It is unreasonable to say that every man wants a Superman chest. Many men are content with their shape even when they don’t have bulging pectoral muscles. Where we slip into a danger zone is when the chest loses all semblance of masculinity. We call this condition gynecomastia, in which a man grows female-like breasts. Gynecomastia is not always so extreme that a man has literal breasts. For some men, gynecomastia presents as puffy nipples. Regardless, the condition can be difficult to navigate. That’s why, here, we will discuss why male breast reduction makes sense for many men.

Hormonal Imbalance and the Male Body

Studies have demonstrated that, while several factors can contribute to gynecomastia, hormones play a relatively prominent role. This can be a tricky piece of information because, recognizing this correlation, some unscrupulous companies have developed “all natural” products that they claim will balance hormones and resolve the male breast problem. Clinically, this has not been proven. On the contrary, hormone balancing using herbs and other non-regulated products can be dangerous.

In some instances, hormone-related gynecomastia has been linked to medication use. In such cases, if the medication is changed, the excess breast tissue may go away on its own. This is the exception, not the rule, which is one of several reasons male breast reduction has become increasingly popular.

Reasons Men Have Gynecomastia Surgery

More Openness to Cosmetic Surgery

The United States has had a particular view of plastic surgery that is quite different than other countries. For example, in Brazil, it is quite common for men and women of all ages to have plastic surgery and to talk about what they’ve had done or plan to have done. In the States, we’ve been much more reserved about our cosmetic endeavors. Recently, it has become much more acceptable to have plastic surgery and talk about it. This switch in perspective has given men the permission (that they really didn’t need) to seek help for male breast enlargement.

Improved Sense of Self

Most people realize that their appearance is one small facet of their overall Self. Confidence and self-esteem are derived from multiple factors. Still, a man whose chest looks feminine is often subjected to cruel comments. Peers may not realize the toll that terms like “man boobs” have on one’s sense of confidence. It doesn’t matter if gynecomastia affects only the nipples or if breast enlargement involves sagging tissue, a man can suffer immense anxiety and embarrassment by his shape.

Gynecomastia surgery is a streamlined process that often involves a simple liposuction procedure. As such, men may be back to most of their normal activities within a week or so of male breast reduction. To learn more about this procedure, call 513.985.0850.

Male breast reduction has become a popular procedure for men who are tired of living with enlarged breasts. We call this condition gynecomastia. It is also commonly referred to as “man boobs.” Gynecomastia may develop for many reasons, from weight to hormones to certain medications. To correct the enlargement of the breasts, many men turn to diet and exercise. This is not a bad option; it just doesn’t always work. If you have found that diet and exercise have not improved your chest contours, you may be an excellent candidate for male breast reduction in our Cincinnati surgical center.

Dr. Krummen has treated many men for gynecomastia. Some can improve with liposuction, the procedure that removes fat cells. More often, it is necessary to remove fat cells as well as the breast gland. This is because an overactive breast gland is often the underlying cause of excessive breast tissue growth. When gynecomastia has been severe and has persisted for a long time, enlarged breasts may also need to be reshaped by removing excess, sagging tissue. Each gynecomastia surgery is unique. This makes it difficult to answer one of the most common questions men have about their journey: when can they work out again?

Working Out After Male Breast Reduction

Each patient knows what their procedure will involve well before they undergo surgery. Understanding the nature of their procedure helps each of our patients navigate their best recovery. Generally, patients should expect to take several weeks off their normal exercise routine. Strength-training and weight-lifting are out of the question, as forcing the chest muscles to contract too soon could lead to complications such as bleeding, bruising, and prolonged tissue trauma.

What patients can do after gynecomastia surgery is walk. If activity is a must, a man may begin walking 15 to 30 minutes a day as soon as the day after surgery. Walking does not mean hiking and it does not mean jogging. The kind of walking we’re talking about is more of a stroll. The objective is not to exercise (we don’t want the heart rate to increase) but to move the body and encourage good circulation through healing tissues. This helps repair and rebuild.

When Can Strength Training Resume?

