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Male vs. Female Breast Reduction: Is it the Same Surgery?

Is a male breast reduction for gynecomastia the same as a female breast reduction (reduction mammaplasty)? How are they different?

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Male and Female Breast Reductions have Different Goals

There are similarities in the techniques and resulting scars used for male and female breast reduction surgery but the goals are very different. In a female breast reduction the goal is to decrease volume, lift and reshape the breast into an aesthetically pleasing breast at a smaller, more comfortable size. The secondary goal of the surgery is to do this with as little scarring as possible and to maintain breast function and sensation. In male breast reduction the goal is to completely... more

Kim Meathrel, MD

Ontario Plastic Surgeon

The difference between male and female breast reduction surgery: gynecomastia

Great question! The difference in the two techniques is that in the female breast, the goals of surgery include reduction in volume and skin, as well as restoration of breast contour and projection. In the male breast, the goals of surgery are the reduction in volume and skin excess. Although restoration of contour is important, it is equally important to avoid a projecting breast after surgery. Male gynecomastia is performed via liposuction or surgery. The goal is to remove skin and... more

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Male vs. Female Breast Reduction: As Different as Cats and Dogs

Male and Female Breast Reduction are as different as cats and dogs, even if they do share some similarities. The breast of a man has no functional or aesthetic significance other than its presence as a reminder of our common humanity. Therefore when the male breast becomes unnaturally enlarged for any reason, it creates a "feminizing" appearance to the chest of the individual. This causes embarrassment and reluctance to reveal the chest under even the most normal circumstances at... more

Athleo Louis Cambre, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

There are several ways to treat gynecomastia....

There are several ways to treat gynecomastia. Liposuction is the simplest way. Sometimes liposuction has to be combined with a small direct excision of tissue that can be performed throught a small incision along the border of the areola. Sometimes, if there is alot of excess skin, such as for massive weight loss patients, then similar incisions as a female breast reduction can be performed, but they are really very different procedures.

Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Absolutely not. Male breast reduction is more like a...

Absolutely not. Male breast reduction is more like a mastectomy than a breast reduction. Breast tissue in a male is removed completely; only the nipple and areola remain while achieving a desirable contour to the chest. The goal in a female breast reduction is to remove some of the breast tissue and leave a beautifully shaped breast. The incisions and the surgical techniques are different. Liposuction is a significant component of most male breast surgery, with small incisions around the... more

Robert W. Kessler, MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Breast reduction is a different procedure for men and women

While breast reduction has been around for several years, there have been a number of recent advancements which have made this procedure not only safer but also associated with less downtime... for both men and women. For women, breast reduction classically addresses several things: It reduces diameter of the areola It removes loose skin and tightens the breasts overall It raises the position of the nipple and areola It reduces the overall cup size of the breasts To accomplish these... more

Gregory A. Buford, MD

Denver Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Male versus Female Breast Reduction Differences?

Thank you for the question. The basic principles involved with male versus female breast reduction surgery are the same. The goal for both operations is to remove “excess” skin, breast tissue, and adipose tissue. On the other hand, care must be taken to avoid over resection and complications.Her think Obviously, given the two different starting points with male and female breasts the techniques and the amount of tissue removed differs greatly. More... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Gynecomastia: Male and Female Breast Reductions

The breast of a male with gynecomastia can be all breast tissue, all fat tissue or a combination of the two. If the breast is all fat, then the surgeons may be able to reduce it entirely with liposuction. If there is any amount of dense breast tissue, then the surgeon will need to directly excise this tissue. In most male patients the difference between a male breast reduction and a female breast reduction is a question of the degree of reduction... more

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Carlin Vickery, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

The difference between male and female breast reduction

Although breast reduction in men and women do share some concepts they are fundamentally different. In a woman's breast, there is typically much more tissue and excess skin that needs to be addressed during breast reduction. The end goals between a reduction in men and women are also very different men typically want to have a very minimal press found whereas women prefer a smaller but fuller and more youthful looking breast. The techniques between the surgeries also vary.... more

B. Pat Pazmino, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Breast reduction: Men and Women are totally different

Breast reductions reduce the size of breasts. Men are very different than women. Their breast is mostly fat It doesn't tend to droop as much They have better skin tone Their chest is visible in a bathing suit and other clothes For men, gynecomastia, moob job- whatever you call it- is done primarily by liposuction, with a small direct excision of breast tissue (if present) using an incision around the areola. Most men I see though have little to no real breast tissue. And I almost... more

Lauren Greenberg, MD

Palo Alto Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Male vs. female breast reduction - the difference!

