Gynecomastia is female-like breasts on a man, often called man boobs. Gynecomastia is common in men in the Minneapolis and St Paul areas; it happens at any age. Epidemiological studies show that gynecomastia is present in one third of men ages 25 to 45 years and in more than half of men over the age of 50 years. Most of these men in Minnesota are asymptomatic. Male breast reduction surgery is the 4th most common cosmetic surgery procedure (18,256 men breasts surgeries) performed in the United States in 2010.

Gynecomastia can be the result of hormonal changes, heredity conditions, disease or the use of certain drugs. It is also strongly correlated with the presence of obesity. Many gynecomastia patients in Minnesota have both increased glandular breast tissue and excess local fat deposition.

Gynecomastia can cause emotional discomfort and impair men’s self-confidence. Some men in Minneapolis/St. Paul may even avoid certain physical activities and intimacy simply to hide their condition. Men and parents of teenagers seek out treatment options on a daily bases. The reality is that there are no real solutions except male breast reduction surgery.

Male breast reduction is the surgical correction of enlarged breasts in men. The current male breast reduction surgical techniques are varied depending on the severity of gynecomastia. One of my favorites is the minimal invasive technique which requires a small 3 to 4 millimeter incision. The surgical treatment is highly effective, giving excellent esthetic results. If male breast enlargement is due to fat deposit, the treatment of choice in male breast reduction is liposuction to the area. It might also be necessary to do liposuction along with surgical excision of the glandular tissue to achieve the best results and the flattest chest. In the severe cases, male breast lift and areola reduction surgeries need to be performed to achieve the best esthetic results.