Male Breast Reduction Surgery for Teens

Gynecomastia, or enlarged breasts on males, is usually due to a hormone imbalance, where there is more estrogen than testosterone being produced. In such cases, the male body begins to take on female characteristics, including growing breasts. This may be the result of illness, heredity, injury, medication side effects, or exposure to certain products such as lavender or tea tree oil in certain skin care products. Some studies have shown that as many as 70 percent of male adolescents will have some form of gynecomastia. In almost all cases, it resolves once the adolescent growth spurt has stopped. Although gynecomastia is not a serious condition, the breast tissue may become swollen and inflamed. In addition, it can cause emotional distress, particularly for teenage boys.

How Is Gynecomastia in Teens Treated?

Gynecomastia can be treated with drugs such as tamoxifen or raloxifene. However, these drugs are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of gynecomastia. Additionally, these drugs may be particularly harmful to adolescents who have not yet finished their growth spurt. Surgery is the other option to treat gynecomastia in teens.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, nearly 14,000 boys age 13 to 19 underwent surgery for gynecomastia in 2006. That represented 70 percent of all male patients and an increase of 21 percent from the previous year for that age range.

Surgical Options to Treat Gynecomastia

Liposuction: Liposuction is the more common surgical procedure to treat gynecomastia. The procedure works very similarly to a liposuction procedure in other areas of the body. Small incisions are made under the breast or around the areola (the darkened skin around the nipple). A thin metal tube is inserted into the incisions, and the excess fat is gently vacuumed out of the breast.

Male Breast Reduction: The male breast reduction procedure is done in cases of persistent excess glandular tissue, fat, and skin around the breast. The procedure is similar to a mastectomy to remove a female breast. The excess tissue, fat, and skin is removed. In some cases, a new breast must be fashioned from the remaining tissue or the nipple and areola may have to be repositioned.

Recovery, Side Effects, and Risks

Boys who undergo surgery for gynecomastia will have to wear a compression garment or bandage around their chest to reduce the amount of swelling following the procedure. This compression garment must be worn for the first two to three weeks following the procedure.

As with any cosmetic surgical procedure, the two biggest side effects will be bruising and swelling of the chest. Cold compresses and taking the herb Arnica montana will reduce the amount of swelling and bruising. Infection presents the biggest risk from the procedure, but use of antibiotics and keeping the sutures clean and dry will minimize this risk.

Although gynecomastia is not life-threatening, it can cause embarrassment, particularly for adolescents. A male breast reduction procedure can help alleviate this problem and improve the self-image of young men.

Contact Jefferson Plastic Surgery to schedule a consultation.