Who Should Consider Male Breast Reduction?

At the office of Mark P. Solomon in Beverly Hills, CA, we are passionate about helping our clients achieve their ideal aesthetic, which is one reason we offer male breast reduction. There are several potential causes for the appearance of male breasts, therefore, not every man who is dissatisfied with the appearance of his chest is a good candidate for male breast reduction. Others may be a better candidate for liposuction to enhance the contours of the chest. Keep reading to discover if you are a good candidate or not.

Who Should Consider Male Breast Reduction Via Excision? 

Men Who Have Developed Excess Breast Tissue

Remember, there are several potential causes for the appearance of male breasts. If you are overweight or obese, you may look in the mirror and feel like you have male breasts. However, unless you actually have excess breast tissue, you shouldn’t consider the excision procedure. If you only have excess fat or excess fat and skin, liposuction will be a better fit for you.

Men Who Have Excess Breast Tissue and Fat

While the fat removal results of this procedure are not as dramatic as those achieved by an actual fat removal procedure like liposuction, male breast reduction alone is perfect for removing a bit of excess fat.

If you have a significant amount of excess fat but you also have excess glandular tissue, one procedure alone will not be enough to help you achieve your ideal aesthetic. You will need to undergo both glandular tissue excision and fat removal via liposuction.

Men Who Don’t Smoke

You should consider this procedure to remove excess glandular tissue if you don’t smoke. The best candidates for this procedure are non-smokers because it is necessary to abstain from nicotine addiction in the six weeks leading up to and following the procedure. This is because cigarettes contain a chemical compound known as nicotine.

Nicotine damages your health in several ways, including elevating your blood pressure, damaging existing collagen, and slowing your skin’s production rate of new collagen. Unfortunately, your blood pressure must be within a normal range when you are put under anesthesia or sedation. Moreover, strong collagen leads to a faster recovery.

Men Who Pause Enjoying Alcohol for a Time

Again, it is crucial that your blood pressure is within a normal range when you are put under anesthesia or sedation. Like nicotine, alcohol elevates your blood pressure. If you are usually on the upper end of normal, drinking alcohol before your procedure may elevate your blood pressure to an unhealthy level.

For this reason, it is extremely important that you go six weeks without drinking alcohol before your procedure. Moreover, you must abstain from alcohol in the six weeks following your procedure to ensure a speedy recovery and ensure the best results.

Men Who Have Realistic Expectations About the Preparation Process

To know for sure if you should consider this procedure, you must have realistic expectations about the preparation process. Depending on your health, we may advise you to stop taking certain medications. For instance, if you have thin blood, you must stop taking medications and supplements that can thin your blood even further.

For example, you must avoid taking any NSAIDs, MAOIs, and corticosteroids in the two weeks leading up to your procedure. Examples of supplements you should avoid include ginkgo Biloba, garlic, vitamins E and K, and fatty acid supplements, like fish oil. If you have pretty high blood pressure, you must watch your intake of sodium, caffeine, and spicy foods.

Men Who Have Realistic Expectations About the Procedure

To be a good candidate for any aesthetic or medical procedure, it is important that you have realistic expectations about the procedure itself. If you think this procedure will help you sculpt the body of your dreams, schedule an initial consultation. During this consultation, we will provide you with a comprehensive explanation of what to expect.

To give a brief overview to help you decide if you should consider this procedure, your procedure will start with general anesthesia or oral sedation and local anesthesia. This will put you to sleep and ensure your comfort. Then, we will sanitize your chest and make incisions that allow us to remove tissue and restructure and re-contour the remaining tissue.

Men Who Have Realistic Expectations About the Results

To be a good candidate for this procedure, and have a good idea about whether you should consider it, it is important that you have realistic expectations about the results. Again, we will go over this with you during your initial consultation when we review the underlying tissue structures of your chest and your aesthetic goals.

It is important to understand that the results of this procedure may not be permanent. If applicable, the fat removal part of your treatment is permanent. You can’t grow new fat cells in the area. However, if your gynecomastia is caused by bad genes, it may return. Similarly, excess skin tissue can reoccur if you gain weight and lose it again in the future.

Men Who Have Realistic Expectations About the Recovery Process

You should consider this procedure if you have realistic expectations about the recovery process. Every body heals at its own rate. However, on average, the recovery time for this procedure is short and sweet. Depending on the number of procedures performed and the extent of the correction, you may only need to take five days off of work.

