Male Breast Reduction (Gynecomastia) in Tampa, FL

Are you a male who is bothered by excess breast tissue? If so, you’re not alone! This condition is called gynecomastia, and it is one of the most common cosmetic complaints reported by men. In fact, this condition may affect up to half of men at some point in their life. Male breast enlargement can have a significant impact on one’s quality of life by decreasing self-esteem and masculinity. This may make it harder for men to feel comfortable and confident in their clothing, at the gym, and in romantic relationships. Many men today are sick and tired of dealing with gynecomastia, and have chosen to take action. In fact, thousands of men each year choose a surgical solution for their unwanted breast tissue through safe and effective male breast reduction surgery.

Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Traci Temmen is able to help men living with gynecomastia by performing male breast reduction surgery at Temmen Plastic Surgery. With discretion, understanding, and surgical expertise, Dr. Temmen is able to safely remove excess male breast tissue, creating a masculine, well-proportioned chest that allows men to feel confident in everyday life again. If this sounds like something you may be interested in, read on to learn more about this safe, effective, and life-changing procedure.

Male Breast Reduction Surgery Details

Two things can cause breast enlargement in males: Excess fatty tissue and excess glandular tissue. Fatty tissue may be removed with liposuction, while glandular tissue must be removed with surgical excision. During male breast reduction surgery, Dr. Temmen performs a combination of liposuction and/or surgical excision best suited for that patient. Many patients have a combination of fatty and glandular tissue, and so benefit most from a combination of liposuction and direct surgical excision. In addition to liposuction of the chest, some men may also choose to undergo liposuction of their abdomen, sides, and/or back if they would also like to address these areas at the same time and sculpt a smoother, more toned physique. Dr. Traci Temmen speaks extensively with each patient to understand their goals, and performs a careful physical exam to assess the degree of gynecomastia and create a personalized surgical plan to achieve the best possible result for each patient.

Who is a Candidate for Male Breast Reduction Surgery?

Men with enlarged or oversized breasts are good candidates for male breast reduction surgery. These men have often experienced embarrassment and decreased self-confidence due to this condition, negatively impacting their quality of life. They may also feel uncomfortable in certain clothing, or in performing activities like going to the gym or beach. In order to determine individual candidacy, prospective patients should schedule a consultation with Dr. Temmen.

Dr. Temmen understands that gynecomastia is a source of embarrassment for many men, and takes care to fully understand their concerns and goals related to their appearance. During each individual patient consultation, Dr. Temmen takes the time to listen to each patient’s concerns and work with the patient to formulate the best surgical plan for them.

Who is Not a Candidate for Male Breast Reduction Surgery?

Unfortunately, not everyone is a good candidate for male breast reduction surgery. Patients who smoke or have complex medical problems that would make surgery unsafe (i.e. heart disease, blood clots, diabetes, or obesity with a BMI >30) are not candidates for this surgery. To ensure the highest degree of safety and a good surgical result, Dr. Temmen requires that patients have quit smoking for at least 6 months to 1 year and have any medical conditions well-controlled. In addition, it is best for patients to be at or near their ideal body weight before proceeding with male breast reduction surgery in order to prevent weight fluctuations after surgery from altering the result.

Male Breast Reduction Scar Location

For many men considering male breast reduction surgery, scar appearance and location is one of their main concerns. Fortunately, with modern techniques and careful surgical planning, Dr. Traci Temmen is nearly always able to achieve a great surgical result through just a few tiny scars. Men with mild gynecomastia due to excess fatty tissue may be able to achieve a great result through liposuction alone. Liposuction is performed using long, narrow cannulas, leaving behind very tiny scars that measure approximately ¼ to ½ inch in length.

For men who also require surgical excision of glandular breast tissue, scar location and size will vary from patient to patient. Dr. Temmen is meticulous in planning her incisions so that scars to are as inconspicuous as possible, and is often able to disguise them in areas where they are naturally concealed, such around the edge of the areola (the pigmented area of skin surrounding the nipple), or in natural creases of the chest. Dr. Temmen recognizes that scarring is a common concern for many patients, and takes great care to make her incisions in areas where they will be the least visible and heal with the least amount of scarring.

