male breast reduction Atlanta

September 19, 2016

Chest Liposuction or Male Breast Reduction?

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Many people see plastic surgery as holding more appeal for women than for men, with the assumption that women are more concerned about their appearance. While this is often the case, I have been seeing more and more male patients as men begin to recognize the benefits of a masculine, natural-looking cosmetic surgery result. One of the most common concerns these men want to address is chest enlargement, or male breasts. This condition, referred to as either gynecomastia (excess breast tissue) or pseudogynecomastia (excess fat), can typically be treated with great success and minimal scarring by a board-certified plastic surgeon.

While all men have some degree of glandular breast tissue, some men develop enough to form enlarged, female-like breasts. This can be caused by hormonal changes, weight fluctuations, the use of certain drugs or medications, and even heredity. But whatever the culprit may be, gynecomastia can make men feel highly self-conscious both with and without a shirt on. The condition typically doesn’t resolve on its own without cosmetic surgery, so many patients ask, “how do I know if I can just have liposuction to remove the fat or if I need to have breast tissue removed, too?”

It’s understandable for patients to prefer liposuction to male breast reduction, because the scars liposuction causes are extremely small—just a few millimeters long. This makes them particularly discreet and difficult to see. Breast tissue, on the other hand, is more dense than fat, so it cannot be removed through the narrow tube we use for liposuction. The fact is that most men will need some degree of breast tissue removed in addition to the fat, but the good news is that this can actually be done with less scarring than patients generally expect. I often begin with liposuction throughout the chest area, then simply make a small incision across the bottom of each areola to remove the breast tissue from each side. In severe cases of gynecomastia in which the skin has become stretched (particularly in older men or those who have lost extreme amounts of weight), some skin removal may be required in order to achieve the results the patient is looking for, but the majority of men can attain the masculine contours they want with liposuction and breast tissue removal alone.

Whether your chest enlargement is primarily caused by excess fat or glandular breast tissue, it’s crucial that you take steps to prevent the gynecomastia from returning after surgery. This means maintaining a stable weight, keeping alcohol consumption moderate, and avoiding certain drugs like anabolic steroids and marijuana. If your chest has stabilized in size and you’re ready to regain a firmer and more masculine shape, schedule your pre-surgical consultation with me today. Or, for more plastic surgery tips and helpful information, follow me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott, on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

September 1, 2016

Common Plastic Surgeries for Young Patients

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Most of the discussion about plastic surgery centers around adults who are choosing to change a feature of their appearance which holds them back. However, we tend to forget that certain procedures can offer the same benefit to teenagers and even children as well. Heartbreaking as it may be, children who are seen as “different” due to an aspect of their appearance are often bullied or ostracized, which can have an impact on them socially and emotionally throughout the rest of their lives. While each plastic surgery has certain recommendations for a patient’s minimum age, three procedures are particularly successful and common for those under the age of 18: ear surgery, nose surgery, and breast reduction.

Otoplasty (Ear Surgery)

Most of us give little or no thought to our ears, but for people whose ears have a more unique shape (whether they’re too large, too small, or face forward so they appear to protrude too far from the head), they can be a serious source of distress. Because the ears reach nearly their full adult size rather early in life, cosmetic ear surgery can often be performed on children as young as five years old, depending on their unique developmental level. In fact, children can be the ideal candidates for this surgery because the cartilage (which gives the ear its shape) is softer and more easily molded. The cartilage hardens with age, but adult patients also achieve fantastic results. Ear surgery is typically performed through a small incision in the back of the ear, where I can access and adjust the cartilage while leaving a subtle and easily concealed scar.

Nose Surgery (Rhinoplasty)

As with the ears, a person’s nose shape becomes evident rather early in life. Even small differences in the slope, size, or angle of a nose can make a powerful difference in overall facial balance, so many patients know by their early teens that they are unhappy with their nose’s appearance. Rhinoplasty can generally be performed when the nose has reached its mature structure: usually around age 16 or 17. Depending on the precise changes I will need to make, nose surgery incisions are often limited to the inside of the nostrils or the small area of tissue that separates the nostrils, leaving patients with little or no visible scarring.

Breast Reduction and Male Breast Reduction

Many girls and women seek breast reduction not only because they are unhappy with the appearance of their breasts but also because the size of their breasts are causing them physical discomfort, like back pain, neck pain, or bra-related issues. I generally advise patients to wait until their breasts have finished growing so that the results will be long-lasting, and this usually occurs around age 18. Keep in mind, however, that weight fluctuations, pregnancy, and breastfeeding may all change the size and shape of your breasts in the future, so you may eventually feel the need for a follow-up surgery in order to return to your original results.

While it is not among the top three cosmetic surgeries for patients 18 and younger, male breast reduction is a commonly performed procedure for young men and teenagers. Excess breast tissue (called gynecomastia) can develop in a male due to genetics, hormonal changes, weight gain, and the use of certain medications or drugs. This can often be corrected using primarily liposuction as well as precise breast tissue removal, but without removing any skin so that scarring is minimal.

Whether the patient is a child, a teenager, or an adult, the choice to have aesthetic surgery is typically not about vanity but about relieving a burden of self-consciousness. If you would like to discuss whether you or your child is a candidate for cosmetic or reconstructive plastic surgery, schedule a consultation with me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott. Or, for more helpful plastic surgery tips and information, join me on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.