The internet has had a profound effect on the field of aesthetics. Not only are patients able to educate themselves on the various procedures and plastic surgeons in their area, but it has also helped to remove any old stigmas. Men, in particular, used to have considerable shame associated with seeking out plastic surgery. Many would live with an uncomfortable condition, such as “male boobs”, rather than get help. Thankfully, this is becoming considerably less common. In fact, cosmetic surgeries for men continue to be on the rise. And why shouldn’t they? Like women, men want to look and feel like the best version of themselves. Furthermore, many men desire to stay vital in the workplace long past the traditional retirement age. And whether you like it or not, looking more youthful can help keep you more relevant. I have long been an advocate for my Boston area male patients so aesthetic procedures for men is a fundamental component of my practice. Read on to discover some of the latest cosmetic surgeries for men.
Treatment Options for Gynecomastia in Boston
Gynecomastia, or “male boobs”, is an incredibly common medical condition that affects somewhere between 50% and 60% of all men at some point in their lives. Often due to a hormone imbalance, gynecomastia can result in an excess of breast glandular tissue, fatty tissue or both. Some younger patients may grow out of gynecomastia, but most older patients do not. While women generally desire more volume in their breasts, men are the opposite. The masculine ideal is a smooth, flat chest. Furthermore, if men have excess glandular tissue, no amount of healthful eating or bench presses at the gym will resolve the issue.
During our initial consultation, I will ask a lot of questions about your lifestyle as certain drugs can cause gynecomastia. I will also perform a thorough physical exam in order to ascertain the underlying physical driver of the fullness in your chest as this is what will determine the best treatment option for your anatomy and needs. Procedures to address gynecomastia include:
- Male Chest Reduction Surgery
- Liposuction
What is Male Chest Reduction Surgery?
Men have breast glandular tissue, just like women. In those patients with gynecomastia, an overabundance of this tissue results in visible, prominent breasts. This may cause you to avoid wearing certain clothes like t-shirts and/or decline to participate in activities like going to the pool or beach. Many of my gynecomastia patients will tell me how they became so self-conscious that they wouldn’t date, or even see friends and family. For those suffering from gynecomastia, male chest reduction surgery can be life altering as it allows me to re-sculpt your chest into its ideal contour.
Generally, I combine my male chest reduction surgery with liposuction first in order to debulk your chest of any extra fat. Then, I make an incision around your areolar through which I remove the excess glandular and fatty tissue in order to sculpt your chest and re-harmonize the remaining tissue by re-draping and reorganizing it. I rarely need to reduce the size of your areolar, but this is something that we will discuss in detail during your initial consultation. I understand that the idea of incisions in such a sensitive area may be frightening. But incisions along the areola heal extremely well. Furthermore, any resultant scar is hidden in the line between the edge of your areolar and chest skin.
Liposuction to Treat Gynecomastia
Some male boobs can be the result of excess fat alone. The ideal patient is someone who is already at a reasonable weight. You may even be super fit, but still don’t have the flat chest that you want. Liposuction is a surgical procedure in which I insert a hollow tube through a series of incisions and remove the excess fat. These incisions are so tiny that they don’t even require stitches. An ideal candidate for this procedure is only bothered by excess fatty tissue and doesn’t have excess glandular tissue or excessive loose skin.
I am always going to prefer liposuction for gynecomastia instead of non-invasive body contouring such as CoolSculpting® or SculpSure® as it gives me the most access in order to precisely remove only the necessary fat. Your ideal chest contour requires both peaks and valleys. Liposuction is a more exacting procedure for sculpting than CoolSculpting® or SculpSure®. Furthermore, while many are attracted to the latter as it is non-surgical and requires no downtime, it will take multiple treatments, spaced weeks apart, in order to achieve your goal versus liposuction which is a one and done procedure.
Male Body Contouring
In addition to the chest, men are seeking other male body contouring procedures in order to look and feel their best. Popular areas for male body contouring with liposuction include:
- Abdomen
- Flanks
- Jawline
A dissatisfaction with the appearance of the abdominal region definitely crosses over gender lines. Liposuction is my go-to procedure for removing excess fat. In my male patients who also have some skin laxity, I will typically combine liposuction with Renuvion®. This is a minimally invasive procedure to induce your skin and tissues to produce more collagen and elastin. The end result is a more lifted, firm appearance to the tissues in the treatment area. Liposuction may also be an ideal option for creating a more defined jawline. Like a smooth chest, a crisp delineation between the jaw and the neck is another masculine ideal that many men lose with age.
Facial Rejuvenation with Injectables for Men
Last, but not least, men are embracing facial rejuvenation with injectables. This may include a neurotoxin such as Botox® and/or dermal fillers. The former works by limiting movement in the dynamic muscles of the face in order to smooth out the “11” lines between the brows or crow’s feet around the eyes, for example. Dermal fillers, on the other hand, fill in lost volume making them great for addressing:
- Fine lines & wrinkles
- Hollow areas under the eyes
- Loss of volume in the mid-face
- Mild “Jowling”
Injectables are appealing to my male patients as the procedure is effective, fast and requires no downtime for recovery.
Cosmetic Surgeries for Men Most Frequently Asked Question
The most frequently asked question that I hear from a male patient when it comes to any aesthetic procedure is usually: “What is the recovery?”. In general, men have less tolerance for what I like to call “muss and fuss” than women. I am always incredibly honest about what any procedure is going to require in terms of:
- Time off work
- Post-op pain
- Need for a compression garment
The latter is a requirement with any liposuction procedure. It helps to reduce swelling, aid in overall healing and ensure the fabulous result that we both want. And while it can be annoying, my male patients will always say that the end result was well worth any minor inconvenience.
To find out more about gynecomastia, liposuction, injectables, or any other surgical or non-surgical procedure with Dr. Sean Doherty at his Boston or Chestnut Hill office, contact us today or call (617) 450-0070 to schedule a consultation.