Gynecomastia

Over-growth of male breast tissue commonly starts during adolescence or puberty and can persist into adulthood. Gynecomastia is quite common in teens, occurring in 4% of boys ages 10-19. After the age of 17, the persistence of male breast tissue is unlikely to disappear on its own and men will require surgical treatment with a male breast reduction surgery.

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What Male Breast Reduction Surgery in Charlotte is Right For You?

There are different surgical procedures depending on the grade of gynecomastia. The goal in every procedure is to restore a normal masculine chest.

Gynecomastia surgery for most guys with grade 1 or 2 gynecomastia is either excision of the glandular tissue and/or liposuction of the fatty tissue under the nipple. For grade 3, if the skin has good elasticity, excision of breast tissue will be all that is needed. For grade 3 with poor skin quality or grade 4 gynecomastia, extra breast tissue and skin are removed and the nipple is repositioned.

Gynecomastia Treatment in Charlotte, NC

Enlarged male breasts can be a deeply embarrassing condition that causes men and boys to feel ashamed of their bodies and avoid social situations in which they would normally take off their shirt. Guys with male breasts often hide, socially isolate, and avoid normal physical and social activities due to how their chest looks.

Teens with male breasts feel terribly self-conscious, not understanding what is happening to their bodies. Then, insensitive locker room taunting can completely rob any self-confidence a young man has, leaving him with no choice but to hide and avoid any possible activity that requires being shirtless.

Insecurity persisting into adulthood can mean daily camouflage with careful selection of clothes, insecurity in social settings, and even avoidance of intimacy.

Quick Facts About Gynecomastia

Benefits

Advantages of Dr. Ditesheim’s gynecomastia surgery approach: No general anesthesia, shorter recovery. You can drive yourself home. Immediate results. Minimal or no chest scar.

Recovery

Can be as little as 1 to 3 days post-operation.

Cost

For most guys who can be treated with liposuction and or glandular excision, the total cost is $7950. The procedure is 90 minutes. Grade 4 or more complex gynecomastia costs will be more. Set up a personal consultation today to learn more about your options.

Gynecomastia Grades

GRADE 1

Excess tissue is localized around the areola, causing a “puffy nipple” appearance with a soft-to-the-touch sensation.

GRADE 2

Tissue growth extends beyond the areola and is hard to differentiate between normal chest tissue and excess glandular tissue.

GRADE 3

Chest enlargement is greater than grades I and II, with excess skin leading to sagging of the chest. The tissue feels distinctly different than surrounding chest tissue.

GRADE 4

Significant breast enlargement leading to substantial feminization of the chest, often with excess skin leading to sagging tissue below the breast fold.

Gynecomastia surgery before and after

"I am comfortable to be without my shirt, I can feel my muscle, I could not do that before."

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Male's torso before and after Gynecomastia in teens, front view

New Awake Procedure

Dr. Ditesheim’s new awake procedure corrects gynecomastia, restores a masculine chest with minimal scarring, and promotes a quick recovery. Dr. Ditesheim has designed an advanced gynecomastia treatment procedure that removes male breast augmentation with minimal or no scar on the chest, no drains, 1-3 day recovery, and no general anesthesia.

The goal of every gynecomastia procedure is the removal of the excess tissue and the restoration of a natural, masculine chest shape. Traditional surgical techniques meant larger incisions, drains, 6-8 weeks recovery, and sometimes unnatural chest shape.

Gynecomastia surgery before and after
25-year-old (5’7″ 183lb) before and 1 month after Vaser liposuction treatment

 

Surgical Excision

In complex gynecomastia patients where there is excess skin to remove, where nipple placement must be returned to a more natural position, or where the size of the areola must be reduced, excision techniques are used. Incisions for these procedures are either placed around the areola border or in the chest crease, following the chest muscle border depending on the complexity. (see Complex gynecomastia below)

Advantages of Gynecomastia Treatment with Surgical Excision of Glandular Tissue:
  • Scar is easily hidden around the nipple
  • Awake procedure, able to drive home
  • Quicker recovery, no drain, return to school or work 1-3 days.

 

State-of-the-art, on-site surgical suite located in Charlotte, North Carolina

Our suite is certified with the highest level of accreditation by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities, Inc. (AAAASF).

