Abstract of original forum post: There is no answer for who is the best gynecomastia surgeon? The real question is who is the best gynecomastia surgeon for you! The price of male breast reduction surgery is quite variable and depends on many factors. One price does not fit all patients. Read on to find the best ways to choose the right surgeon at the best price for your gynecomastia surgery.
Choosing the Best Surgeon for Gynecomastia Treatment
The best gynecomastia surgeon for any person depends on many factors. The surgeon should be a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon or the equivalent in other countries. This shows that he or she has had extensive plastic surgeon training and has passed the intensive testing to be certified. In the United States, being a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery and the Aesthetic Society of Plastic surgery, are the highest education honors and displays specialty in cosmetic surgery. Gynecomastia is a cosmetic procedure to make a man’s chest look great and aesthetics is critical. The gynecomastia tissue is not cancer! This surgeon should do a significant number of gynecomastia reduction surgeries on a frequent basis.
Gynecomastia Surgery Costs and Tips to Avoid Needing a Second Surgery
The price of gynecomastia surgery is somewhat complex. There are no set prices and a gynecomastia expert will, in general, be more expensive than a surgeon who does not do this often. When selecting a surgeon, price is one of many factors so do not select a surgeon only on cost. In my personal practice, 40% of my gynecomastia surgery is revision surgery on men who are not happy from other practices who now have to, unfortunately, pay for a second surgery.
5 Tips for Selecting Your Perfect Gynecomastia Surgeon
In selecting a gynecomastia surgeon these are some important factors to evaluate
A solid consultation where you feel comfortable with the doctor’s knowledge and thoroughness and kindness of the staff.
Documentation of his or her work by many before and after photos.
5 Factors to Consider When Looking at the Costs of Gynecomastia Surgery
The price of surgery is determined by many factors :
Grade of the Gynecomastia – There is severity of a man’s gynecomastia and it is made up of grades 1-4. So as the grade increases so does the complexity and the time that the surgery will take. This adds up to more expensive.
General vs Local anesthesia – The cost between the two are greatly different. I, personally, only use general anesthesia and there are many reasons for this decision. Some surgeons market local anesthesia very heavily.
Revision gynecomastia surgery – A gynecomastia surgical expert see’s many of these patients. They can be simple to correct or impossible. It may take multiple surgeries. The cost is determined by the complexity.
Location of your surgery – Certain cities cost a premium because of the expenses in that location to run a business. For example, New York City or San Francisco will cost more than a much smaller city or remote area.
The expertise of the surgeon.
4 Gynecomastia Grades to Look at Before Choosing a Surgeon
The photos below show the grade or severity of gynecomastia. As the grade goes from 1-4 the complexity and time to perform the surgery does as well.
THE GRADES BELOW ARE GRADES 1-4
Grades of Gynecomastia | Gynecomastia.org
Ways to do Your Research Before Choosing a Gynecomastia Surgeon
When selecting a gynecomastia surgeon who is “BEST FOR YOU” it is critical that you do your homework or research. This is a very important journey in your life and getting it right the first time will save you a lot of headaches. Visit a few doctors and don’t be afraid to travel if there is not a good choice in your area. This is an easy procedure to have performed in a distant location. Do not let price alone determine your choice.
If we look at some general costs. If we start at Grade 1 the surgery fee may be $3,500 and add $1,000 for each additional grade of severity. So the surgeons fee for a grade 1 patient may be $3500 and the grade 4 may be $6500. When you calculate the surgery center and anesthesiologist this is a function of time. Grade 1 will cost less and Grade 4 more. These fees are highly variable from place to place. In my surrounding bay area anesthesia is 300 per hour or more and surgery center is on average 800 per hour or more. So the Grade one case which takes say 2.5 hours would cost $6250 and a Grade 4 which takes 4 hours $10,900. These are very general but the point is the surgery varies a great deal. There are other more advanced procedures for the Grade 4 cases which require a free nipple mastectomy which cost significantly more, see below.
Grade 4 which requires a mastectomy:
This procedure involves: * double incision mastectomy – this removes the extra skin. * resizing and relocation of the nipple-areola complex to a more masculine location. * possible extension, like in the case, to around the back. * scar management.
