Male Breast Tissue

If you are a man and have extra tissue in your chest , removing the tissue is the best option if done correctly and by a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon.

Many younger men I see as well as older men have breast tissue. Some have extra skin as well. Medications and genetics and weight gain all contribute to the problem of gynecomastia which is male breast tissue. If you are unable to lose weight and still have tissue in the chest area, you may be a candidate for cosmetic surgery to remove the tissue.

The best option is surgical excision of the tissue with liposuction. The surgeon will make the patient comfortable in the operating room with local or general anesthesia. We infiltrate the area with local anesthesia which helps with bleeding and pain. We then suction the area with small liposuction cannulas. Then a small incision is made at the areola site to go in and remove the tissue directly. Drains are left in and a surgical garment is worn for 1-2 months. If the nipple is hanging then there are times skin needs to be removed to tailor and shape the chest. It all depends on how elastic the skin is and the position of the nipple is.

The surgery lasts 2-3 hours and the recovery is usually around 1-2 weeks. Most patients return to work after a few days.

Remember to:

1. Always go to a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who has a lot of experience in body contouring.

2. Check his pictures and make sure you see lots of results.

FAQs

1. Can this be done awake?

While it is nice to be awake with smaller procedures, having sedation or anesthesia is imperative for excision of gynecomastia. Most of my patients want to be comfortable during their surgery and having anesthesia allow less pain and less bleeding. This will also mean less post operative bruising.

2. Will insurance cover the cost?

Unfortunately, most insurance plans have not reimbursed the cost of excision of male gynecomastia. Most of the time they will not cover this as it is deemed cosmetic. You will have to call your insurance company and ask them if this is a covered procedure.

The CPT code is 19300, and the ICD-9 code is 611.1. Your insurance company will ask for these codes.

3. Will I have drains?

Two small drains are required after the surgery. These will be removed 3-5 days post op. They help prevent any retained fluid.

4. Do I really need to wear a compression garment and for how long?

Compression garments are imperative. These help push down on the skin and help you get a more even appearance to the chest wall. Patients will have them on for 3-6 weeks.

5. Can I go home after surgery?

This is an outpatient procedure and you may go home after the surgery. Some of my out of town patients stay at an aftercare facility here in town for one night. Depends on where you live and if someone is watching you the first night. Your post op visit with me will be on post op day one or two.