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Ask Dr. Elliott: Why Do Some Men Develop Breasts, and What Can I Do About It?

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Most of us have something about our appearance that makes us self-conscious, but one aesthetic issue that can be particularly embarrassing is when a man develops excess breast tissue, which can take on the appearance of female breasts. This is a condition called gynecomastia, and it’s more common than many realize. In fact, it’s among the most common reasons men seek plastic surgery in the US. But how and why does gynecomastia occur, and what can you do if it happens to you?

Ask Dr. Elliott Why Do Some Men Develop Breasts, and What Can I Do About ItMale breast development can have a number of different causes. In some cases, the extra tissue is primarily excess fat due to weight gain (this is known as pseudogynecomastia). But for other men, the growth is actually caused by breast tissue. In addition to weight gain or weight fluctuations, there are a wide number of potential causes for gynecomastia, including hormonal changes or imbalances, the use of certain medications or drugs (including anabolic steroids as well as medicines for various health conditions), and even heredity. Patients don’t necessarily need to know the cause of their gynecomastia in order for male breast reduction to be successful, but those whose breasts have stopped growing before treatment (and who take actions to avoid breast growth after treatment, like maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding certain drugs) will see the most lasting results.

For most men (unless their condition is caused by an underlying health problem), the only effective way to address persistent gynecomastia is with a cosmetic surgery called male breast reduction. The procedure varies from one patient to the next depending on their specific needs and condition, but it typically involves removing the excess breast tissue and fat (combining liposuction with excision techniques) to give the chest a more sculpted and masculine contour. Depending on the skin’s elasticity and the severity of the gynecomastia, some breast skin may be removed to restore a more athletic firmness, and the nipple may be repositioned for a more natural-looking result, but we prefer to avoid this if at all possible due to increased scarring. In fact, nearly all gynecomastia cases do not require these extra scars.

While gynecomastia can take several different forms and come from a variety of potential causes, one fact remains: as long as the breasts have stopped growing, male breast reduction has a high success rate and is likely to be the solution for a more desirable contour. To discuss whether you may be a candidate for gynecomastia surgery, schedule a consultation with me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott. Or, for more of the latest plastic surgery news and helpful information, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

Ask Dr. Elliott: What’s the Best Time to Have Breast Reduction Surgery?

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Couple HuggingSome patients seek plastic surgery as a response to changes that have occurred in their appearance over time, while others have struggled with an aesthetic concern for most of their lives. Breast reduction patients, uniquely, could fit either description, because heredity plays a large role in breast size, but so can pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight fluctuations, and other factors. If you’re considering breast reduction surgery, one of the elements in your planning is choosing the right time to have the procedure. This can be more complex than some patients realize, so below are a few tips to help you know when the time is right for breast reduction.

Consider the impact your breasts are having on your health.

While excessively large breasts can make women feel self-conscious, they can also have a significant effect on you wellbeing, often causing back problems, neck pain, numbness or tingling in the fingers or hands, and even migraine headaches and difficulty doing aerobic exercise. Many women experience these symptoms and don’t realize that they’re caused by their breast size, but if you’re noticing these struggles, you may find relief from a decrease in breast size.

Decide if and when you would like to have future children.

Practically speaking, breast surgery will last longer if it’s performed after a woman has stopped having children, because pregnancy and breastfeeding can change the size and shape of the breasts, even after surgery. However, this doesn’t mean that a 20-year-old woman needs to suffer with large breasts for another twenty years until her family is complete. The risk for breastfeeding complications is rather low, so as long as you accept that you may need revision surgery in later years, younger women who want future children can still be wonderful candidates for breast reduction. Just be upfront about any future plans and recent pregnancies in your plastic surgery consultation.

Allow your breasts to reach their natural maturity before surgery (in most cases).

