how it Works with Male Breast Reduction?

The Vibrosat pro is the cutting-edge technology in high-definition liposuction. It utilizes the vibration expansion phenomena to target the fat cells specifically and with this technology a considerable amount of skin tightening with enhanced shaping is possible.

Before <> After