Final Points When Looking at Price or Surgeons for Your Gynecomastia Procedure
Do your homework and select your surgeon carefully but with great confidence and belief. Cost is important but not the most important criteria.
For personalized information about gynecomastia plastic surgery procedures, please complete Dr. Delgado’s inquiry form.
Gynecomastia is generally understood as enlarged breasts/chest in men or men boobs. Many assume that all overweight men have gynecomastia due to the fat accumulation on the chest.
Just like this assumption, there are many more myths about gynecomastia online. I have scoured the internet to debunk common gynecomastia myths.
Gynecomastia may not require treatment unless the breast enlargement causes embarrassment or distress to the patient. Certain cases of physiological gynecomastia will resolve without intervention. Surgical resection for adolescent gynecomastia may be withheld for at least one year as many of these cases will spontaneously resolve. Patient and parent reassurance may be sufficient for these cases. Gynecomastia caused by medications or medical condition will often respond to a change in medication or treating the underlying medical condition.
Gynecomastia is Uncommon
Gynecomastia is not uncommon in certain groups such as growing male adolescents and older males
It Is Difficult to Treat Gynecomastia
That’s not true at all. As mentioned earlier, gynecomastia can be due to different causes. For some cases, it could be reversed once the offending causes are removed; for the rest, surgery can provide comprehensive and permanent improvement.
Gynecomastia or Man-Boobs are just fat
“Man-boobs” can be due to either accumulation of breast fat or breast gland enlargement or both. 75-80% of my patients who seek help for treatment have an increase in both fat and gland sizes.
You don’t need surgery, just exercise
If you have gynecomastia due to breast glands enlargement, you cannot reduce them through weight loss or exercise! And here is another bad news for you, it is tough to ‘target’ fat loss around the breasts when you lose weight.
Male breasts can be reduced by using pills & creams
In cases when gynecomastia is caused by medications or medical illness, the condition can be resolved if the offending medication is withdrawn or the medical condition is attended to. DO NOT try pills or creams that can be purchased from the retail market as they will not work and may have harmful side-effects.
Gynecomastia is a sign of breast cancer
No, except in Klinefelter’s syndrome, in which the incidence of breast cancer is 20 to 60 times greater than in men without the condition. Multiple studies have shown no increased incidence of breast cancer in men with gynecomastia. Just one percent of male breast enlargement is caused by malignancy.
Gynecomastia is triggered by Obesity.
Yes, it can be. Gynecomastia is increased in generalised obesity as a result of increased conversion of testosterone to estradiol in fat tissue. In one study, more than 80% of those with a body mass index (BMI) >25 had gynecomastia. Weight gain will also lead to breast fat accumulation, making the “man-boobs” look worse.
Gynecomastia affects both breasts.
Gynecomastia occurs bilaterally(both sides) in approximately 50% to 55% of men.
Gynecomastia surgery is a MAJOR SURGICAL procedure
Gynecomastia surgery involves approaches through ‘key-hole’ incisions around the areolas where the enlarged breast glands are removed. Scars are then minimised and camouflaged around the areolas to improve the appearance during recovery. It can even be done under local anaesthesia for some patients. If there are no complications after the surgery, most patients should be fit to resume 90% of their daily activities after 2 days.
Gynecomastia can relapse in the long run following surgery.
Gynecomastia surgery involves removing almost all of the enlarged gland tissues. It is highly unlikely that the treated breasts will relapse after the treatment.
Gynecomastia impairs sexual vigor later in life:
That’s an interesting myth. But no, that’s not true either.
Eating lots of chicken and eggs can cause gynecomastia
Many of my patients believe in this, as well! The good news is, there is no significant scientific evidence to directly link the intake of any particular food to gynecomastia, so far.
Drinking beer with hops causes gynecomastia.
Unfortunately, there is some truth in this statement. Firstly, chronic alcoholism may lead to liver disorders which may increase the risk of gynecomastia. Secondly, excessive alcohol intake may lead to weight gain. As mentioned earlier, obesity increases the risk of gynecomastia.
Steroids will eliminate gynecomastia: Common Gynecomastia Myths
On the contrary, abuse of anabolic steroids may cause gynecomastia.
Gynecomastia is caused by hormonal imbalance.
As mentioned earlier, gynecomastia can be caused by many factors such as medications, physiologic changes and medical conditions which alter the balance of androgen and estrogen.
