Scroll
Quick Links
Gynecomastia is often an embarrassing medical condition for men who develop it and is therefore rarely discussed even though 40-60% of men are diagnosed with it. Gynecomastia causes the growth of excess breast tissue and surgical treatment for this condition is focused on the removal of that breast glandular tissue using liposuction and excision.
Types of Gynecomastia
There are many different types of gynecomastia symptoms that alter Dr. Delgado’s surgical technique on a case-by-case basis. Some patients may have a mild case of slight breast protrusion, while other patients will have severe gynecomastia in the form of excess skin, heavily sagging breasts, and puffy nipples. About 40% of Dr. Delgado’s patients come to his office for revision gynecomastia surgery with symptoms that have persisted or were not properly treated during their first procedure at another office. There are also cases that may present as gynecomastia but are actually pseudogynecomastia and can be treated with liposuction alone.
Preparing for Gynecomastia Surgery
At your first consultation, Dr. Delgado will give you an honest, thorough explanation of the advantages and disadvantages of gynecomastia surgery, also called male breast reduction surgery. He has hundreds of before and after pictures, courtesy of previous patients, so that you can visualize the results you might achieve by looking at other patients with similar body types and symptoms. If you proceed with surgery, a surgical information booklet will be emailed or mailed to you with information on preoperative and postoperative care and a warning list of certain medications to avoid before and after surgery.
You will also schedule your preoperative appointment for two weeks before your surgery date. At this appointment, you may get to meet your anesthesiologist and the risks, complications, and goals of your surgery will be discussed in greater detail. You will also be asked about your medical history and then you will complete a physical exam and any necessary blood tests. Preoperative pictures will be taken and used during and after your surgery to contour your chest and then compare the results.
Meet DR. DELGADO
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Delgado is an award-winning gynecomastia surgeon with 30+ years of experience treating some of the most complicated cases of male breast growth around the world. He is also the owner and operator of Gynecomastia.org, the largest gynecomastia forum in the world that has the goals of educating, supporting, and offering guidance to those men and families affected. Dr. Delgado is an expert in the field and donates his time toward both the treatment of gynecomastia and the advocacy of education in the surgical community.
VIEW FULL BIODay of Surgery
On the day of your surgery, it is normal to feel anxious even though this is an exciting time of change. Dr. Delgado and his team will help you feel as comfortable as possible throughout the entire procedure. His surgical team has been working with him for many years and they perform with the highest level of expertise. Your surgery will be performed at Marin Cosmetic Surgery Center, an outpatient surgery center in the medical office building of Novato Community Hospital. This center has received the highest quality accreditation in the United States: certification from the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities, Inc. (AAAASF) and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).
The Story of Three Men
Featured Blog
“Will Insurance Cover Gynecomastia Surgery?”
This question comes up frequently, it is hard to imagine that most insurance companies (if not all) consider gynecomastia surgery a cosmetic procedure. On the other hand, breast reduction surgery for women in many cases is a covered procedure. In comparing the procedures, it is understandable why it is covered…
View PostSurgical Procedure
Gynecomastia surgery is generally performed as an outpatient procedure under general anesthesia. The surgical techniques used during your male breast reduction procedure vary but the basics of each procedure usually involve a combination of liposuction and breast gland excision.
Liposuction
Dr. Delgado will begin the liposuction procedure by injecting tumescent fluid into the chest. This is a solution of lidocaine (a local anesthetic), salt water, and epinephrine (used to reduce bleeding). After 6-7 minutes when the anesthetic sets in, a small 3-millimeter incision will be made around the areola. A cannula with a vacuum-like device will break up fat cells and suck out the excess fat to improve the natural contours of your chest.
Liposuction removes excess fatty tissue around the nipple-areolar complex to create a more masculine appearance and reduce the appearance of puffy nipples. Liposuction may also be needed in the axillae (armpit area) for men who have accumulated fat in this area. Most of the pectoralis muscle is located high up on the chest and this area will be avoided to create a sculpted, masculine look. Liposuction alone cannot treat gynecomastia, but removing the excess fat along with excess breast tissue will achieve optimal results and a well-defined masculine chest.
