Breast development is not uncommon in men. This is known as gynecomastia and can be treated safely and effectively with surgery.
Men may have enlarged breasts on one or both sides. This condition can cause both functional problems and cosmetic, annoying discomfort. An operation to reduce the size of the breast, also known as breast reduction.
There are several methods available to reduce the size of the breast, and the most common method combines liposuction and removal of the mammary gland. Some people have pseudogynecomastia, where the breast is primarily enlarged by fatty tissue, but many also have a component of enlarged glandular tissue. In cases where fat is the main cause of breast enlargement, liposuction alone can achieve the goal. In general, we can say that the degree of fatty tissue increases with age. In most cases, younger men will achieve the best results with glandular removal in addition to liposuction. The plastic surgeon will assess which method is best suited to the individual during a consultation.
Here you can read general information about the surgical procedure at Klinikk A
Anaesthesia
7-14 days
4-5 hours in total
After 7-14 days and after 3-6 months
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Looking back in time, the treatment of enlarged breasts in men is described as early as 700 years before the birth of Christ. In other words, gynecomastia is not a recent phenomenon. At that time, breast tissue was removed through an incision under the breast. In the 20th century, methods became more sophisticated, but the results were often disappointing with a high chance of bleeding and fluid accumulation after surgery, loss of nipple sensitivity, unsightly scars and contour deformities due to the limitations of the methods used.
It wasn't until the 1980s that the current method became the most preferred. Today's methods include liposuction with or without removal of glandular tissue.
Our surgeons have performed several hundred such operations.
Men also have breast tissue. The reason why male breast tissue becomes enlarged is due to hormonal and hereditary factors, as well as lifestyle and obesity. Many men develop swollen and tender mammary glands during puberty. This often resolves spontaneously within one to two years. If it doesn't go away within two years, the breasts will usually remain enlarged on one or both sides. Young men may be bothered by soreness and discomfort, which usually improves with surgery. Those who have lived with gynecomastia for many years are often less bothered by pain and tenderness.
In addition to physical discomfort, many people experience cosmetic discomfort due to the appearance of their breasts. Some are reluctant to wear tight-fitting clothes, while others are uncomfortable being bare-chested. In our experience, patients who undergo surgery for gynecomastia are very satisfied with the results after surgery.
Before any surgery, you will be given an appointment for a consultation with one of our plastic surgeons. Book an appointment with our plastic surgeons for a non-binding consultation.
Many people wonder what a consultation involves. During the consultation, the plastic surgeon will listen to the individual's wishes and needs. One of the goals of the consultation is to answer all the questions the individual may have. To achieve this, we set aside plenty of time. After the consultation, you should have a good overview of which treatment options may be relevant and what advantages or disadvantages the various options offer. Together, you will then agree on which treatment may be appropriate.
When you arrive at the clinic, one of our employees will hand you a form to fill in in the waiting area. The consultation itself begins in the doctor's office, where we start by going through what the individual wants to be assessed for. The dialog between the patient and the plastic surgeon is crucial for determining the best treatment. Information such as previous illnesses, allergies, regular medication and the like is then reviewed while the surgeon writes the patient's medical records.
In each office, we have a sheltered changing area where the patient undresses as necessary. Photos are normally documented as a standard part of the medical record information. The system we use for photo documentation is approved and in line with GDPR.
The surgeon then performs the necessary examinations of the area in question and makes recommendations regarding treatment options. During the consultation, the surgeon tries to give as realistic a picture as possible of what the individual can expect after surgery. All patients have different starting points, so it will not be possible to explain exactly what the result will be for each individual. Our goal at Klinikk A is for each patient to be satisfied with their choices, and for the decision-making basis to be as good as possible when the choice is made. Well-informed patients make good choices.
Many patients wonder where the scars will be placed and how long they will be. This is also discussed during the consultation.
