Gynecomastia Treatment: Ultrasound Assisted Liposuction

By Jerome Edelstein, MD

Gynecomastia is the medical term used to describe enlarged male breasts, a condition that affects some 40% to 60% of men. The medical community has had a difficult time identifying any specific underlying causes (or accompanying medical issues). Some studies do demonstrate an increased incidence of gynecomastia in obese patients or those who regularly use certain drugs (anabolic steroids, spironolactone, Tagamet, marijuana and alcohol), but many sufferers may present the condition without the existence of these factors. Many sufferers experience diminished self-confidence and feel socially inhibited. The goal of male breast reduction treatment is to remove excess fat and glandular tissue (or, depending on severity, extra skin as well) from the enlarged breasts. Older forms of male breast reduction were based on invasive surgical techniques that required surgeons to create incisions around the areola in order to remove fat. While traditional treatments reduced fat and improved the chest contour, they also left readily apparent scars behind. In the event a patient’s gynecomastia is attributed to excess fat alone, Ultrasound Assisted Liposuction is a viable treatment.Ultrasound Assisted Liposuction TreatmentUltrasound Assisted Liposuction (UAL) is capable of reducing the male breast without the complications of more traditional gynecomastia treatments. UAL involves the injection of a tumescent solution (a mixture of lidocaine anaesthetic, epinephrine vasoconstrictor and sterile saltwater) to the target area before using an ultrasound probe to melt targeted fat. Once the fat has been emulsified, it is easily suctioned from the breast, leaving behind a firmer, flatter and more masculine chest.

It is perhaps the ability of skilled surgeons like ours to provide patients with these benefits that the number of men choosing to undergo breast reduction has doubled over the last ten years. When there is an excess of skin and glandular tissue, UAL may be performed in conjunction with excision for a safe and effective gynecomastia procedure.Safety and Benefits of Liposuction For Gynecomastia ReductionIn a study conducted by Cambridge University Hospital’s NHS Trust and Addenbrooke University Hospital’s Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, researchers assessed a group of 13 gynecomastia sufferers (of various ages and condition severity) who were treated with UAL over a period of three years. In the sample group, there were no post-operative complications, asymmetry or irregularities caused by the procedure found. When asked to rate their treatment on a scale of one to ten, the average scores were 9.1 for overall satisfaction, 9.2 for shape, 9.2 for scarring and 8.9 for improvements in self-confidence. The study, Ultrasonic liposuction in the treatment of gynecomastia., concluded that UAL was an “effective treatment” that provided “good cosmetic results and a high level of patient satisfaction.”

These findings are in line with what most Plastic Surgeons already know: Ultrasound Assisted Liposuction achieves good results for gynecomastia patients. Through the use of advanced ultrasound technology and tumescent liposuction techniques, UAL minimizes patient blood loss, reduces bruising, pain, recovery length, scarring and the possibility of nerve or blood vessel damage. It also creates better aesthetic results than traditional forms of breast reduction, boosts self-confidence, provides permanent results (barring significant post-operative weight gain) and allows patients to return to their normal activity within a few days of gynecomastia liposuction.

How much is gynecomastia surgery? Call us at (416) 256-5614 to find out.