Gynecomastia Recovery

Dr. Traci Temmen performs her cosmetic surgeries in an accredited, private surgical suite. She performs male breast reduction surgery under general anesthesia, and surgery usually lasts 1 ½ to 2 hours, depending on the complexity and degree of gynecomastia. Patients recover in the luxury of a private recovery suite with a recovery room nurse dedicated solely to their comfort.

During the recovery process, patients may be given a compression garment to wear for several weeks to help decrease swelling and support the healing process. If patients undergo more extensive liposuction of the body during their procedure, drains may be placed to speed recovery and decrease postoperative complications, which are typically removed 1-5 days after surgery. Patients typically experience mild to moderate pain, swelling, and bruising after surgery which resolves over the course of a few weeks. Pain medication is prescribed to alleviate discomfort during the recovery process. Most patients feel comfortable returning to work within a few days, drive when they are no longer taking narcotic pain medications, and return to full exercise by six weeks.

Male Breast Reduction Cost

While it can be tempting to look for low-cost surgical options, cosmetic plastic surgery is not the time to pinch a penny! “Low-cost” plastic surgery options often carry hidden dangers such as “surgeons” who are not board-certified and surgical settings that are not up to safety and accreditation standards.

In order to stay safe and ensure a satisfactory result, cost should not be the determining factor when choosing a plastic surgeon. Because of the high level of skill required to perform this surgery, only plastic surgeons certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons should be considered. Dr. Temmen is proud to be one of the few board certified plastic surgeons in the Tampa Bay area to offer male breast reduction surgery to her patients.

The cost of breast reduction surgery varies by plastic surgeon and by region of the country. Dr. Traci Temmen offers male breast reduction surgery to her patients starting around $6,900. This cost may be affected by degree of breast enlargement, case complexity, and increases in planned surgical time. Dr. Temmen offers convenient payment options for male breast reduction surgery and all other cosmetic surgery. Temmen Plastic Surgery accepts check, credit, card, and CareCredit, a credit card that offers special financing and low monthly payments for cosmetic surgery procedures.

Gynecomastia Surgery Risks and Problems

While the vast majority of patients experience no complications from male breast reduction surgery, there is always some degree of risk when undergoing surgery of any kind.

Some of the complications associated with liposuction include postoperative rippling, deformities, or asymmetries. These are more common in patients who undergo more extensive liposuction of large areas of the body such as the trunk, and less common when performing isolated liposuction of fatty breast tissue. In the event that one of these complications occurs, it can be aided with the use of compression garments and/or lymphatic massage therapy and typically resolves over time. An extremely small minority of patients may ultimately desire revision liposuction to correct persistent deformities.

Other minor risks associated with male breast reduction surgery include postoperative blood or fluid collections (usually managed with prolonged drains or minor in-office procedures) and superficial infections (usually managed with outpatient antibiotics). A few additional risks associated with male breast reduction surgery specifically include minor changes in breast symmetry and changes in sensation to the breast or nipple region. More serious risks or complications of male breast reduction surgery include problems with wound-healing, blood clots in the legs or lungs, or more serious infections requiring hospitalization for intravenous antibiotics. All of these risks can be minimized with proper patient selection and postoperative care. In order to minimize these risks, Dr. Traci Temmen, and most other credible plastic surgeons, will not perform cosmetic plastic surgery on patients who have poorly-controlled medical problems, smoke, or are very overweight.

Plastic surgeons such as Dr. Traci Temmen who are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery are trained not just in how to perform cosmetic plastic surgeries like male breast reduction, but also in the prompt diagnosis and treatment of the complications and risks associated with these procedures.

Male Breast Reduction Before and After Photos

When choosing a plastic surgeon for your male breast reduction, it is important to view before and after pictures to assess the quality of the surgeon’s work. Some examples of past patient transformations can be viewed in the Gallery tab of this website, and additional photos can be viewed at your in-person consultation with Dr. Temmen.

To learn more about Dr. Traci Temmen, male breast reduction surgery, or to schedule an in-person consultation to see if you may be a good candidate for this transformative procedure, call 813-771-6393 today!