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Jeffrey A. Ditesheim, MD, FACS

BOARD CERTIFIED PLASTIC SURGEON

Charlotte, NC plastic surgeon Dr. Jeffrey A. Ditesheim is a highly accomplished, board-certified plastic surgeon with a reputation for excellence. In choosing a plastic surgeon, you want to be completely confident that your procedure will be performed with advanced surgical skills and true artistry. Dr. Ditesheim has an impeccable reputation in Charlotte, North Carolina and beyond, drawing discerning patients to his exclusive clinic in Ballantyne.

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Considerations Before Gynecomastia

It is difficult to predict before surgery if the tissue causing an abnormal male chest is hard glandular tissue (white, scar-like tissue) or softer glandular tissue that appears more fibrous and looser.

For patients in Charlotte where gynecomastia is mostly glandular tissue, the hard glandular breast tissue is first mobilized from the chest muscle and then removed with a surgical incision inside the pigmented part of the nipple area (areola). After removing the breast tissue, the skin around the nipple shrinks, and the scar is hidden in the skin creases around the nipple.

For most guys, there is a combination of fatty tissue and glandular tissue. In these scenarios, liposuction is used first to numb the chest and remove the fatty tissue before using a very small incision around the nipple to remove the hard glandular tissue.

 
 

Gynecomastia Surgery for Teens

Nothing is more traumatic for a young boy than looking in the mirror and seeing a feminine appearance to their chest. This is true at any age but can be particularly affecting for teenage boys.

Body dysmorphia (the feeling that something is wrong with your body) leads to overwhelming feelings of embarrassment. Boys will exclude themselves from social or athletic activities. Gynecomastia treatment for teens is a male breast reduction technique that can help young men restore confidence in their appearance.

Dr. Ditesheim has treated boys with gynecomastia as young as 14 for over 25 years. If gynecomastia is causing loss of self-confidence, emotional frustration, or embarrassment, a consultation may be your next best step. You are not alone and you have options for getting a masculine chest back.

Gynecomastia Procedure and Recovery

  1. Tumescent solution is infiltrated throughout the chest through a tiny incision in the armpit. This provides a numb area over the entire chest area.
  2. A cannula is used to remove “fatty breast tissue” and other fatty tissue from the front or side of the chest wall through the same small incision in the armpit.
  3. If there is a persistent “knot” under the nipple, the size of a marble or as large as a golf ball, this is likely glandular or fibrous breast tissue. This tissue is removed with a small surgical incision just below the nipple, easily hidden in the skin crease.
  4. The surgical area is injected with a longer-acting local anesthetic for post-op pain control.
  5.  A compression garment or vest is worn for 3 weeks to minimize chest swelling.
  6. The results are immediate, you can drive yourself home after the procedure and return to work the same day or the next day. Athletic exercise can be resumed in 1-2 weeks. 
Dr. Ditesheim did exactly what I wanted. He was upfront and honest, and direct. I really have no complaints, it went as well as I could have hoped. It has made me much more confident, I notice the difference every day!
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Schedule Your Consultation for Gynecomastia Treatment in Charlotte

The consultation is a confidential meeting for you to meet with Dr. Ditesheim. He will answer your questions, examine you and give you a personal plan to address your gynecomastia condition. At your consultation, you will be given exact fees for your procedure and detailed instructions to prepare for the procedure and aftercare. Ditesheim Cosmetic Surgery performs gynecomastia surgery in Charlotte, NC, and surrounding areas. Call or contact us online to schedule your consultation today.

Frequently Asked Questions About Gynecomastia

WHAT CAUSES GYNECOMASTIA IN MALES?

Gynecomastia is usually characterized by excess localized fat, overgrowth of male breast tissue under the nipple, or skin excess (usually from significant weight loss). One or both sides of the chest can be affected.

CAN LIPOSUCTION BE USED TO TREAT MALE BREASTS?

For patients whose gynecomastia is mostly excess fatty tissue, Aquashape (water-assisted liposuction) or Vaser (ultrasound-assisted liposuction) can be used to remove the excess fat.

WHO IS A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR GYNECOMASTIA SURGERY WITH LIPOSUCTION?

Breast tissue under the nipple can be made of fatty, fibrous (firmer), or glandular (hard) tissue. It is hard to predict who will have which type of breast tissue. Gynecomastia surgery with liposuction is very efficient in removing fatty tissue under the nipple and over the chest wall. If the breast tissue is too tough, glandular tissue can be removed with an intra-areolar incision.

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