Male Body Aesthetics – Gynecomastia
Men also care about looking healthy and young today. Body care and physical features of the person are important in having such appearance. Cosmetic surgery comes into play in completing the missing physical features of the individual. For example, a well-shaped nose, a rejuvenated face, more hair, a well-shaped body, and correction of existing deformities will help the individual.
Treatment of Enlarged Breasts (Gynecomastia)
Gynecomastia is the abnormal enlargement of breast tissue in males. Growth in the breast tissue mostly occurs after puberty and it might be seen before puberty, although rarely. Patients applying for treatment of gynecomastia are examined and radiological examination is performed if necessary. The causes of gynecomastia are different. Hormone imbalances are the most common cause. Taking hormone drugs, endocrine gland tumors, and testicular development disorders are among the other causes of gynecomastia.
What is the prevalence of gynecomastia?
Mammary glands grow by 60-70% in males during puberty; however, the growth is not very noticeable. The growth will regress within 6 to 18 months and the breasts will return to their normal size. Gynecomastia changes are seen in 40% of male adults, which may be unilateral or bilateral.
There are three types of gynecomastia:
- Glandular
- Mixed
- Lipomatous
Whereas the actual mammary gland tissue causes the glandular type of growth, there is an increase in the fat tissue in the breast in case of lipomatous type. In the mixed type, there is both an increase in breast tissue and an increase in fat tissue.
Surgical Treatment
Liposuction and removal of the mammary gland with a small incision are the most appropriate techniques as surgical treatment. These treatment methods vary depending on the examination findings of the breast.
Good results are obtained with liposuction method in patients with large amounts of fat tissue in the breast tissue. In patients with excess fat tissue accompanied by excess mammary gland tissue, the breast tissue should be removed in addition to liposuction. If there is excess skin in addition to excess fat and breast tissue, the excess skin is also removed when removing the excess fat and breast tissue. A corset is worn for 3 weeks after the operation and the patient is called for a monthly check-up.
Liposuction and Ideal Body Shape in Men
The ideal body shape in men is a slim, tall and athletic looking body with wide shoulders and chest, flat stomach, narrow hip and leg region.
As men get older, fat accumulates in the abdomen and the sides of the waist, chest, under the chin and cheeks.
Liposuction is a method used to remove accumulated fat resistant to diet and exercise. Liposuction is a very effective method in men because the skin maintains elasticity longer than women.
Liposuction is the process of removing unwanted fat from the body with the help of a vacuum device and cannulas. With the help of this process, accumulated fat that cause deformities in our body is removed. Depending on the purpose of liposuction method, it is named as LIPOSHAPING, LIPOSCULPTURING, BODYSHAPING, LIPOPLASTY, and SUCTION LIPECTOMY, etc. Basically, the nature and purpose of all these methods are the same. The main difference in liposuction methods is in the techniques used.
These techniques are laser liposuction, vaser liposuction, dry, ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty, tumescent liposuction (by introducing fluid) and super-wet techniques. There are differences between these techniques in terms of patient recovery times and liposuction results.
It should not be forgotten that liposuction never replaces diet or exercise. It only gives the desired shape to our body by removing accumulated fat tissue that cannot be eliminated by losing weight.
Areas of Application for Liposuction
The areas where liposuction is frequently applied include abdomen, waist, buttocks, hips, inner thighs, thighs, knees, arms, and under the chin. When necessary, the procedure can also be applied in a limited manner in other areas with unwanted fat accumulation in the body.
Good Candidates for Liposuction
The best candidate for liposuction is the candidate that has realistic expectations from this procedure. If the weight of the patient is close to the ideal weight, the skin has good elasticity and there is no disease that will affect the operation result, it could be said that the patient is an ideal candidate for liposuction.
Deciding on Liposuction
While consulting the plastic surgeon, you should communicate your expectations to him realistically for the success of the surgical procedure and also ask the surgeon to enlighten you on liposuction and alternative treatment methods in terms of what is best suitable for your expectations. If you are an ideal candidate for liposuction, your doctor will examine you in terms of the diseases you have had, the medications you have used, your blood work and your current physical health, and will tell you the preparation stages of liposuction.
Stages of Preparation for Surgery
- Detection of excess fat accumulation in the body with examination and digital imaging before liposuction,
- Determination of a corset suitable for the area where liposuction will be applied,
- Informing the patient about how to keep body hygiene before and after liposuction,
- Before and after liposuction, the patient will be informed in detail about nutrition, medication use, exercise program and return to daily life.
- The patient will be informed about the liposuction technique and the recovery process after surgery.
Surgery
Liposuction can be performed in hospitals as an out-patient or in-patient operation under general or local anesthesia. The type of anesthesia to be applied is decided by considering the amount of fat tissue, the general health status of the patient, the areas from where the fat will be removed and the patient’s approach.
Surgery is performed through small incisions of 3-4 mm, using a vacuum tool or injectors and cannulas. With the help of cannulas placed through these small incisions, fat accumulations are removed and the body is given the desired ideal shape. This small incision, which will fade later, is closed, and the patient is dressed in a suitable corset on the operating table. During and after the operation, fluid replacement, careful postoperative follow-up and medication are important. When the patient’s systemic symptoms return to normal, the patient is sent home with instructions. These instructions are to rest at home for a few days, to comply with the prescribed medication, not to use non-prescription drugs without consulting, consuming at least 2 liters of liquid a day and soft foods for the first days.