The location of scars in male breast reduction surgery varies by method. With liposuction alone, the scars are a few millimeters long and are placed slightly below the breast on each side. Normally there will be one to two scars on each side, for a total of two to four scars. Where glandular tissue also needs to be removed, there will be scars around the lower part of the areola on both sides, i.e. around the lower half of the brown around the nipple. These scars are well camouflaged and are not very visible once the scars have healed.
In our experience, patients are very satisfied with the position of the scars after gynecomastia surgery.
Some patients have a tendency to form larger scars than normal, either so-called hypertrophic scars or keloids. We rarely see this during surgery for gynecomastia, but if there is a tendency to form larger scars, the consequences of this are discussed during the consultation.
There will be an opportunity to ask questions along the way and towards the end, so you can feel confident that you have received answers to the things you need. If you wish to book an appointment for surgery, this will be possible during the consultation. When the consultation is over, patients are accompanied to one of our employees, where further follow-up is planned.
For those who live far away from Klinikk A, we offer video consultations. Please contact us if this is relevant.
In our experience, most patients have a smooth recovery after gynecomastia surgery. Many wonder how painful it is after such an operation. Patients' experiences when it comes to pain vary. Most describe little discomfort and direct pain is rarely reported. How the individual experiences the first period after surgery varies from person to person. Klinikk A uses a method of surgery and anesthesia that means patients rarely experience pain in the first one to two days after surgery.
Once the operation is complete, patients are transferred to our post-operative ward, where our staff look after them. As you wake up, you will be given something to drink and something light to eat. Some people will feel a little restless and fidgety for the first 24-48 hours. This is due to the medication given. During the first few days, most people experience some degree of discomfort in the operated area. This will normally subside during the first 7 days after surgery.
For the first two to three days, strive for very quiet activity. Then you can gradually resume simple, everyday activity and walk carefully upstairs, but still take care and listen to your body. After 7 to 10 days, activity can be gradually increased.
You can start exercising gently and putting your arms above your head two to three weeks after surgery.
During the operation, Micropore tape is applied directly to the scars. Small absorbent bandages are placed over this. These absorbent bandages are removed at the first shower. The tape attached to the skin should not be removed before the first check-up at Klinikk A after 7 to 14 days. The tape becomes moist when showering, but it air dries quickly, or alternatively it can be dried gently with a hairdryer.
We recommend waiting 3-4 days before showering after gynecomastia surgery.
The first check-up is 7 to 14 days after surgery on Klinikk A. The final result will not be seen until some time has passed, which is why we schedule the next check-up after 6 to 12 months. During the first period after surgery, the tissue in the operated area is swollen due to the surgery. This is normal and natural, as an operation has been performed. The swelling tends to increase in the first few days and starts to decrease 5 to 10 days after surgery. After three weeks, much of the swelling has gone down. In the phase that follows, the body needs time to adapt to the new situation. The tissue in the operated area is slowly but surely transformed into permanent, strong tissue.
Many people wonder when they can resume exercise after surgery. For the first 2 to 3 weeks after surgery, you should avoid activities that increase your heart rate and require large movements. After this, you can gradually increase your activity, but you should allow 4-6 weeks before you start exercising more normally.
All surgeries have a risk of complications. The absolute risk of complications after breast reduction in men is low.
Bleeding and infection after this type of surgery are almost non-existent with the methods used for Klinikk A.
Our surgeons are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year round in connection with treatments that have been performed. To prevent complications, it is important that you follow the advice you are given in connection with the operation, read the information letter you have received carefully and stay calm in the initial period after the procedure.
Some people experience an altered sensation in the skin above the scar. The sensation can be both reduced and intensified, almost slightly hypersensitive to touch. In the vast majority of cases, the sensation normalizes over time.
In cases where there is asymmetry between the right and left sides, surgery can correct this. After surgery, there will normally be a significant improvement in symmetry.
Norsk Helseinformatikk (nhi.no) has neutral and good information about gynecomastia.
Read more about gynecomastia at nhi.no.
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