Gynecomastia left alone has no harm.
Treatment options vary depending on the cause. Gynecomastia may not require treatment unless the breast enlargement causes embarrassment or distress to the patient. Certain cases of physiological gynecomastia will resolve without intervention.
Gynecomastia Surgery has side effects: Common Gynecomastia Myths
Complications include wound infection, hematoma, and seroma. Other complications that can occur include undercorrection, overcorrection, contour irregularities, and scarring or keloid formation. Overall, there is high patient satisfaction and improvement in self-image for patients undergoing treatment for gynecomastia.
Surgery leaves behind scars/painful.
After surgery, there may be some discomfort on the treated areas which may last for weeks until full recovery. There will be surgical scars resulting from the surgery. They are usually camouflaged at the outer border of the areolas and not visibly noticeable for most.
Increasing the testosterone level, through anabolic steroids, will eliminate gynecomastia.
On the contrary, this will make the condition worse.
Does Soy Really Cause Man Boobs?
Similar answers were provided above, concerning about eating chicken and eggs.
Gynecomastia is filled with Fibroadenoma (benign (non-cancerous) breast tumors)
No. Histologically, gynecomastia results from variable degrees of ductal proliferation and stromal hyperplasia. NOT fibroadenoma.
Men above 44 years old, especially those taking prescription medications, were found to be more susceptible to experiencing palpable gynecomastia, a medical condition that causes enlarged man breasts.
Gynecomastia is the presence of an enlargement or excess of the glandular component of the breast. A hormone imbalance primarily causes this medical condition. Certain medications may contain side effects that can cause a hormonal disturbance, which can lead to the development of glandular type gynecomastia.
Medications for high cholesterol (statin), bacterial infections (amoxicillin) and gastrointestinal diseases (proton pump inhibitors) are at higher risk of developing gynecomastia.
Case reports in 2018 on “Statin Medications And The Risk Of Gynecomastia1” have suggested an increased risk of gynecomastia with statins, a class of drugs often prescribed to help reduce cholesterol levels in the blood. Medications in the form of proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) and amoxicillin, commonly used in the treatment of a wide variety of bacterial infections, have also been shown to cause gynecomastia in users2.
References
Skeldon, S. C., Carleton, B., Brophy, J. M., Sodhi, M., & Etminan, M. (2018). Statin Medications And The Risk Of Gynecomastia. Clinical Endocrinology, 89(4), 470-473. doi.org/10.1111/cen.13794 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/cen.13794
He, B., Carleton, B., & Etminan, M. (2019). Risk Of Gynecomastia With Users Of Proton Pump Inhibitors. Pharmacotherapy: The Journal Of Human Pharmacology And Drug Therapy, 39(5), 614-618. doi.org/10.1002/phar.2245 https://accpjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/phar.2245
Gynecomastia in your 50s is possible! The development of the ‘man boob’ can happen during puberty and even as men age. You can still look good at any age!
Unless you’re George Clooney or Brad Pitt, majority of men do not age as gracefully as they’d like to.
But that’s not to say we can’t slow it down and take a shot at ageing like ChuanDo Tan.
Let us walk you through the ageing process.
This is typically the time men finish serving National Service (NS) and graduate and get a job.
Most men at this age would still put in the effort to look good for school or for work. It is also when they spend a lot of time building and catching up with their social circles.
Staying up to watch soccer with friends or playing games until 3am despite having work or school the next day becomes an unhealthy habit. Especially when junk food is used to fuel those late nights.
And the effects of that unhealthy lifestyle do show. They show up in the form of bumpy skin, duller skin ton, and acne.
If you thought they only appear on your face, acne can spread to the neck and back too. Scratching them or trying to pop them might end up scarring the skin.
30s – The Peak Of Your Career
As men hit the big three-oh, physical changes become more apparent.
The face would probably look more mature than before, perhaps with more facial hair. When before, you had a slim facial silhouette, now you’d have a stronger jawline.
Most men tend to marry and settle down at this age as they progress in their careers, earning enough to comfortably start a family.
But juggling work and family responsibilities can be very tiring.
When you become so busy, you start finding excuses to not exercise despite subscribing to a well-known gym in town. Where did that determination to hit the gym go?