It is imperative to recognize that gynecomastia surgery has cut and stitched the muscle and skin on the chest. Muscle contractions can cause incisions to re-open if done too soon. In most cases, strength training can gradually resume after the 4- or 6-week post-surgical follow-up visit with Dr. Krummen. After that time, incisions should be completely closed. Still, patients are advised to begin lifting very light weights; 3 to 5 lb free weights and only a few reps.

The Wait is Worth It

Gynecomastia surgery may incur a recovery period of approximately six weeks. However, the outcome of surgery and a healthy recovery can last indefinitely. The wait to resume strength-training is worth it.

Are you ready to eliminate man boobs for good? Call our Cincinnati office at 513.985.0850 to schedule your consultation for male breast reduction.

Men often hold themselves to a high standard. When it comes to their appearance, this could include maintaining a healthy weight and a certain degree of contour in areas like the chest and abdomen. Gynecomastia is a condition that could make this perfectly reasonable ideal seem impossible. To have gynecomastia is to have enlarged breasts, something no man welcomes. The problem could stem from several different factors, from weight to hormones to medications and simple genetics. Because of its complexity, gynecomastia can be a difficult condition to address. The way many men are doing that is with male breast reduction surgery. Male breast reduction can contour the chest to look flatter and more masculine. In so doing, the minimally-invasive procedure can restore self-confidence. Men who are in good general health make good candidates for gynecomastia surgery and are most often quite satisfied with the outcome of their procedure.

The Male Breast Reduction Procedure

Patients interested in male breast reduction have a consultation with Dr. Krummen at the outset of their journey. This helps her understand their concerns and the desired outcome. A brief examination of breast tissue guides treatment planning. In some cases, liposuction alone may resolve gynecomastia. For some men, though, a combination of liposuction and tissue excision is needed to flatten the chest. The procedure may remove the breast gland to prevent future swelling of the breasts or nipples, and it may tighten skin if necessary.

Recovery Following a Male Breast Reduction

Most male breast reduction procedures are performed on an outpatient basis. Patients go home once they have regained alertness but must be driven by a loved one. It is also necessary to have someone stay the night after surgery to assist with medications and safely getting in and out of bed. A compression garment is applied after surgery, but patients will see a difference in their shape right away. Swelling, bruising, and soreness subside in 10 to 14 days, after which a man may return to work. Restrictions for strenuous physical activity may be lifted 6 weeks after surgery. Enlarged breasts are not a feature most men can appreciate on their bodies. To learn more about gynecomastia and male breast reduction, call our Cincinnati office at 513.985.0850.

As relevant as terms like gynecomastia may be in the medical field, those who live with this problem aren’t helped by it. You may know gynecomastia better as “man boobs.” Historically, people have gotten a good laugh out of the very idea of a man having breasts. Well, if you are a man living with breast tissue, this is no laughing matter. Gynecomastia may not be a serious risk to general health but it can very much be a risk to optimal emotional wellness.

Why Do Some Men Develop Enlarged Breasts?

Every person has breast tissue. We just never learned that this was common among men. Only women, for the most part, demonstrated “breast tissue.” This is both a muscle mass issue and a hormone issue. Women generally have a higher fat-to-muscle ratio than men. Women also typically have more estrogen than testosterone in their blood. Gynecomastia shows us that this isn’t always true.

Male breasts may be related to weight, but this is relatively uncommon. It is referred to as pseudogynecomastia. True gynecomastia is a physical condition that is often triggered by a hormone imbalance. A man’s estrogen may increase to a point at which it dominates testosterone levels. Genetic factors may be involved. Certain medications may also contribute to this imbalance. And, in some cases, there is no identifiable reason for hormone imbalance. What we do know is that addressing the direct physical problem is much more expeditious in getting results than trying to reduce male breast tissue by balancing hormones.

How Male Breast Reduction Works

Doctors who are trained to perform male breast reduction first conduct a thorough medical history and examination. There are no specific tests or diagnostic imaging that confirm gynecomastia because the signs are quite clear. Depending on the characteristics of enlarged breasts, a plastic surgeon may perform:

• Liposuction, which manually removes fatty deposits from the breast area.
• Removal of the breast gland, which eliminates puffy nipples.
• Breast lift technique to trim excess skin that has stretched with breast enlargement.

