Gynecomastia

Gynecomastia surgery, also known as male breast reduction, is performed to reduce the appearance of large breasts in men who suffer from gynecomastia. The procedure can give the chest a flatter and more masculine appearance. Dr. Ho is a skilled plastic surgeon who can provide you with natural-looking results from your gynecomastia surgery in Vancouver, BC.

“Patients interested in decreasing the size and volume of stubborn breast tissue may consider gynecomastia surgery.”

The success and safety of your gynecomastia procedure depends very much on your complete candidness during your consultation. You’ll be asked a number of questions about your health, desires and lifestyle.

“This patient is ___ years of age and underwent gynecomastia surgery and axillary liposuction with Dr. Ho. He is seen here __ months post-surgery and is feeling more confident in his clothing.”

During your gynecomastia surgery recovery period, dressings or bandages will be applied to your incisions and an elastic bandage or support garment may be used to minimize swelling and support your new chest contour as it heals after surgery.

A small, thin tube may be temporarily placed under the skin to drain any excess blood or fluid that may collect.

You will be given specific instructions that may include how to care for the surgical site and drains, medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the potential for infection, specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health and when to follow up with your plastic surgeon.

Be sure to ask your plastic surgeon specific questions about what you can expect during your individual recovery period.

It’s very important to follow your plastic surgeon’s instructions and attend follow-up visits as scheduled.

The final results of gynecomastia surgery are permanent in many cases. However, if gynecomastia resulted from the use of certain prescription medications, drugs (including steroids) or weight gain you must be fully free from these substances and remain at a stable weight in order to maintain your results.

Please discuss this with your physician before making changes to your prescription medications.

Recovering from gynecomastia surgery at home

If you experience shortness of breath, chest pains or an unusual heartbeat, seek medical attention immediately. Should any of these complications occur, you may require hospitalization and additional treatment.

Following your physician’s instructions is essential to the success of your surgery.

It’s important that the surgical incisions are not subjected to excessive force, swelling, abrasion or motion during the time of healing. Your doctor will give you specific instructions on how to care for yourself.

Gynecomastia is essentially the development of breast tissue in men.  All men have some tissue above their chest muscles, however, when this is more than desired, it can be noticeable and make men feel very self-conscious about their appearance. Commonly, men describe not being comfortable in tighter fitting shirts, or being embarrassed at the gym and not wanting to remove their shirts in public.  In this situation, Gynecomastia Surgery can be of great benefit.  The surgery reduces the “male breasts” by removing excess fat and glandular tissue and tightening the surrounding skin.  The result is a more masculine, fit and healthy looking chest and body.  There are several different techniques that can be used to help achieve these goals, and Dr. Ho would be happy to discuss the surgery in more detail with you to help you decide if gynecomastia surgery is a good option to address the concerns you have relating to your chest.

Take a look at the photo gallery for some before and after examples to see how gynecomastia surgery can enhance your chest appearance.  To take the next step, request a consultation with Dr. Ho, or call our office at 604.273.1034 to schedule an appointment. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you learn more about the procedure on the road to achieving all of your functional and aesthetic goals.

The first important thing for men to know who are self-conscious from having larger amounts of breast tissue is that this is a very common condition.  It is estimated that 35-to-45% of men are symptomatic from their breast tissue.  It is also important to note, that this can affect only one side of the chest, or both.

Surgery to address this issues can be performed utilizing several different techniques, depending on the amount of tissue to be remove and the amount of skin that needs to be tightened.  For smaller amounts of excess “male breast” tissue, this can often be treated with Liposuction on its own.  This involved passing a liposuction cannula from small, inconspicuous incisions, to remove the excess fat.  Following this, the skin tightens around the new, flatter and contoured chest.

For larger reductions, an incision is made on the lower border of the areola to allow direct excision of the fatty and glandular tissue above the chest muscles.  Liposuction is often added to this technique to help create an even and smooth contour to the chest.  For very large Gynecomastia reductions, skin may also need to be excised requiring strategically placed incisions on the chest to hide the resulting scars as best as possible.  Dr. Ho would be happy to discuss the surgery in more detail with you and recommend what options exist to achieve your functional and aesthetic goals for your chest.

Gynecomastia Surgery is generally performed as an outpatient procedure at any one of the hospitals Dr. Ho operates at, or at a private surgical facility.  You will be able to go home after the procedure to relax and recover.  In general, most men recover well over the first week, and we provide you with all the medication and supplies to help you through this process.  When thinking about time off work, or away from social commitments, 1-to-2 weeks is a safe window of down time depending on the size of the reduction.  There are often drains used in the first few days to help minimize the chance of fluid accumulating.  These are removed in the office and appropriate drain care instructions are provided. During the recovery time, you will wear a compression garment under your clothes to help minimize swelling and provide support to your chest as it heals.  Heavy lifting and strenuous exercise should be avoided for 4 weeks.  Dr. Seal will see you in the office over the recovery period to review all of the important information with you and ensure you are doing well.  The final results can appear gradually over the first few months as the tissue settles and the swelling subsides.  The incisions continue to fade over the first year, and all of the important things you can do to help optimize your results are reviewed during your follow-up visits.

Gynecomastia surgery can truly be transforming for both the appearance of your chest, and from a functional point of view.  Patients love their new, flatter, toned and muscular chest.  This can make clothes feel and look better, and make daily life, as well as, exercise more comfortable and enjoyable.

During your consultation, Dr. Ho will address any questions you may have about the cost of gynecomastia surgery in Vancouver, BC. There are several factors that can influence the cost of your procedure like the techniques required to provide the desired results. Financing options are available.

Contact our office today to schedule a consultation for your gynecomastia surgery in Vancouver. Dr. Ho is a highly-skilled plastic surgeon who is dedicated to providing our patients with the personalized surgical care they are in need of. She can provide you with excellent results from your Gynecomastia surgery in Vancouver.