40s – The Peak Of Your Fortune
By this age, most men would have progressed to a good position in the company or have at least achieved most of their career goals.
For many years, they have built their lives around their career, so this is the time they channel most of their energy and time on their family.
This is the time most men develop the dreaded ‘dad bod‘ because there is just “no time” to work out anymore, and that paunch just keeps growing despite the evening runs and weekend swims.
Gynecomastia In Your 50s – The Peak Of Your Health
It might sound ironic, but this is when men (and women) are prone to age-related illnesses.
But work will probably be less hectic as you become so experienced, and the children of the family would be more or less financially independent. This all means lesser stress.
This also gives you the time to focus on your health.
However, as you get prescribed medication for your different ailments, there could be side effects like hormonal imbalance. Hormonal imbalance can cause gynecomastia in your 50s!
The solution: Even though gynecomastia is common during puberty, older men can develop the ‘man boob’ too as a side effect from taking certain medication. The swollen breast gland tissue is what causes gynecomastia.
While you can always go on your regular exercise regimens, that doesn’t mean our bodies can always keep up as we age. Sometimes we need to rely on medicine and science to achieve that ideal body and figure.
When you look good, you feel good; the best thing about embarking on this journey is that you get the health benefits and looking younger than your age.
Even if it is not for the boost in confidence, each of these treatments contributes to your wellbeing and health. You’ll find yourself walking with a skip in your step everyday.
Man boobs (sometimes called moobs, or gynecomastia in the medical world) are actually really common. A Cleveland study found it affects half of all men. Some get it in puberty, but many also develop it when they’re 50 or older.
Why Do Men Get Gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia is not just an aesthetic problem; it is a medical condition. Symptoms include tenderness around the chest area, swelling of the breast gland tissue, and more.
It all boils down to hormones. Both men and women have estrogen and androgen hormones. Women develop breast tissue because they have higher levels of estrogen. But when men have a hormonal imbalance (either their estrogen goes up, or their androgen goes down) they can develop gynecomastia too.
That is why gynecomastia is very common among older men. As we age, testosterone goes down. We also tend to gain weight, and since fat cells are estrogenic (meaning they can disrupt the balance between testosterone and estrogen) this causes the glandular tissue to swell even more.
Improper steroid use by athletes or body builders can also create moobs because the pills can increase estrogen levels. Some diseases – like liver disease and hyperthyroidism – can also lead to enlarged male breasts.
Can We Get Rid of Moobs or Gynecomastia Through Exercise and Diet?
Even slim men can develop gynecomastia, and hours of bench-pressing aren’t going to change the shape or size. All heavy weightlifting can do is bring up your testosterone levels. This will definitely help bring the condition under control, but it can’t shrink existing moobs.
Crash dieting won’t help either. In fact, there are studies that extremely low calorie diets may make gynecomastia worse. Once you start eating normally again, your moobs will be even larger. Diets will also worsen hormonal imbalances and slow down your metabolism. Starving your body is never a good idea.
Gynecomastia Surgery
Gynecomastia Surgery is the perfect solution to remove the glandular tissue from your chest, which is the cause of man boobs. The procedure is not only safe and effective, it also sculpts the chest area leaving a more defined and masculine appearance.
With this procedure, you can expect a short recovery time, which means little disruption to your daily routine. During the consultation, do inform the doctor of your goals and raise any concerns you might have in regards to the procedure. Your doctor will advise on what to avoid and how to care for the area to avoid infection.
Recovery and Results
There will be some minimal scars since any surgery will involve incisions. Your doctor can conceal them in your natural contours when possible. There are also treatments that can help fade these marks over time. However, the scars won’t stand in the way of enjoying your new contours and increase in confidence.
For many men who suffer from gynecomastia, this surgery ends years of feeling self-conscious and insecure. You’ll be able to wear a fitted shirt or bare your chest at the beach without worrying about how you look like. (Or what people are saying.)
Are You a Candidate for Gynecomastia Surgery?
For personalized information about gynecomastia plastic surgery procedures, please complete Dr. Delgado’s inquiry form.
![[Press Release] Gynecomastia Is Prevailing In Older Men, Especially Those Taking Prescription Medications](https://www.gynecomastia.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Gynecomastia-Is-Prevailing-In-Older-Men-Especially-Those-Taking-Prescription-Medications.jpg)
