What Is Gynecomastia?

Gynecomastia causes boys and men to develop breasts from swollen breast tissue or accumulation of fat. While the male chest typically has little projection, gynecomastia causes the breasts to protrude. This becomes a source of embarrassment both in and out of clothes. Despite common sentiment, gynecomastia is generally not improved with weight loss or further development of pectoralis muscles by lifting weights at the gym. In fact, those things usually make breasts appear worse. Surgical intervention is an effective remedy that results in immediate improvement.

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Why Choose Dr. Zenn?

  • Dr. Zenn is universally recognized as a master breast surgeon by his peers
  • He is frequently invited to teach breast surgery techniques around the world
  • Dr. Zenn is considered an expert on gynecomastia and authored the chapter “Gynecomastia” in the popular text Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery (Saunders Elsevier, 2009)
  • His extensive background in cosmetic and reconstructive breast surgery makes him uniquely suited for male breast reduction surgery
  • Honored as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor for Cosmetic Surgery

Many Suffer From Gynecomastia 

Dr. Michael Zenn performs gynecomastia or male breast reduction surgery to help patients achieve a more traditionally masculine appearance. His patients include adolescents, weight loss patients, bodybuilders, and men who have been bothered by the condition their whole adult lives and have finally decided to do something about it.

Gynecomastia Surgery Explained

Dr. Zenn has more than 25 years of experience in breast-specific plastic surgeries. His exceptional technique and eye for aesthetics lead to outcomes that look and feel completely natural. Based on his extensive experience with the procedure, Dr. Zenn authored the chapter “Gynecomastia Surgery” in Cosmetic and Reconstructive Breast Surgery. This commonly cited chapter was included in the popular Procedures in Reconstructive Surgery series for plastic surgeons to teach the finer nuances of gynecomastia surgery.

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Gynecomastia Before & After

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Benefits Of Gynecomastia Surgery

Gynecomastia affects a wide range of patients. In any given consultation, Dr. Zenn may be discussing the surgery with an adolescent who wants to look more like his peers or a patient in his 50s who has spent a lifetime hiding his physique.  For adolescents, these limitations can feel even greater due to the social pressures boys feel at this age. 

Despite this variety, patients tend to express the same concerns about gynecomastia:

  • Don’t feel comfortable wearing form-fitting clothing
  • Don’t participate in activities where they might have to take off their shirt
  • Avoid going to the pool or the beach
  • Have anxiety about exercising or going to the gym

While gynecomastia can be normal in young boys, changes will often persist. If still present by the age of 16, Dr. Zenn offers gynecomastia surgery as a way of resolving these concerns in a safe, short surgical procedure with minimal discomfort. Patients who have the procedure describe their results as nothing short of life-changing.

What Causes Gynecomastia?

Common symptoms of gynecomastia include tenderness and swelling of the breast tissue. While many patients develop the condition over time due to hormonal changes, men may also experience growth in breast tissue as part of treatment for prostate cancer, following gastric bypass, or related to other medical changes.

Gynecomastia surgery may be the right approach in each of the cases above. However, some men’s breasts grow larger as a result of weight gain. Dr. Zenn typically advises these patients to pursue weight-loss options before considering a surgical approach. A patient that is overweight will achieve their best and most long-lasting results at his new stable weight.

What To Expect During This Surgery

Dr. Zenn performs gynecomastia surgery in a state-of-the-art free-standing operating theater, The Plastic Surgery Center (TPSC.) TPSC values discretion and offers a private first-floor entrance and waiting area for patients. TPSC is accredited by the Joint Commission and AAAASF.

Dr. Zenn will design your procedure based on your individual needs. Surgery typically includes one or both of the following techniques:

  • If fat deposits are causing your breasts to appear overly large, Dr. Zenn can perform liposuction to give your chest a more masculine contour
  • Excess glandular tissue just beneath the areola can cause the breasts and nipples to protrude. Dr. Zenn can remove this excess tissue and sculpt a flatter physique
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Uncompromising Anesthesia Care

All of Dr. Zenn’s patients experience ‘one-on-one’ physician-administered anesthesia care, which means a board-certified anesthesiologist is only taking care of you. This rarely occurs in the inpatient hospital operating room or ambulatory surgery center environment. In those settings, a CRNA (clinical registered nurse anesthetist) is usually the primary anesthesia care provider, with an anesthesiologist who supervises multiple CRNAs working in multiple operating rooms. In many office-based cosmetic surgery centers, a CRNA is the sole anesthesia care provider, and there is no MD anesthesiologist on site. 

Recovery from Gynecomastia Surgery

Most patients tolerate gynecomastia surgery very well and should expect a quick recovery. Dr. Zenn will see you for a checkup the first morning after surgery and then within a week of the procedure. Dr. Zenn advises patients to take it easy for at least 1-2 weeks. Compression is utilized during this time, but is easily concealed under clothes so that you can attend school or work after a week. Full activity, such as sports and going to the gym, should be avoided for four weeks. Once you have fully healed, you can expect to feel much more confident and comfortable with your appearance.

What Is The Average Cost Of Gynecomastia Surgery?

Male breast reduction surgery, also known as gynecomastia repair, is very common as the condition is prevalent. Unfortunately, since this surgery is cosmetic, insurance does not cover it. Since most plastic surgeons offer gynecomastia surgery, patients often look for the cheapest price. Just know that the advertised price at many practices may not reflect the actual price you pay.  At Zenn Plastic Surgery, the package price is the price.  Costs cover the consultation, photos, scar gel, and all follow-up appointments. Why is the package price at Zenn Plastic Surgery a little higher than most? Because who does the surgery matters, and no one in Raleigh, North Carolina, is more experienced in breast surgeries than Dr. Zenn. In addition to accepting various forms of payment, Zenn Plastic Surgery offers financing through Care Credit and Alphaeon Credit for patients needing financial assistance.

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Choose An Expert For Optimal Results

The biggest problem that Dr. Zenn sees in patients who have had the surgery with other providers is that they have removed the “breast” but have not left the patient with a cosmetic result. At Zenn Plastic Surgery, Dr. Zenn approaches these cases as cosmetic. His goal is for the patient to feel completely confident when shirtless. To find out how Dr. Zenn can help your chest look great, contact Zenn Plastic Surgery in Raleigh, North Carolina, today to schedule a consultation.

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