Significant difference. For female breast reduction, one has to correct both skin excess and volume (breast tissue and fat) excess resulting in much more extensive surgery, incisions and resulting scars. In male breast reduction for gynecomastia, most of the time, the skin ist still relatively tight and the main treatment modality would be liposuction (on ocassion, combined with actual removal of breast tissue). Laser Liposuction or Ultrasoninc-assisted liposuction like the VASER technique... more

J. Vicente P. Poblete, MD

Cleveland Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Different indications and techniques

Very different techniques,indications and outcome. The female breast reduction involves skin excision,tissue removal and the technique centered around preserving a pedicle for the nipple survival. The male breast reduction could be done by an liposuction,or open excision.and usually involves less scars.

Hisham Seify, MD, PhD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Breast Reduction Male versus Female

Breast reductions in males are very different than in females. First and probably foremost is that females are looking for reduction of size as well as a youthful, rejunvenation of the breast, elevation of the nipple in combination with adequate shape and projection. Men do not want projection of the nipple or breast. They want smaller breast, period; they want a flat chest that highlights their muscular anatomy. As such, different techniques are used to achieve the above different goals.... more

John Philip Connors III, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Male breast reduction techniques are different from female

Breast reduction techniques are very different for a man compared to those for a woman. For a man, gynecomastia (excess breast tissue) is treated usually with a combination of liposuction and direct removal of breast tissue through an areolar incision. In some more severe cases, skin must be removed using additional incisions, depending on the amount of excess skin. The goal is to achieve a relatively flat chest contour. For a woman, breast reduction techniques usually involve at least a... more

William Bruno, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Breast reduction VERY DIFFERENT for men and women.

Hi. 1) For men, breast reduction is really not the right term. It should be called breast elimination, or correction of gynecomastia. The goal is a flat chest, and it is almost scarless. 2) For women, we create smaller perky breasts, and there is a lollipop scar.

George J. Beraka, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Breast reduction for men is DIFFERENT than for women

Gynecomastia (Man Boobs, moobies etc) has a different range of appearances, from an exaggerated man's chest, to small pubertal girl's breast to hanging, droopy female breasts. With such different appearances different operations are needed to correct the deformities and flatten the chest. With minor gynecomastia, liposuction, usually with the VASER / Lipo selection, flattens the breasts nicely. In larger cases, the VASER is used to flatten the breast and then, through a small incision... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

No

Breast reduction in women is a formal procedure meant to leave a desirable breast mound with a viable nipple and areola. Gynecomastic excision or suction is meant to remove nearly all of the breast tissue in the male. Often no skin needs to be removed which is never the case with a female reduction.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Male and Female breast reduction

The goals for male breast reduction typically include a flatter, more muscular appearance to the chest, whereas with female breast reduction we typically want more projection and perkiness. Most male breast reductions involve some sort of liposuction, and in many cases, that is all that is necessary. Sometimes we also need to perform an open "subcutaneous mastectomy" with incisions around the nipples. This helps to remove some of the remaining breast tissue which cannot be... more

Thomas P. Sterry, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Differences between male and female breast reductions

Hi, Male breast reductions and female breast reductions are entirely different procedures with different goals for the final outcome and different techiques utilized for the procedures. Female breast reductions most commonly utilize incisions around the areola, a vertical incision from the areola to the fold below the breast, and, sometimes, an incision in the fold at the bottom of the breast. The goal is to leave the patient with better-shaped, lifted breasts that are smaller in size. A... more

Sam Jejurikar, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Male vs female breast reduction

There are significant differences. In most instances of male breast reduction, an attempt at complete removal of the breast tissue is the goal. We essentially "scoop" out all the breast tissue leaving the skin and nipple intact. Only in rare cases is skin removed. In female breast reduction, we work hard to preserve a "stalk" (pedicle) of blood and nerve supply to the nipple (this is not always possible). Furthermore, in most patients, skin is removed. see video

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Difference Between Male and Female Breast Reduction

Breast reduction procedures are quite different in males and females. In females the procedure almost always involves excision of both tissue and skin. In males there is usually excision of a small button of glandular tissue located beneath the aroela in conjunction with liposuction of surrounding fat. Only in the most extreme cases is any skin excision required in male breast reduction.

John Whitt, MD

Louisville Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Different Goals and Different Techniques for Women and Men

Hello, For the woman, breast reduction surgery is designed to relieve discomfort (frequently) and restore a youthful appearance. That youthful appearance includes the re-shaping of smaller breasts. For the man with gynecomastia, the operation is designed to virtually eliminate the appearance of breasts entirely. Men do not tolerate incisions to re-shape the skin envelope so the usual technique is a combination of liposuction and a smaller "open" operation to remove firmer... more