After the Surgery
After the operation, your doctor will call you for changing dressings and follow-up controls at necessary intervals. In these few weeks, you may have mild bruising, numbness, pain and burning sensation in the areas where liposuction is performed; these symptoms are completely normal and will disappear within a few weeks. Your recovery will occur gradually. You will be able to return to work and have limited activities within a few days after surgery. Your surgeon may recommend walks in the early period. Within 7-10 days, the small wounds caused by the needles will heal and you will return to your normal life. You will start massages that will last at least 20-25 minutes a day. In addition to massages, you will be given LPG or ultrasound therapy after 1 month. At the end of 3-4 weeks, the corset you wear will be removed and you will be able to return to your normal life. It may take 6-8 weeks for noticeable swelling to subside; but as of the 3rd week, you will begin to see the ideal shape of your body. Your surgeon will evaluate the results for you and himself/herself using the before and after pictures and computer archive.
You should preserve your new body shape with diet, exercises and by following your doctor’s recommendations.
MINI TUMMY TUCK AND FULL TUMMY TUCK
It is a procedure for providing a flat stomach by tightening abdominal muscles and removing excess loose skin and fat tissues in patients with abdominal skin that has lost its elasticity and loose abdominal muscles.
Patients are required to wear a corset for up to 4 weeks after the surgery. Patients can return to their normal lives after 4 weeks.
Abdominoplasty is the most common surgical method used to eliminate the sagging skin and fat accumulation in the upper, middle and lower abdomen and to tighten the abdominal muscles. As a result of this method used to correct the sagginess in the abdominal area, a striking improvement is usually achieved. At the end of this surgery, you will have a scar under your swimsuit line, which will fade over time (depending on your body’s wound healing reactions).
Criteria for Tummy Tuck
The best candidates for abdominoplasty are people who suffer from sagging abdominal skin or fat accumulation, which do not improve with exercise and diet. In elderly people, this method can be applied to correct the abdominal skin that becomes saggy over time.
What Should Overweight Patients Do?
In order to obtain permanent and better results from the tummy tuck, overweight people should wait until they lose their excess weight. Surgeries performed in people whose weight is close to their ideal weight give more permanent and better results.
Risks of Abdominoplasty
All surgical interventions have risks. Hundreds of tummy tuck surgeries are performed every year. The surgery scar under the swimsuit line in the lower abdomen usually becomes faint over time (depending on your body’s wound healing reactions). Complications may include partial skin loss, infection, wound opening, hematoma and scar prominence.
Surgical Plan
After reviewing your overall health, your surgeon will examine your abdominal area and make a surgery plan. If you are a smoker and using any medication, you should tell this to your doctor.
If your fat accumulation is around the belly and you have very little skin sagging, the deformity can be corrected with a smaller procedure called mini tummy tuck. Additionally, liposuction can be performed to remove the accumulated fat in the waist area. Your surgeon will evaluate your complaints and symptoms and choose the most appropriate method for you.
Preparation for Surgery
Your surgeon will inform you about what you should and should not do before surgery. You should not smoke, especially for 2 weeks before and 4 weeks after the surgery. If you have a medication that you use regularly, you should tell this to your doctor.
Surgery
Traditional tummy tuck surgery takes 2-3 hours depending on the size and width of the abdomen. Mini tummy tuck takes about 1-2 hours. Your doctor makes the incision where he planned it before surgery. In mini tummy tuck, the incision is smaller and does not stand out much after surgery.
In the traditional tummy tuck, the skin is separated from the abdominal wall up to the lower part of the ribs. The looseness in the abdominal muscles is corrected. This process flattens the stomach and narrows the waistline. The skin is pulled down and the excess skin is removed. The location of your belly button is rearranged. At the end of the operation, the patient is dressed in a suitable corset.
After the Surgery
You will feel slight pain and tension after the surgery. However, these complaints can be taken under control with the medication you will use. Depending on the extent of the surgery, you can go home on the same day or stay in the hospital for 2-3 days.
Although you may not be able to stand upright in the beginning, you should get up and walk as soon as possible.
Return to Normal
It may take 2-3 weeks for you to feel the same. If you start exercises that will strengthen your abdominal muscles, recovery after abdominoplasty will be very fast. You can return to work after 1-2 weeks on average. You should avoid strenuous exercise. Your surgery scar may appear prominent during the recovery period of 8-12 months. This is normal, and after 8 months or 1 year, your scar will flatten and become lighter in color. This scar will not be a problem as it will remain under your underwear line. Low-rise pants may be difficult to wear as the incision may possibly be visible.
Your New Look
Whether full or mini, tummy tuck surgery has very good results in patients with sagging skin and loose abdominal muscles. In most cases, long-term results are obtained if the patient follows a proper diet and works out regularly.
Mini Tummy Tuck
It involves tightening only the area under the belly button. It does not affect the waist and the groin and also does not correct the belly button. It is a more limited surgery that is preferred especially for patients with saggy skin and fat accumulation under the belly region and loose muscles in the lower abdominal region. The incision in mini tummy tuck is smaller. It is recommended for rare patients whose entire problem is limited to the lower abdominal region.
Mini tummy tuck surgery takes 1-2 hours depending on the size and width of the abdomen. Your doctor makes the incision where he planned it before surgery. In mini tummy tuck, the incision is smaller and does not stand out much after surgery.
In mini tummy tuck, the skin is separated from the abdominal wall up to the lower part of the belly. The looseness in the abdominal muscles is corrected. This process flattens the lower abdomen and narrows the waist area with liposuction to be applied in the waist. The skin is pulled down and the excess skin is removed. Your belly button stays in the same place and shape. At the end of the operation, the patient is dressed in a suitable corset.