Male breast reduction without surgery: Is it a good option?

last update date : 2023-10-20

What do you know about male breast reduction without surgery? Breast enlargement can cause stress and embarrassment for men. This issue is difficult to hide and poses a barrier for many men in romantic relationships. During adolescence, male breast enlargement can make boys susceptible to bullying by their peers, and make routine activities such as swimming or changing clothes in a locker room a heavy burden.

Gynecomastia treatment Without Surgery

In most cases, male breast enlargement subsides over time without treatment. But in other cases, some non-surgical gynecomastia treatments  at home which are:

• Taking gynecomastia treatment pills prescribed by the doctor such as: tamoxifen, raloxifene, and anastrozole.

• Stop taking or replace medications that cause breast enlargement, as some medications cause temporary gynecomastia as a side effect that disappears when stopped or replaced such as steroids, amphetamines, some antibiotics, anxiety medications, heartburn medications, and some opium derivatives.

• Treating the main cause, breast enlargement may be due to some medical conditions and disappears when they are treated. These conditions include: hyperthyroidism, kidney failure, and liver cirrhosis.

• Exercise: It is one of the most important ways to treat gynecomastia in men without surgery because it contributes to raising testosterone levels and resetting estrogen levels which are slightly elevated in case of gynecomastia.

• Taking some herbs: Some herbs contribute to increasing testosterone levels in men and thus help in treating breast enlargement. These herbs include: turmeric, flax seeds, and dandelion. It is preferable to consult a doctor before taking them for fear of their interaction with some medications.

There are other methods such as losing excess weight and following a healthy diet rich in fiber and stopping drinking alcohol.

• Exercises to Reduce Breast Size in Men: There are two main types of exercises to reduce the appearance of gynecomastia: cardio exercises to help burn general body fat, and chest exercises to help increase chest muscle size. Here are some examples:

• Walking and running: The simplest and easiest way to reduce body fat through exercise is to incorporate walking and running into your daily routine. Regular walking and running can reduce body mass index.

• Rowing machines: Using a rowing machine is a full-body exercise, especially the chest and arms. The pulling motion of rowing machines helps strengthen a diverse group of muscles in the chest and back in addition to burning fat.

• Swimming: It is one of the low-impact forms of cardio exercises that also involve arm and chest muscles. Focusing on using your arms while swimming will help improve your chest appearance.

 Male breast reduction surgery

If you are still bothered by the size of your breasts and find them still large even after initial treatment, your doctor may recommend surgery. Breast reduction surgery works to reduce breast size in men which leads to flattening and improving the circumference of the breast. In severe cases of gynecomastia, excess breast tissue may lead to sagging breasts and stretching of the areola (the dark skin surrounding the nipple). In these cases, the position and size of the areola can be surgically improved and excess skin reduced.

Gynecomastia surgery types

There are two options for  gynecomastia reduction surgery for men:

• Liposuction. In this surgery, the fat present in the breasts is removed, not the tissue of the breast gland itself. The procedure requires inserting a cannula which is a thin hollow tube that is inserted through several small incisions. The cannula is moved back and forth with controlled motion to loosen excess fat which is then removed by vacuum suction. There are several liposuction techniques that can be used for the same reason; the most suitable technique for your case will be determined before performing the operation.

• Breast excision. In this type of surgery, excess breast gland tissue or skin is removed to correct the breast; surgery is usually done by making small incisions.

A combination of liposuction techniques and excision. Sometimes gynecomastia is treated through liposuction and excision together.

Male breast reduction before and after

Before undergoing surgery, you may be asked to:

• Get a medical evaluation

• Take certain medications or stop taking current medications

• Refrain from smoking

• Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, and herbal supplements as they may increase bleeding

The results of breast surgery appear immediately, and over time the swelling disappears and the lines of surgical incisions continue to fade. The final results of breast surgery may take 3-6 months to achieve.

It should be taken into consideration that any surgical treatment to correct the breast will require making incisions, and these incisions will leave scars most of which are unnoticeable, except some may be visible and are an inevitable result of male breast reduction surgery.

Despite expecting good results from your procedure, there is no guarantee. In some cases, it is impossible to achieve ideal results through a single surgical procedure for gynecomastia treatment.

The success and safety of your gynecomastia procedure largely depend on your complete honesty during the consultation, and you will be asked a number of questions about your health, desires, and lifestyle.