Other than the changes I discussed above (pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight fluctuation), a woman’s breasts usually reach their full size around age 18. If you have surgery before the breasts are fully mature, they may continue to grow, and you may need another surgery to return them to a more comfortable size. However, in extreme cases, breast reduction might be recommended for girls under the age of 18. 

Reach a stable weight before surgery.

Weight fluctuations can affect the size and shape of your breasts, which means that if you gain or lose a significant amount of weight after surgery, you may not be as happy with your long-term results. If you want to lose weight, it’s ideal to reach your goal weight before breast reduction. Not only will having plastic surgery after weight loss help your results last longer, but it may also allow you to be in better overall health at the time of your procedure, which minimizes surgical risks.

Plan your day-to-day schedule around your surgery.

As with any surgery, breast reduction requires some recovery time, and planning ahead can help you fit this downtime more easily into your life. For instance, many patients find that planning surgery around a holiday they’ll have off work, like the Fourth of July or Labor Day, allows them to take less time off to recover.

Planning for breast reduction (or any plastic surgery, for that matter) is a process, and the decisions you make will affect your safety, your results, and your overall experience. Take your time, learn about the procedure and what to expect, and feel free to consult with several plastic surgeons before you find the one that makes you feel comfortable. To start discussing how I can help you, schedule a consultation with me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott. Or, to stay up-to-date on the latest plastic surgery news, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

Procedures for Common Signs of Aging

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Everyone wants to feel confident in their appearance, but one problem which will take its toll on all of us is aging. Throughout both the face and body, the years begin to show up gradually, and while everyone ages in their own unique way, there are some signs of aging which are nearly universal. Fortunately, for each of these cosmetic concerns, there is a surgical or non-surgical way to minimize it.

Procedures for Common Signs of AgingSagging skin throughout the face and/or neck

While wrinkles alone may not warrant plastic surgery, if you’ve noticed that your skin is more lax and has begun to sag, it may be time for either a facelift, a short scar facelift, or a neck lift. While the neck lift is generally for patients who are happy with their facial appearance but have seen significant sagging throughout the neck area, those who want to rejuvenate both their face and neck are often better candidates for a traditional facelift. However, many patients who want to focus their efforts on the face can reach their desired results with a minimally invasive short scar facelift instead.

Drooping breasts

For many women, time and aging skin can cause their breasts to take on a less desirable shape, and this is especially likely for those who have experienced weight fluctuations, pregnancy, or breastfeeding. A breast lift can maintain the current size while lifting the breasts to a more youthful position, and for women who would also like their breasts to be larger or smaller, a breast augmentation or reduction can often be performed during the same surgery.

Age spots and wrinkles

Patients who either haven’t experienced enough skin laxity to require a facelift or who want to address surface imperfections like age spots may be candidates for laser skin resurfacing. This is a non-surgical treatment which uses a laser to remove damaged surface skin. At the same time, the laser helps the deeper layers of skin to produce more collagen, the protein which keeps your skin looking young and firm. The result is a more even and youthful complexion.

Sagging skin throughout the body

It’s all too easy to see your facial skin lose volume and firmness as your body produces less collagen over time, but this same process happens with the rest of your skin as well. Whether your skin laxity is caused by aging alone or has been worsened because of weight fluctuations or pregnancy, surgeries like the tummy tuck, arm lift, or thigh lift can remove excess skin for a younger and more toned appearance.

Bags under the eyes or “hooded” eyelids

The effects of gravity and the changes your skin goes through over the years can sometimes make the natural fat deposits below your eyes more pronounced, and can also lead to sagging skin above your eyes, giving your eyelids a “hooded” appearance. These issues can be addressed with eyelid surgery (or blepharoplasty) of either the upper or lower eyelids or both, depending on your specific needs.

Aging effects everyone at different rates and in different ways, so it’s important to base your plastic surgery decisions on your specific needs and desired results, not on what others your age are getting done. To discuss your aesthetic options, schedule a consultation with me, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Franklyn Elliott. Or, for more helpful information about plastic surgery, join me on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

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