Is fat removed during gynecomastia surgery?

Yes, fat is often removed during gynecomastia surgery. The procedure aims to reduce the size of enlarged male breasts, and this enlargement can be due to a combination of factors:

Excess fat: This is often referred to as pseudogynecomastia.
Excess glandular tissue: This is the actual breast tissue growth, known as true gynecomastia.
Excess skin: In more severe or long-standing cases, the weight of the excess tissue can cause the skin to stretch.
How fat is removed during gynecomastia surgery:

Liposuction: This technique is commonly used to remove excess fat from the chest area. Small incisions are made, and a thin tube called a cannula is inserted to break up and suction out the fat. Liposuction alone may be sufficient when the enlargement is primarily due to fatty tissue.
Excision: When there is a significant amount of glandular tissue and/or excess skin, surgical excision is necessary. This involves making incisions to directly remove the tissue and trim excess skin. The incisions are often placed around the areola (the dark area around the nipple) or in the natural creases of the chest to minimize visible scarring.
Combination: In many cases, surgeons use a combination of liposuction and excision to achieve the best results, addressing both excess fat and glandular tissue.
The specific techniques used will depend on the individual's anatomy, the primary cause of the gynecomastia, and the desired outcome. A thorough consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon is essential to determine the most appropriate surgical approach. They will assess the proportions of fat and glandular tissue present and recommend a plan to effectively reduce the breast size and contour the chest.

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Typically yes. Most surgeons will combine fat removal with gland removal to achieve a harmonious result. This can be either direct excision or with liposuction. A smooth contour throughout the entire breast is always the overall goal.

Thanks for submitting your questions about your upcoming procedure. Typically, liposuction is performed during gynecomastia reduction surgery to thin the chest wall. This helps protect against uneven fat distribution with weight fluctuations over time. It also provides an even contour once the glandular tissue is excised.
There are different incision patterns that can be used with this surgery, such as upper chest, along the lower aspect of “fold,” and around the areola. Your plastic surgeon can show you in more detail where these incisions are placed and reasons for using one incision site vs another. Thanks again for reaching out and good luck!