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Gynecomastia Overview

Gynecomastia

Welcome to Southern California’s most comprehensive resource about Gynecomastia & Male Breast Reduction Surgery. Dr. Cruise, a board certified plastic surgeon and top gynecomastia specialist, believes patient education is a priority. With this in mind, Dr. Cruise has filled this dedicated gynecomastia site with highly relevant information, which is easy to understand, along with a comprehensive library of pictures.

The information provided is here to help you make an educated decision about whether or not to pursue male breast reduction surgery.

We believe you will find the animation video below of how Dr. Cruise routinely does his surgery very interesting, along with the explanation of the gynecomastia classification system. We hope you find the content, videos, and pictures useful during your research process.

Below you will find a list of some of the important topics that will be discussed throughout this site. As stated above, you will also be able to review the many male breast reduction before and after pictures of Dr. Cruise’s patients from Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Newport Beach, and other areas of the world.

Important Gynecomastia Topics

What are the different types of gynecomastia?

Dr. Cruise has created a unique classification system for grading the severity of gynecomastia.

What are the components of gynecomastia?

What causes gynecomastia?

  • Steroids, medications, hormone imbalances, excess weight, etc. can attribute to the development of gynecomastia which then can lead to excess breast tissue, fatty tissue, and other components of gynecomastia.

What type of male breast reduction surgery is best?

Complications, risks, recovery and safety

  • With any surgery there are risks and the possibility of complications. Keep in mind, top gynecomastia doctors like Dr. Cruise are highly skilled, therefore have fewer complications than other surgeons.

Male breast reduction surgery cost

  • Generally, gynecomastia surgery costs between $7,500-$18,000. The fees vary depending on where the surgery is being performed, what type of anesthesia is used, and how extensive the procedure is. Financing is available.

Overview of Gynecomastia

Gynecomastia is the medical term used for enlarged male breasts. The ideal male breasts are muscular and well defined, which signifies strength and masculinity. In some cases, the male breast becomes fatty and can even sag. This results in an unhealthy, out of shape, more feminine appearance. When this happens many men become quite self-conscious and may even withdraw from certain physical or social activities.

In the animated photos below you can see how the chest of a man with gynecomastia looks in comparison to an ideal male chest.

Ideal Chest
Classic Gynecomastia
Puffy Nipples
Fatty Gynecomastia

The causes of this problem can be anything from hormonal changes, medications, or even genetic predisposition. It is actually not uncommon for healthy teenage boys, beginning around 14 years of age, to have this problem through puberty. It is almost always a result of hormones and goes away in a couple of years.

Before
After

Often, the cause of gynecomastia is never identified. Certain diseases and medications can be the cause but these need to be looked into by your family doctor. The medical causes range from deficiency of testosterone to excess of estrogen. Being overweight can cause too much estrogen and, therefore, it is highly recommended to lose weight.
There are many medications which are known to be a direct cause of enlarged male breasts. Steroids, hormones, and street drugs can potentially cause gynecomastia. Liver problems can also cause the male breast to change. While medications and liver issues are two common causes, there are many other reasons, and only a medical evaluation can determine what could be contributing to your situation.

The great news is that enlarged male breasts can be effectively treated through modern advances in plastic surgery. You no longer have to live in shame or embarrassment. The surgical options for gynecomastia depend on what is causing the problem. The three components are 1) excess fat, 2) excess breast tissue, and 3) excess skin.

Before
After

Excess Fat

This is found in almost every gynecomastia patient. It is centered around the nipple/areola, but frequently covers the entire chest. This is typically removed with liposuction alone, if the cause is simply excess fat. In most cases, the skin tightens back up resulting in a great result.

Excess Fat and Breast Tissue

You may be surprised to know that all men have breast tissue. It is the same type of breast tissue that women have, but in much smaller amounts. With gynecomastia, the breast tissue tends to over “grow” and is typically located right under the nipple/areola. If a man squeezes the tissue directly below his nipple, it could feel like a squishy, football shaped lump.

Before
After

The above before/after pictures represent a 31 year old man who had liposuction and breast tissue removal.

Often times with gynecomastia this tissue mass will dramatically enlarge. In these cases, liposuction alone will rarely remove this tissue. It will usually need to be cut out. The incision is typically located just below the areola where it is very well hidden and will ultimately fade to a point where it isn’t visible.

Excess Fat, Breast Tissue and Skin

When the fat and breast tissue are surgically removed, the skin usually will retract or shrink back resulting in a nice flat appearance. There are times when a man has poor skin quality and too much excess skin will still remain after surgery. In these cases, the skin will need to be removed to obtain the desired result.

Before
After

Shown above is a 26 year old with severe gynecomastia treated with liposuction, breast tissue removal, and skin excision.

The excess skin is obvious. Other patients who may need skin removal are those with poor skin that does not have the elastic properties to shrink back. These are usually older patients or those with significant stretch marks. Dr. Cruise typically is able to remove skin by making an incision only around the areola. This incision is well hidden because it is masked by the interface between the skin and the areola.

Schedule a Consultation

If you have enlarged male breasts, contact Dr. Cruise to schedule a free consultation. Call us today (949) 644-4808 or fill out the online contact form to determine the next right step in your gynecomastia journey.