Breast reduction is not a procedure we should associate only with women. Men who live with enlarged breasts may suffer tremendously. Reducing breast size restores the shape of the masculine chest, which can then restore the strength of a man’s self-confidence.

Learn more about male breast reduction. Call 513.985.0850 to schedule a consultation in our Cincinnati office.

Male breast reduction has become a common procedure in recent years. This term describes a group of techniques that may be utilized to bring a man’s chest back to its masculine form. The surgical procedure that is recommended does more than reshape the breasts, as men may know. When the male chest is made to once again look like a masculine chest, the patient gains immense emotional satisfaction from this physical change. Reducing breast size may mean no longer having to wear baggy clothing to hide one’s shape. It may mean being able to toss out the compression “bra” that has been relied upon to hide man boobs. It usually means regaining the self-confidence that has been lacking for years.

Gynecomastia surgery may be much more common now than it was even a few years ago, but most men still have questions. The Big One that we often hear is “what is it like to recover from male breast reduction?” Here, we provide a general timeline of the issues most important to many of our patients.

The Recovery Timeline for Male Breast Reduction

The following details of gynecomastia surgery are general and will vary from one person to another. Remember, every procedure is tailored to the individual. Some cases may require only the removal of fatty tissue while others are much more extensive, involving the removal of sagging breast tissue, the breast gland, and stretched skin. In general, men can expect to:

• See the doctor the day after surgery. This first surgical follow-up is a brief visit to observe initial healing and change out the surgical dressing for a compression garment. Extensive procedures may have a 10-day bandage rather than a one-day dressing.
• See the doctor approximately one week after surgery to have drains removed. Drains are often placed to allow fluid to drain from the surgical area. These are typically not painful but may feel slightly inconvenient.
• Limit arm movements for up to three weeks, avoiding lifting the arms overhead.
• Have the ability to resume lower body exercise in a week to two weeks.
• Be cleared for upper body exercise after 5 weeks, possibly later depending on the technique used during surgery.

A Word about Exercise after Gynecomastia Surgery

Of all the side effects of surgery, it may be fatigue that takes a man by surprise. It is crucial to listen to your body as you gradually resume normal activities after male breast reduction. There is no “suck it up” here, only a commitment to true healing through adequate rest and recuperation.

Learn more about male breast reduction. Call our Cincinnati office at 513.985.0850.

Men should not have breasts. As much as we expect every male chest to be flat, Mother Nature sometimes has a different idea. There are millions of men in the world who are needlessly living with shame about the shape and size of their breasts. The common expression to describe enlarged male breasts is “man boobs.” We use the term gynecomastia to describe the excessive growth of breast tissue in men. This is not only more scientific, but also much kinder. Men with gynecomastia need kind support. They also need to know why their breasts have grown and what can be done to help them.

Interesting Statistics

One of the most significant scientific discoveries related to gynecomastia is the prevalence of this condition among teen boys. The National Institutes of Health released statistics which reveal that more than half of teen boys have gynecomastia to some extent. This is important to address because teen boys need a lot of support to help them handle the social and emotional repercussions of having female-like breasts. Fortunately, science tells us that most teen boys whose breast enlarge during adolescence experience the spontaneous flattening of the chest as their hormone levels come into balance. Until this happens, a teen may feel more confident if he wears a compression garment under his shirts. Also, if gynecomastia persists for longer than two years, a medical consultation and exam can be scheduled with a doctor who is familiar with the causes and treatment of gynecomastia.

Statistics also suggest that more than 60% of adult men develop gynecomastia. Hormone dysregulation may play a role here as well. This may be especially relevant when a man is overweight because excess belly fat can increase estrogen production in the body, and estrogen can dominate testosterone. Other aspects of a man’s life, such as the consumption of drugs or alcohol, may also contribute to gynecomastia.

Medical support for gynecomastia may encompass a man’s diet and lifestyle habits, but this approach may not resolve existing breast tissue. Most men realize that you can’t exercise away enlarged breasts. What is needed in situations of persistent breast enlargement is surgery. In our Cincinnati office, Dr. Krummen tailors male breast reduction to the individual. To see how we can help you or someone you love feel better about their appearance, call 513.985.0850.