The First Office Visit

You will be asked to sign a surgical consent, which enumerates the risks of the procedure in detail. These risks have been explained here, but are also discussed at the consultation. You will need to arrange for an escort to drive you to and from the surgery center. Patients cannot operate motor vehicles after surgery, and we will not place recently sedated patients into taxis for transport home. It is mandatory to have someone stay with you for at least 24 hours after surgery for your comfort and safety.

Dr. Parson will take a thorough medical history, including any signs of abnormal secondary sexual development, history of alcohol or marijuana abuse, and a careful drug history. If other signs of either liver or endocrine malfunction seem evident, then a referral to a qualified medical specialist such as an endocrinologist may be warranted. In most cases involving adult males, either a history of anabolic steroid use or no cause at all can be identified. In most cases, male breast reduction surgery is the only effective form of therapy. The approach that Dr. Parson would advise will depend on the degree of breast enlargement, the ratio of fat to breast that exists, and the amount and elastic quality of the skin.

The Pre-Operative Period

It is imperative that patients refrain from ingesting any medications or other substances that could potentially be the cause of surgical complications. A list of medications should be reviewed and discontinued at least 2 weeks prior to operation. Patients are seen just prior to their surgery date for a general physical examination to ensure that no underlying medical problems exist that may interfere with the safety of their surgery. Prophylactic antibiotics are prescribed for a few days after surgery to reduce the risk of surgical wound infection. A prescription for pain medication is also written, so that you have your pain pills when you return home from the operation. Pre-operative photographs are taken so that you can see the improvement from your surgery afterwards. We generally take post-operative photographs at 3 – 6 months after your procedure.

The Day of Surgery

Depending on the degree of breast enlargement present in your case, Dr. Parson will explain the exact surgical approach he would take to provide you with the best contour using the least-invasive operation. In the least-invasive approach, and if most of the enlargement is fatty in nature, he may utilize liposuction to contour the breast area. Under a general anesthetic (completely asleep), he makes very small incisions through which he inserts a small tube. Vacuum suction applied to the tube then extracts the fat, leaving you with a smoother, flatter contour. A pressure dressing is applied to assist the skin in conforming back to the underlying muscle. The procedure usually takes about an hour, and is done as an outpatient.

If you have primarily a glandular accumulation causing your abnormal contour, he can usually remove this through a small incision at the lower half of the periphery of your areola (pigmented part of the nipple). The breast gland is then completely removed. Often a small drain tube is placed to assist the skin in conforming back to the underlying muscle. The procedure takes about 60 to 90 minutes, and is done as an outpatient. It can be done either under a general or local anesthetic.

Typically the stitching is done with self-absorbing type suture material, avoiding the need to remove stitches after male breast reduction surgery.