Gynecomastia is also known as ‘man boobs’ and is a very common condition in men involving the overdevelopment of breast tissue. The best treatment to remove excess breast tissue is to have gynecomastia surgery, also known as male breast reduction. Male gyno surgery is the best surgical procedure to permanently remove excess breast tissue, fat or skin. Liposuction is commonly combined as part of gynecomastia surgery to contour and sculpt the male chest to achieve a more masculine look. Here we discuss how effective gynecomastia surgery is and whether there is a chance of gynecomastia coming back after having had surgery to remove it.
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Is gynecomastia surgery permanent?
Gynecomastia surgery is considered a permanent method of male breast tissue removal. This means any breast tissue that has been surgically removed will not grow back. In all cases, it is crucial to bear in mind that the recurrence of excess tissue may occur if patients adopt unhealthy lifestyle habits such as eating excessive quantities of junk food or abusing recreational substances such as cannabis. Anabolic steroids should also be eliminated completely for men who carry out bodybuilding at the gym. Following your surgeon’s postoperative instructions will give you the best possible likelihood of maintaining permanent results.
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What are the causes of gynecomastia?
The underlying mechanism which causes gynecomastia is due to a hormonal imbalance of the two sex hormones, testosterone and oestrogen. Hormonal imbalance can develop for several reasons, including:
- Puberty – as young boys approach puberty, hormonal levels begin to surge, although this will naturally stabilise after 24 months.
- The natural ageing process – the levels of testosterone begin to decline as men age, and there is an increased chance of developing excess body fat, which may be more noticeable in the chest.
- Being overweight or obese – an increased body mass index is associated with increased levels of oestrogen, which may result in excess fat accumulating in the male chest. The male chest may begin to develop feminine characteristics under the influence of excessive levels of oestrogen.
What factors can cause gynecomastia to grow back?
There are several potential causes of excess breast tissue regrowing after successful male breast reduction, including:
- Significant weight gain – once fat cells have been surgically removed during gynecomastia surgery, they do not grow back. However, any subsequent weight gain may result in residual fat cells getting bigger. Men may find fat elsewhere in the body may become more noticeable. This is why it is important to maintain a stable weight over the long-term, involving a healthy diet and regular physical exercise to maintain the results of your gynecomastia and prevent gynecomastia from growing back.
- Pseudogynecomastia – many men have an excess of fatty tissue in the chest as opposed to actual glandular tissue. The best treatment for pseudogynecomastia, which has not responded to diet and exercise, is liposuction of the male chest. Gynecomastia removal is not required in men who have pseudogynecomastia as the glandular tissue is not enlarged in this condition.
- Cannabis use – although cannabis use is not uncommon in younger adult men, its use has contributed to an increase in the development of man boobs or moves in younger men. Use of cannabis results in increased levels of oestrogen, which directly stimulates the formation of excess breast tissue in men. High levels of oestrogen may cause levels of testosterone to be disrupted with the recurrence of gynecomastia. It is, therefore, important to avoid all cannabis use after gynecomastia surgery to ensure the results of male breast reduction are maintained over time.
Will I get swelling after gynecomastia surgery?
Swelling is a common post-operative side-effect after gynecomastia surgery and is commonly reported in Megan during the recovery period. Any swelling can be significantly reduced by wearing your compression garment continuously for the first four weeks after surgery. You should also avoid strenuous activities, including going to the gym for the first six weeks, to allow any gynecomastia swelling to disappear completely.
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Am I suitable for gynecomastia surgery?
The best way to determine your suitability for gynecomastia surgery is to have a face-to-face consultation with an expert consultant plastic surgeon at Centre for Surgery in London. We would advise prospective patients to be in good physical and mental health and be at or near their ideal body weight with excess breast tissue, fat or loose skin affecting the chest. Patients should be a minimum age of 18 before considering surgery. This is because hormonal disturbances can still contribute to the development of gynecomastia before this time due to puberty.
Is gynecomastia surgery worth it?
When performed by a skilled gynecomastia surgeon, gynecomastia surgery is a highly effective treatment to achieve a more contoured and flatter male chest. Men often report an increase in self-confidence, which allows them to wear an unrestricted range of clothing, including tight T-shirts. This is why we would consider male breast reduction a beneficial procedure for men affected by the significant enlargement of the male breasts.
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Where to go in London for gynecomastia surgery near me?
Centre for Surgery in London is a centre of excellence for the treatment of all types of gynecomastia, including difficult and complex cases referred from overseas. Our consultant plastic surgeons have specialist expertise in male contouring surgery and regularly carry out corrective surgery for botched gynaecomastia undertaken elsewhere. Call us today on 020 7993 4849 to schedule a consultation at our state-of-the-art Baker Street clinic in Marylebone. Start your gynecomastia journey today to achieve a defined and more masculine-looking chest at Centre for Surgery.
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