If you undergo excision to remove excess glandular tissue and you undergo liposuction of the chest and flanks, your recovery may be a little longer. However, if you only opt for the tissue excision, you will be back to work in no time. Keep in mind, the healthier you are, the faster your recovery period will be.

Men Who Can Follow Post-Op Instructions

For a speedy recovery, it is incredibly important that you can follow post-op care instructions. Your recovery will involve more than just not smoking or drinking alcohol. You must also avoid driving or operating heavy equipment or machinery in the 24 hours following your procedure or taking prescription analgesics.

You must take a full course of antibiotics exactly as prescribed. You must remain hydrated for at least two weeks after your procedure. You may not take certain medications for the first two weeks post-op. If you feel that you will struggle to comply, please let us know during your initial consultation. You may still be able to consider this procedure.

Everything You Need to Know About Liposuction

By now, you should have a pretty good idea regarding whether you should consider male breast reduction via an excision. But what about liposuction? Is it right for you? What can it do to help you achieve your goals and what won’t it do?

What Is Liposuction? 

Liposuction is a body contouring procedure that helps you sculpt the body of your dreams by removing fat. Currently, there are four liposuction techniques, and each has its own advantages. These are tumescent (traditional) liposuction, super wet liposuction, laser-assisted liposuction, and ultrasound-assisted liposuction.

When you’re considering how to sculpt your ideal body and live with confidence for the first time in years, it’s exciting to know that you couldn’t be in better hands than Dr. Solomon’s. He was one of the first cosmetic surgeons to learn how to perform liposuction, and he will work closely with you to identify the best technique for your goals.

What Areas Can Be Treated? 

Men who suffer from gynecomastia tend to use liposuction to target the chest and flanks. However, this procedure can be performed virtually anywhere. For instance, it can address excess fat on the neck, under the chin, and on the jawline. It can also be used to remove excess fat from the buttocks, back, and abdomen.

If you have stubborn pockets of excess fat sticking to smaller regions, they can also be treated. For instance, if you have enough fat for removal, we can treat your upper arms, underarms, or the backs of your knees. To determine if you have enough fat to treat, schedule an in-person consultation or virtual consultation via Skype.

How Much Fat Can Be Removed? 

The amount of fat that can be removed depends on several factors, including the size of the area treated, how much fat was in the treated area, and how much you weigh. On average, 26% of fat cells are removed from each treatment area. Depending on your BMI, we may be able to remove 11 pounds safely.

How Long Does the Procedure Take? 

On average, liposuction takes around an hour per treatment area. So, if you are only removing a significant amount of excess fat from your chest, you will add around an hour to your total procedure time. If you are removing excess fat from your chest and sides, you will add roughly two hours to your total procedure time.

What Can I Expect During Recovery? 

The recovery process following liposuction is the same as the recovery process following gynecomastia correction. However, it is important to note that undergoing two procedures will not double your total recovery time. Even if you receive both gynecomastia correction and liposuction at the same time, you will only need around five days off of work.

If you opt to undergo both of these procedures, it is crucial that you follow all post-op self-care steps. For example, you must not over-exert yourself. As anxious as you may be to get back to your daily routine, your overall recovery process will be shorter if you rest when your body needs to rest.

How Long Do the Results Last? 

As stated previously, the results of liposuction are permanent. Adults cannot grow new fat cells. Therefore, once the fat cells are suctioned out during the procedure, your treatment area (like your chest or flanks) will permanently have fewer fat cells. Even if you gain weight in the future, the treated regions won’t look as large as they may otherwise.

However, the men who should consider this procedure most strongly are the men who are confident that they can maintain their weight in the future. If you consume calories to excess, the remaining fat cells in the treated areas may expand with fat. If you gain over 30 pounds, you may end up with loose or excess skin and need a follow-up procedure.

Discover How to Live With Confidence Today

If you are relatively healthy and uncomfortable with the contours of your chest, you may be a good candidate for male breast reduction via excision. To find out for sure, contact us today at the office of Mark P. Solomon in Beverly Hills, CA to schedule your initial consultation. We can’t wait to meet you and help you boost your self-esteem and self-confidence. See you soon!