Gynecomastia (enlarged male breasts) — enlargement or swelling of mammary glands in men. There are seven types of gynecomastia according to the patient’s age and glandular tissue changes:

• normal gynecomastia
• pure glandular gynecomastia
• adult gynecomastia
• adolescent
• asymmetric or unilateral gynecomastia
• pseudo-gynecomastia
• severe gynecomastia.

Read more about the gynecomastia classification here.

Gynecomastia is a result of one or both male breasts overdevelopment caused by:

• hormone levels
• some drugs and anabolic steroids intake
• liver or kidney disease
• some types of cancer
• illicit drug addiction
• chest injuries
• obesity.

There are two procedures for gynecomastia surgical treatment — liposuction and breast reduction surgery. 

If the cause of enlarged male breasts is lipopexy (excessive fat deposition), specialists perform ultrasonic liposuction. Using special tools, the surgeon dissolves the fat using ultrasound through a 1-cm incision, and then removes excess body fat.

The breast tissue overgrowth usually goes along with an excessive amount of fat in the gland. So surgeons carry out liposuction to remove excess fat, and then perform breast reduction surgery to remove excess breast tissue through small incisions in the areola.

The gynecomastia surgery is performed under general anesthesia and takes 1-2 hours. After the operation, the patient stays in the hospital for 1 day.

The gynecomastia surgery is performed according to the patient’s personal desire or in case of a malignant tumor development. Find out more about the criteria for gynecomastia surgery here.

The intervention has no contraindications, except for general ones — diseases of the cardiovascular system, tuberculosis, infectious diseases at the acute stage, decreased immunity, etc.

Steps of the gynecomastia removal are:

1. A doctor makes a small incision in the lower part of the areola, and excises the mammary gland without the surrounding tissue damage.
2. Fatty tissue is removed (if necessary).
3. A specialist installes the drainage and sutures the wound.
4. The removed material is sent for histological analysis to exclude oncological processes.
5. A patient visits a doctor for a second appointment in 1-2 days after the operation for drainage removal and the patient’s health monitoring.

The gynecomastia surgery   is minimally invasive and lasts 1-2 hours. The patient is under general anesthesia during the procedure.

After the gynecomastia removal , the patient takes painkillers to reduce pain. In-hospital stay takes 1 day. The sutures are removed in 10-14 days after the procedure. 

After discharge, the patient may gradually return to everyday activities. Within 7 days it is not recommended to drive a car and go in for sports. 

For 2 weeks after the enlarged male breasts removal, it is necessary to wear special compression underwear to reduce swelling.

Generally, the recovery period takes 6 weeks. 

n general, the gynecomastia surgery rarely causes complications and is characterized by a high degree of effectiveness and safety. However, as any other operation, gynecomastia removal can cause some risks:

• scarring 
• skin discoloration 
• chest or nipples deformities.
• anesthesia-related complications.

Men who want to get rid of enlarged breasts often do not exactly know where the best option for having gyno surgery is. Such criteria as price and gynecomastia surgeon skills remain crucial for picking the place to experience this procedure. According to Bookimed patient reviews who have already undergone the procedure, the clinics located in such countries offer the best price-quality ratio options:

• Turkey 
• Mexico
• Some European countries (Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine). 

The average cost of male breast reduction surgery in these countries is $2,500-$3,200. Local gynecomastia doctors promote their skills, participate in international conferences, and are frequently board-certified.

The right choice of a gynecomastia surgeon determines the outcome and possibility of side effects. Due to this, it is essential to pick a doctor who will manage a procedure well. Always check these items while exploring a top gyno surgeon:

• Practice. Doctors specialized in male breast reduction should have at least 3-5 years of performing gyno surgeries. So, always check a surgeon’s CV to find out how long they have practiced.   
• International training. Gynecomastia removal doctors who want to stay aware of the latest developments and techniques in plastic surgery participate in international conferences and training to improve their skills.
• Reviews. Real patient feedback is the most trustworthy source to get reliable info about a doctor's professionalism and service level in the clinic. However, check the patient reviews on the independent sources to avoid fake ones.
• Before and after photos. Always ask a surgeon to provide before and after photos of patients who have already undergone gynecomastia surgery. After reviewing such images you will estimate how you will look after intervention.
• Cost. Low prices may be attractive, but be wary of such tempting offers: some underqualified doctors often ask less fee to get new clients.

You can find at least the top 10 gynecomastia surgeons on this page. Please choose any of them to schedule a consultation or an appointment. 

You can arrange gynecomastia surgery journeys overseas yourself: choose a destination country, a clinic, and a doctor. Then you should solve all travel visa issues, book tickets, and a hotel. 

Instead of wasting time and nerves, you can submit a request on the Bookimed website. Our medical coordinators will arrange your medical trip without taking extra charges. What should you do?

• Check gynecomastia deals available on this page.
• Submit a request on the Bookimed.com website.
• Bookimed medical coordinator will contact you to answer all questions and pick the best gyno doctor and clinic according to your preferences and budget.
• You receive a direct bill from a clinic.
• If it fits you, choose a date of your arrival; some prepayment may be required to book the date.
• Bookimed medical coordinator books flight tickets and a hotel with a special discount from a clinic.
• If required, Bookimed medical coordinator assists in documents processing.
• You arrive at the clinic and undergo gyno surgery.