Gland Excision
Gland excision is the process of removing glandular tissue to reduce the appearance of enlarged male breasts. By carefully removing all of the breast tissue, Dr. Delgado can create a more sculpted male chest contour with permanent results. If too much of the breast glands are left behind, there is the possibility that excess glandular tissue could grow back, reversing the results of the gynecomastia procedure. Dr. Delgado is aggressive at this stage and removes as much excess tissue as possible.
Surgical Recovery
If you live more than one hour away, Dr. Delgado will advise you to stay at a local hotel for the first night so that he can be close by in case you do have post-surgery complications. For patients who live nearby, you can return home once an attending nurse sees no indication of a bleeding problem in the chest; most patients can leave after an hour and a half. In 2-3 days, you will return for your first follow-up appointment to remove your drains. Sutures are removed one week after surgery but if you are from out of state or the country, Dr. Delgado will place internal sutures and use fibrin glue.
The compression vest must be worn for six weeks to minimize swelling and keep your newly sculpted chest in place while it heals. You cannot exercise for 4-6 weeks but you should be able to return to work after 3-5 days if your job is not physically demanding. Out-of-state or out-of-country patients are required to stay in a nearby hotel for at least 5 days during the crucial time of the healing process. After this time, any possible issues can be handled over email, Skype, or phone calls.
726+ Reviews
I highly recommend Dr. Delgado if you are considering gynecomastia surgery!
– Michael Cruz
Read ReviewsI had the procedure completed about 2 months ago and I am very pleased with the outcome. My chest finally looks the way I’ve wanted it to look for years. The muscle definition is finally there and I can wear tighter fitting shirts and workout gear without the discomfort of feeling self conscious about my chest.
726+ Reviews
I highly recommend Dr. Delgado if you are considering gynecomastia surgery!
– Michael Cruz
I had the procedure completed about 2 months ago and I am very pleased with the outcome. My chest finally looks the way I’ve wanted it to look for years. The muscle definition is finally there and I can wear tighter fitting shirts and workout gear without the discomfort of feeling self conscious about my chest.
Risks and Complications
Dr. Delgado is one of the highest-ranked plastic surgeons in the country for gynecomastia treatment. Surgery always comes with some risks but Dr. Delgado and his staff have performed thousands of gynecomastia surgeries and have the experience needed to minimize these risks. The most common of these surgical risks are infection, bleeding, and bad reactions to anesthesia. Bleeding under the skin used to happen in 8-9% of patients but new improvements in our techniques over the past three years have reduced this rate to 5-6% of patients.
Another possible complication is over or under-resection of tissue. Under-resection can be treated fairly easily with re-excision but over-resection would require fat flaps or fat injections. Gynecomastia surgery does leave incision scars around the nipple-areolar complex, but these fade with time and eventually become so faint that they are not noticeable. You may also experience temporary loss of nipple sensation, but most patients regain feeling in about 6 months.
Why Choose Dr. Delgado?
Dr. Delgado has received extensive training for gynecomastia surgery and has been offering effective treatment for over 30 years. He has experience with the most severe cases of gynecomastia and is dedicated to finding the right treatment options for each of his patients. He has even developed his own technique called the two-stage procedure to more safely and effectively treat patients with significantly enlarged breasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does gynecomastia affect mental health?
What causes gyno to flare up?
Can gynecomastia be caused by trauma?
Does gynecomastia cause fatigue?
Does gynecomastia have any side effects?
MIGUEL DELGADO, M.D.
Dr. Delgado, MD is a world-recognized plastic surgeon and specialist in the treatment of male breast enlargement, also called gynecomastia. He has developed new techniques and owns and operates gynecomastia.org, which has become the largest gynecomastia forum in the world. Dr. Delgado holds the two most coveted credentials; the certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and membership in the American Society of Plastic Surgery.