According to recent statistics, men are fueling a surge in cosmetic surgery.  Liposuction and breast reduction surgery are among the more common plastic surgeries performed on men. Many believe the improving economy has given people confidence to have procedures. There has been about a 17% jump in plastic surgery in the last 12months. About 45,000 women and just fewer than 5,000 men had plastic surgery last year.

In Newport Beach we see similar results: more women than ever before are having plastic surgery but male breast reduction surgeriesare on the rise as we have more clients come to us with requests to get rid of ‘man boobs.’ Liposuction is slightly more common than breast reduction surgery in men but breast enhancement is still the most popular procedure among women.

Also known as gynecomastia, breast reduction for men involves the surgical correction of over-developed or enlarged breasts. This condition can occur in males of any age. It also can be the result of hormonal changes, heredity conditions, disease or the use of certain drugs. Gynecomastia can easily cause emotional distress and negatively affect a man’s self-confidence. Some of our male clients in the Newport Beach area report avoiding certain physical activities and intimacy simply to hide their condition.

Some characteristics of gynecomastia are:

• Excess localized fat
• A combination of both excess fat and glandular tissue
• Excess glandular tissue development
• Gynecomastia may be present unilaterally (one breast) or bilaterally (both breasts)

You may be a good candidate for breast reduction surgery if you are bothered by the feeling that your breasts are too large, are physically healthy and of relatively normal weight. It’s also important that you have realistic expectations and that your breast development has stabilized, meaning you’re past the point where your breast tissue is growing from hormonal changes (i.e. puberty). Some adolescents may benefit from surgery, although secondary procedures may be needed in the future because breast development may continue.

There are many procedures that can be done in the office under local anesthesia to correct the issue of male breast enlargement.

Male breast reduction surgery is best performed on men whose condition cannot be corrected through alternative medical treatments. For example some men get breast reduction surgery from certain medications and once the medication is stopped the breast enlargement may reverse. The final results of breast reduction in men are permanent in many cases our Newport Beach plastic surgery clients report an improved self-image and confidence, whether in a shirt and tie, a t-shirt, or barring their chest at the beach.