Gynaecomastia Surgery Glasgow

Frequently Asked Questions

What Causes Gynaecomastia?

While disease processes can cause a man’s chest to look more effeminate, this is relatively uncommon.

The most common causes of gynaecomastia are:

• Medications
• Changes to the sex hormones
• Ageing in the case of older men
• Puberty in the case of boys

People considering surgery should always see their GP for a full assessment, including blood tests to check hormone profiles before proceeding with breast reduction surgery. Certain medications can cause male breasts to enlarge, such as some anti-heartburn medications, anabolic steroids, or the recreational use of cannabis. These should be considered before opting for surgery.

Unfortunately, most male breast surgery patients have no known cause for their gynaecomastia and their only option is to get an operation.

What happens during gynaecomastia surgery?

The type of surgery that is most appropriate depends on the degree of excess breast tissue that must be removed and whether there is also too much skin. For minor cases, it can be possible to address with liposuction alone. This involves three small incisions that leave scars on each side. Each incision is less than 1cm and easily concealable.

This does not remove the glandular component that sits just behind the nipple. It is common for the glandular component to also need removing, which involves a small scar under the areola.

In severe cases, it may be necessary to remove skin too. The scars for this depend on how much skin is removed.

Before opting for a gynaecomastia treatment involving surgery, get all your tests done by your GP first to cancel out the rarer causes and check if it might be medications or other factors that could cause excess tissue in the chest area of your body.

Our Cosmetic Surgery Techniques

Male breast reduction removes excess fatty tissue and is one of the most common aesthetic treatment options to improve chest shape and enhance the male physique. This treatment typically involves liposuction and the removal of excess skin.

Liposuction for men involves making incisions around the nipple on the areola. It has a fast recovery time (1 to 2 weeks) but requires you to wear a support garment, otherwise known as a compression garment. The support garment must be worn for four weeks post-surgery to assist in liposuction recovery.

Most mild to moderate cases can be done while you are awake under local anaesthetic and do not require surgical drains. For these types of cases, patients usually feel up to going home the same day.

Dr Darren McKeown sometimes uses surgical drains in patients with more severe gynaecomastia that may require a general anaesthetic, with or without having to spend a night in hospital. With this procedure, you can get in the shower to wash as soon as you like but should avoid soaking your scars in water for prolonged periods during the first two weeks, such as in deep baths or while swimming.

After Care & Scars

The duration of swelling partly depends on what you choose to have done. All incision scars improve considerably over the first three months but will take a year to settle completely.

Our Glasgow clinic is fully equipped for gynaecomastia surgery to address excess breast tissue that results in the appearance of male breasts. We will also arrange a wound check one week after your procedure and follow up in the clinic at six weeks, three months, and six months.

With this type of operation, it is also easy to over or under-correct, so you should choose an experienced plastic surgeon that you trust.