Male Breast Reduction in Minneapolis – St. Paul

Yes, a number of factors, including weight gain, changes in hormone levels, and even certain medications can cause men to develop fatty or glandular tissue on their chest.

After your Minneapolis-St. Paul male breast reduction, 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. 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 your surgical site(s) following surgery, medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the risk of infection, specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health, and when to follow up with Dr. Rocheford. Be sure to ask Dr. Rocheford specific questions about what you can expect during your individual recovery period.

You will notice that the chest area (breast) is enlarged or over developed and that is disproportionate to a man's body.

Prior to surgery, you may be asked to get lab testing or a medical evaluation, take or adjust your current medications, stop smoking well in advance of surgery, and avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, and herbal supplements as they can increase bleeding.

Sometimes, especially in the case of young men going through puberty, gynecomastia will go away once the bodys hormone levels are back to normal. In other circumstances, the tissue can only be removed with surgery.

Any invasive procedure, including gynecomastia surgery, will leave some scars. However, with Dr. Rochefords skilled technique and proper care, scars can be made as unnoticeable as possible.

Gynecomastia surgery is a highly individualized procedure and you should do it for yourself, not to fulfill someone else's desires or to try to fit any sort of ideal image. This procedure is a good option for you if you are bothered by the feeling that your breasts are too large and are generally healthy and cleared for surgery. Surgical correction of gynecomastia is best performed on men whose condition cannot be corrected through alternative medical treatments, healthy individuals who do not have a life-threatening illness or medical conditions that can impair healing, non-smokers and non-drug users, and men with a positive outlook and specific goals in mind.

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. Be prepared to discuss why you want the surgery, your expectations, and desired outcome, any medical conditions or drug allergies, use of current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco, and drugs including steroids, and previous surgeries. Dr. Rocheford may also evaluate your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors, perform diagnostic testing to determine the underlying cause of gynecomastia - this may include testing of your endocrine function - examine your breasts and may take detailed measurements of their size and shape, skin quality, placement of your nipples and areolas.

Use this checklist as a guide during your consultation: How many years of plastic surgery training have you had? Am I a good candidate for this procedure? What will be expected of me to get the best results? Where and how will you perform my procedure? What surgical technique is recommended for me? How long of a recovery period can I expect, and what kind of help will I need during my recovery? What are the risks and complications associated with my procedure? How are complications handled? What are my options if I am dissatisfied with the outcome of my surgery?

Male breast reduction can sometimes be achieved with weight loss, although if you are already at a healthy, stable weight, this may not be the case.

The final results of breast reduction in men 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. All scars are permanent, even though some scars may be concealed in the natural contours of the breast. Your improved upper body will likely enhance your self-image and confidence, whether in a shirt and tie, a t-shirt, or baring your chest at the beach.

First, anesthesia medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedure. The choices include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. Dr. Rocheford will recommend the best choice for you. In cases where gynecomastia is primarily the result of excess fatty tissue, liposuction techniques alone may be used. This requires the insertion of a cannula, a thin hollow tube, through several small incisions. Excision techniques are recommended where glandular breast tissue or excess skin must be removed to correct gynecomastia. Excision also is necessary if the areola will be reduced, or the nipple repositioned to a more natural male contour. Incision patterns vary depending on the specific conditions and surgical preference. Sometimes gynecomastia is treated with both liposuction and excision.

The risks include, but are not limited to, unfavorable scarring, bleeding (hematoma), infection, anesthesia risks, and the possibility of revisional surgery. If liposuction is used, additional risks include uneven contours, rippling or loose skin, irregular pigmentation, excessive fluid loss or fluid accumulation.