Search Results for: breast reduction

May 3, 2017

Answering Some Common Questions about Male Breast Reduction & Gynecomastia

Blog, Breast Surgery, Educational, Liposuction / Body Contouring candidate for male breast reduction Atlanta, gynecomastia Atlanta, male breast enlargement Atlanta, Male breast reduction surgery atlanta, plastic surgery atlanta

For many men, the idea of breast enlargement can seem pretty embarrassing. But the truth is that male breast enlargement, or gynecomastia, is far more common than you may know. In fact, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) estimates that gynecomastia affects roughly 40% of the male population in the US. Gynecomastia can be caused by many things including hormonal changes, hereditary factors, or certain health conditions. Regardless of the cause, gynecomastia can be a source of significant frustration and self-consciousness for men of all ages.

For men who seek to rid themselves of their enlarged breasts, male breast reduction surgery may be the solution they desire. By removing excess breast tissue and fat (as well as excess skin in certain cases) male breast reduction is able to give the chest a more sculpted and masculine contour. I have witnessed firsthand the tremendous, long-lasting results this procedure is able to provide. For patients who are curious about gynecomastia and how male breast reduction can help, I have provided answers to the following commonly asked questions:

What drugs or substances can increase my risk of gynecomastia?

In addition to the causes listed above, a number of medications and drugs can potentially increase a man’s risk of developing enlarged breasts. These can include steroids, certain antibiotics, medicines used to treat heart conditions, some chemotherapy drugs, and more. Consuming alcohol or certain recreational drugs like marijuana, methamphetamine, and heroin may also lead to gynecomastia.

What ages are men potentially vulnerable to gynecomastia?

The truth is, gynecomastia can affect men from birth all throughout adulthood. For newborns, breast enlargement is caused by estrogen from the mother, though this typically goes away after about six months. For teenagers and preteen boys, breast enlargement can occur as a result of hormonal fluctuation during puberty. This too will typically correct itself over time. For adult men who experience gynecomastia, surgical intervention is typically required to minimize the symptoms.

What can I do after my male breast reduction surgery to achieve the best results?

Like any other plastic surgery procedure, it’s vital that you closely follow your surgeon’s pre and post-op instructions. After the procedure, I instruct my patients to wear a compression garment to minimize swelling and support their new chest contour as it heals. Male breast reduction patients should wait about a week before returning to work (though this depends on their job) and at least two to three weeks before exercising following their procedure.

I hope you found these answers helpful. No matter the patient’s age or the cause of their condition, I believe male breast reduction can be a life-changing procedure for men trying to achieve a more desirable contour. To discuss whether you may be a candidate for male breast reduction surgery, please contact me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott, to schedule a consultation today. Or, for more of the latest plastic surgery news and helpful information, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

November 18, 2016

Ask Dr. Elliott: What is the Difference Between a Breast Reduction and Breast Lift?

Blog, Breast Augmentation, Breast Lift, Breast Surgery, Educational atlanta breast augmentation, Atlanta breast implants, Atlanta cosmetic surgeon, breast lift atlanta, breast reduction atlanta

Choosing the right plastic surgery procedure can be more complicated than it sounds, especially for a patient who is trying to decide with little to no guidance. The right choice depends not only on your cosmetic goals but also on the underlying cause of the problem in some cases (e.g., excess skin vs. excess fat). Only the knowledge and experience of a board-certified plastic surgeon offers a comprehensive enough understanding of your options and your anatomy to determine what procedure is the ideal one for you. Still, I believe in educating my patients as much as possible, so to help you narrow down your choices, I’m taking a closer look at one of the more common questions I hear: what is the difference between a breast reduction and a breast lift?

As their names indicate, both of these cosmetic surgeries have distinct goals: breast reduction aims to reduce the size of the breast, while breast lift focuses on lifting the breasts to a higher and more youthful position. The breast reduction procedure involves removing breast tissue and fat in order to give the patient breasts that are more comfortable and proportionate to the body. A breast lift, on the other hand, generally removes only excess skin (rather than breast tissue and fat) while also repositioning the nipple.

Here’s the important distinction: a breast reduction typically involves a lift as well, because it’s generally necessary in order to create results the patient will be happy with. A breast lift, on the other hand, can either be performed by itself (with no change to the breast size) or alongside a breast augmentation (so that breast implants are used to make the breasts both larger and more youthful). Deciding which of these options is ideal for you will require a combination of your own self-reflection to determine what your goals are, as well as a personal consultation with a plastic surgeon who can explain what results you can expect from each option.

Having successful plastic surgery begins long before the operating room. It’s crucial to choose a qualified, experienced, and specialized board-certified plastic surgeon who makes you feel comfortable and who can not only perform your surgery well but can also guide you throughout the process. If you’re ready to get started, schedule a consultation with me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott. Or, for more health tips and plastic surgery news, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

September 19, 2016

Chest Liposuction or Male Breast Reduction?

Blog, Breast Surgery, Educational, Liposuction Atlanta double board-certified plastic surgeon, gynecomastia Atlanta, gynecomastia surgery atlanta, liposuction atlanta, male breast reduction Atlanta

Many people see plastic surgery as holding more appeal for women than for men, with the assumption that women are more concerned about their appearance. While this is often the case, I have been seeing more and more male patients as men begin to recognize the benefits of a masculine, natural-looking cosmetic surgery result. One of the most common concerns these men want to address is chest enlargement, or male breasts. This condition, referred to as either gynecomastia (excess breast tissue) or pseudogynecomastia (excess fat), can typically be treated with great success and minimal scarring by a board-certified plastic surgeon.

While all men have some degree of glandular breast tissue, some men develop enough to form enlarged, female-like breasts. This can be caused by hormonal changes, weight fluctuations, the use of certain drugs or medications, and even heredity. But whatever the culprit may be, gynecomastia can make men feel highly self-conscious both with and without a shirt on. The condition typically doesn’t resolve on its own without cosmetic surgery, so many patients ask, “how do I know if I can just have liposuction to remove the fat or if I need to have breast tissue removed, too?”

It’s understandable for patients to prefer liposuction to male breast reduction, because the scars liposuction causes are extremely small—just a few millimeters long. This makes them particularly discreet and difficult to see. Breast tissue, on the other hand, is more dense than fat, so it cannot be removed through the narrow tube we use for liposuction. The fact is that most men will need some degree of breast tissue removed in addition to the fat, but the good news is that this can actually be done with less scarring than patients generally expect. I often begin with liposuction throughout the chest area, then simply make a small incision across the bottom of each areola to remove the breast tissue from each side. In severe cases of gynecomastia in which the skin has become stretched (particularly in older men or those who have lost extreme amounts of weight), some skin removal may be required in order to achieve the results the patient is looking for, but the majority of men can attain the masculine contours they want with liposuction and breast tissue removal alone.

Whether your chest enlargement is primarily caused by excess fat or glandular breast tissue, it’s crucial that you take steps to prevent the gynecomastia from returning after surgery. This means maintaining a stable weight, keeping alcohol consumption moderate, and avoiding certain drugs like anabolic steroids and marijuana. If your chest has stabilized in size and you’re ready to regain a firmer and more masculine shape, schedule your pre-surgical consultation with me today. Or, for more plastic surgery tips and helpful information, follow me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott, on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

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