While female breast reduction is not uncommon, many men with enlarged breasts don’t even know they too can have surgery to correct the problem. Often men simply think they may be a little overweight and that is giving them abnormally large breasts. While this can be true, often the man is suffering from gynecomastia or abnormal breast enlargement, and it is making them self-conscious about being seen without a shirt on. At Elite, our surgeons correct the problem with male breast reduction surgery. Abnormal male breast enlargement is frequently associated with teenage boys. This is largely due to hormonal shifts around the adolescent development period, as well as excess body weight gained throughout childhood. Recently, as the procedure has received more attention, older patients in their 50s have considered the procedure.
The question is — is there a top age limit for male breast reduction? The short answer — it depends.
There is no specific age limit in reducing the appearance of enlarged male breasts via surgery. Older men can still go through the procedure as long as they’re healthy and have no existing health issues that could potentially increase the risk of complications from anesthesia and the surgery itself. But sometimes, healing in older patients can take longer, and this should be taken into consideration. Poor skin laxity in the elderly can also be a challenge when performing a male breast reduction. A thorough assessment of skin laxity will be done during your consultation. On the other hand, the maturity that comes with age is an advantage as it provides older patients a more realistic view of the surgery. Bottom line — age alone is not a deciding factor in whether or not male breast reduction surgery would be effective.
A quick look at how breast reduction is performed
Male breast reduction surgery at Elite is relatively fast. Tumescent anesthesia is used to lessen the pain and discomfort during and after surgery. First, liposuction via tiny incisions is performed to remove excess fat. Excess breast glands may be removed through a tiny incision made beneath the areola (the dark portion of nipples). The procedure can take from two to three hours with recovery lasting a week or two. A personal consultation with Dr. Armstrong, Dr. Cullen, or Dr. Martin will answer your questions about the possibilities of gynecomastia correction surgery. Call us at 616-459-1907 to set up your appointment.
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