Only liposuction without gland excision sufficient for lipomastia? (photos)

Treatment of gynecomastia with liposuction only can be effective in certain cases.  Not uncommonly, after liposuction is performed, the glandular breast tissue becomes apparent and also needs to be excised.  It is best to discuss the options prior to surgery should it become necessary to convert the procedure to include excision of glandular tissue in addition to liposuction.

Thank you for sharing your question and photograph.  If your chest development is truly only pseudogynecomastia then liposuction alone should be sufficient. Your surgeon will likely discuss with you the possibility of glandular excision should it become revealed with the liposuction portion, however.  Hope this helps.

My experience is that cases like yours always need some direct excision of tissue along with the liposuction. This is done via a peri-areolar (around the nipple) incision that leave a very minimal scar. Even when liposuction goes well and I think I got all of it when I open it up there’s always a nice hunk of glandular tissue in there.

Accurate diagnosis would necessitate physical examination. It IS important to differentiate  as uncomfortable as gynecomastia ( excess breast tissue) from lipomastia ( otherwise known as pseudo-gynecomastia or excess adipose tissue of chest wall). Treatment will differ depending on diagnosis.
Generally speaking, liposuction surgery alone is useful to treat lipomastia (an enlarged chest secondary to adipose tissue); rarely does it suffices as the only modality of treatment when it comes to treating true gynecomastia. Most patients with gynecomastia benefit from direct excision of glandular tissue plus/minus peripheral liposuction surgery.
My best suggestion: seek consultation with board-certified plastic surgeons who can demonstrate significant experience achieving the types of outcomes you will be pleased with. Best wishes.

In some cases there is no glandular tissue so liposuction alone can give you the results that you want but this is not the case most of the time.  Sometimes the glandular tissue only becomes noticeable after liposuction.  And the recurrence of the glandular tissue is higher when direct excision is not performed after liposuction.
Thank you for your question

Most of the time, both liposuction and gland excision are needed for the optimal result.  I usually perform lipo first and gland excision only if needed.  Would advise you find a surgeon who is comfortable doing whatever is needed at ONE operation -- most often that would be a specialist in gyne surgery.  If needed, consider traveling for such expertise.  If you choose a surgeon who will only to lipo, then you may end up having to go for a second operation.For further info about gynecomastia, please see my website (solely devoted to gynecomastia) captioned below.Good luck!Elliot W. Jacobs, MD, FACSNew York City

I always tell gynecomastia patients that they should be prepared for surgical excision of the gland tissue.  Sometimes you cannot tell until you complete the liposuction if the patient will need surgical excision as well.  In my experience, most patients benefit from an additional surgical excision to get the optimal shape.   I think it is best for you and the surgeon to be prepared for both options, and of course she/he can opt out of the surgical excision if liposuction removes all the tissue.  Good luck!

The treatment for gynecomastia is usually combination of liposuction and gland removal and it is only the examining physician who can advise if there is gland present or not so if you only do a liposuction all the fat component will be removed and you will have a significant improvement but if there is any gland that needs to be taken out to achieve the perfect shape so assessment of the doctor is most essential before planning the surgery.