Do All The Gynecomastia Surgeries Need Gland Removal and Liposuction? Can It Be Gland Removal Only?

Thank you for your question.There are multiple types of #gynecomastia.  For Pure #glandular #gynecomastia, most common in body builders caused by steroid use, surgical removal of the #gland is all that is needed.Your condition will likely be corrected permanently with #surgery.  Unless you have excessive weight gain, it is unlikely that your #gynecomastia will recur.

The answer is sometimes yes, but maybe not. In most patients with gynecomastia there are both glandular and fat components. Dense, firm glandular tissue does not respond well to liposuction alone, whereas fat can be treated nicely with liposuction. If the glandular component is fairly small and the fatty component is larger, liposuction alone can make a worthwhile impact in selected cases. In most patients, both components need to be addressed. Typically this means partial resection of the glandular component combined with liposuction for the fatty component, as well as to feather out the edges of the resection cavity.

Excess breast development can be as a result of just excess glandular tissue or just excess fat. But most commonly it is a combination of both. Most common gynecomastia procedures will involve a removal of both fat and glandular tissue. 

While it is possible for gynecomastia to return, a recurrence of your condition is unlikely to occur. It is important to keep your weight under control and avoid stimulating substances like steroids and marijuana. 

The approach to gynecomastia surgery depends on the individual case. In some cases, gland removal alone may be sufficient, while in others, a combination of gland removal and liposuction is recommended for optimal results. It’s essential to consult with a skilled plastic surgeon who can assess your specific situation and recommend the most appropriate treatment plan for you.

Hi rimo301,Thanks for the post. In certain cases removal of the gland only is sufficient. This is true in patients without any excess fat, such as body builders or very skinny patients. Sincerely,Dr. Dadvand

Gland removal is enough in some cases. For example in body buildersthere is no need to perform liposuction.

The determination as to whether liposuction or gland removal, or both, is necessary is based on physical exam.  If you have glandular tissue that is limited to the area beneath the nipple but the remainder of the chest appears acceptable then liposuction may not be required.  It is important, however, for the surgeon to try to taper the excision so that there is no indentation beneath the nipple and sometimes liposuction can be helpful in achieving this.   

Whether you use laser or traditional lipo you still need the dense gland removed. try to find someone in your area that does the Scarless procedure with the only scar about 1/4" inside the armpit. it uses a special instument to grind up the gland so it can be suctioned out. almost always a combination of gland and fat. good luck with it.

I do not believe there is any utility in ultrasound to make the diagnosis of gynecomastia.I perform a combination of direct excision of the glandular tissue with liposuction to blend the excised region into the surrounding tissues.