General vs. local for gynecomastia surgery?

Thank you for your question.  I typically recommend general anesthesia for this procedure.  It allows the surgeon to be aggressive in the removal.  Most importantly I feel it's the safest way to do the procedure and it allows us to make sure the patient is comfortable.  I would suggest addressing your concerns with your surgeon and following their recommendations.  Best of luck to you. 

Gynecomastia, a condition of over-developed or enlarged breasts in men, is common in men of any age. It can be the result of hormonal changes, heredity conditions, disease or the use of certain drugs. The decision of what type of anesthesia to use is usually made on a case by case basis depending on the patient and severity of the gynecomastia. A lot of plastic surgeons use general anesthesia for gynecomastia surgery, however I do most of my gynecomastia procedures under local anesthesia in the office.

Thank you for sharing your excellent question.  Depending on the patient and severity of the gynecomastia it can be done under either anesthetic technique.  This ultimately depends on your comfort level and safety to achieve the goal you want.  Hope this helps.

Thanks for the question.Here are some thoughts.1) Your surgery can probably be safely done with either type of anesthesia.2) Your surgeon may prefer general anesthesia for many reasons besides the issues with the local anesthesia.3) If you are an anxious person, you might want to stick with general anesthesia.4) There are risks and benefits to both types of anesthesia, so you should feel comfortable getting your questions answered.5) If you want to pursue local anesthesia with sedation, get another opinion.Good Luck!

I agree with your surgeon. I do all my gynecomastia procedures under general anesthesia in an out patient setting. This is a significant procedure and would not want have local and your surgeon perhaps not  aggressively correct your gynecomastia by trying to keep you comfortable. Good luck.

Dear Sean75,
it is hard to tell for sure without an examination but a lot of plastic surgeons use general anesthesia for gynecomastia surgery. If you are considering a surgery, I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Hello, thank you for your questions regarding local versus general anesthesia for male breast gland removal and male breast liposuction.  I would agree with your plastic surgeon.  I believe male breast gland removal and especially, if liposuction is involved, that it is safer to perform male breast gland removal under general anesthesia rather than local anesthesia.  The problem is that with local anesthesia, a significant amount of lidocaine may be required.  Also, liposuction hurts especially if there is glandular tissue.  Therefore, I suggest general anesthesia for gynecomastia liposuction.  i hope this answers your questions regarding which anesthesia to have if you are undergoing gynecomastia surgery. If you have any more questions regarding gynecomastia surgery, male breast reduction, male breast gland removal, male chest lipo, or plastic surgery in general, please contact my office. Sincerely, Dr. Katzen. (Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and member of the American Society Plastic Surgeons, International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, and Fellow of American College of Surgeons and American Board for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery)

I do this procedure under general anesthesia with a board certified anesthesiologist, this is extensive surgery and I want to keep my patient as comfortable as possible. Be sure you see a board certified plastic surgeon that specializes in gynecomastia. Good luck!

I am able to perform many gynecomastia cases under local and sedation.  Patients do very well and the surgery is safe, efficient and effective.

Physicians who are not board-certified plastic surgeons will often promote local anesthesia only for surgery that is most effectively and safely performed with general or MAC anesthesia.  Monitored anesthesia care (MAC) is a planned procedure during which the patient undergoes local anesthesia with sedation. MAC anesthesia and general anesthesia should be administered by a board-certified MD anesthesiologist. Gynecomastia surgery is safest and most comfortable for the patient when MAC or general anesthesia is used.  MD administered anesthesia care means the plastic surgeon can focus on the details of surgery and provide the very best result for the patient. Gynecomastia surgery requires finesse and expertise on the part of your surgeon. Look for a plastic surgeon with a lot of experience and expertise in gynecomastia surgery.