Gynecomastia is an enlargement of male breast tissue. It can present as a palpable mass beneath the nipple, puffy nipples or enlargement of the entire male breast.
Large amounts of gynecomastia have a feminizing effect on the chest. After Gynecomastia Reduction, male breast reduction, the chest is decidedly masculine.
Gynecomastia at Birth
Gynecomastia is something every male is born with. The mother’s hormones cross the placental barrier and cause enlargement of the newborn’s breast tissue. After birth, the levels of these hormones drop quickly, causing the gynecomastia to resolve.
Gynecomastia at Puberty
Gynecomastia frequently occurs at puberty. In many cases, the overdevelopment of the breast tissue resolves in a year or two. Often, however, it persists. When a significant amount of breast tissue develops, the fullness can be noticeable.
Gynecomastia and Steroid Use
Gynecomastia can develop in response to exogenous hormones too. Anabolic steroids can lead to growth of breast tissue in men. Anabolic steroids are androgenic, however, an enzyme (aromatase), converts testosterone to estradiol. Side effects include testicular atrophy, infertility and gynecomastia.
Gynecomastia usually presents as a firm, rubbery mass directly behind the nipple and areola. Once it forms, it stays, and does not resolve even after stopping steroids. Aromatase inhibitors, like those used for the prevention of breast cancer recurrence, are not effective for reducing the gynecomastia after it has formed.
Gynecomastia and Medications
The most common reason for adult onset gynecomastia is prescription drug use. Many common medications used to treat high blood pressure and heart disease have gynecomastia formation as a side effect. The hormones used to treat prostate cancer also can cause significant breast tissue development. Marijuana is also common causal agent.
Gynecomastia and Cancer
Gynecomastia, by definition, is a benign enlargement of the male breast tissue. Breast lumps in men are rarely cancerous. Gynecomastia is firm but rubbery and is mobile within the breast. The possibility of a breast cancer is increased for hard, fixed masses, especially if they continue to enlarge. Testicular cancer can also present as gynecomastia.
Male Breast Reduction and Gynecomastia Reduction
Once overdeveloped, male breast tissue does not usually spontaneously shrink. Often, the enlargement is enough to be noticed even through clothing. Many men with gynecomastia are uncomfortable wearing t-shirts, and will dress in layers to hide their embarrassment. Plastic surgeons can discretely remove the offending tissue and restore a more masculine chest.
Gynecomastia – Male Breast Reduction – Before and After Pictures
Softer forms of gynecomastia can be removed with liposuction alone. Liposuction was performed on the chest and abdomen in the before and after pictures shown above.
Gynecomastia Surgery
The primary methods for removing gynecomastia are Liposuction and direct excision of the glandular tissue. Soft tissue can be removed via small liposuction incisions, while firmer tissue requires an incision placed around the lower areola for direct removal. In rare cases when the skin itself has been stretched out of shape, removal of skin maybe required, and an incision may be placed in the fold under the breasts.
Schedule Your Gynecomastia Consultation
The best way to review your options for Gynecomastia Reduction is during a consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. After a brief history and examination, I can discuss the treatment(s) most likely to achieve the best results. Male Breast Reduction is an outpatient procedure, so no hospitalization is required. You can go home the same day, and resume most activities in a few days to a week. Vigorous workouts and contact sports require a few weeks of rest. More information about gynecomastia treatment is available here: Gynecomastia Information.
Call our San Francisco Bay Area Plastic Surgery office in Walnut Creek, California, to schedule your Gynecomastia consultation today at (925) 943-6353, or ask your gynecomastia reduction questions via the contact form to the left.
Breast Reduction surgery, for women and men, is offered at our San Francisco Bay Area Plastic Surgery office in Walnut Creek, CA.
Breast Reduction for Women
Breast Reduction for Women is performed most commonly to reduce the physical symptoms associated with large breasts such as:
Breast pain
Neck pain
Back pain
Shoulder pain
Shoulder rutting (grooves from the bra strap)
Chronic rash beneath the breasts
Breast Reduction for Men (Gynecomastia Reduction)
Breast Reduction for Men, also called Gynecomastia Reduction, is performed to reduce an over developed male breast, and to remove disproportionate fullness of the chest. While male breast reduction is not discussed on this video, more information, including videos, is available on DrMele.com’s Gynecomastia Reduction and SanFranciscoBreast.com Male Breast Reduction pages.
Breast Reduction Surgery
There are many variations of Breast Reduction Surgery. Larger reductions require larger procedures. The procedure is an outpatient procedure, but sometimes an overnight stay is recommended. To determine what procedure will work best for you, find a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon near you for a professional evaluation.
Breast Reduction Video Presentation
Breast Surgery was the theme for my recent appearance on the San Francisco Bay Area’s News Station, KRON4‘s Body Beautiful. Watch the Breast Reduction Video segment below for the latest information on Breast Reduction and Reduction Mammoplasty. Host Janelle Marie asks the tough questions, and San Francisco Bay Area callers have their questions answered during the program.
Reduction Mammoplasty Video
The following Breast Reduction Video is the third of four segments on Cosmetic Breast Enhancement Surgery. In this segment, the latest information is presented about Breast Reduction including: updates about the procedure, breast reduction techniques, options and recovery. The (415) phone number shown in this video, was for viewers to call in with questions during the live show. If you have a question, please call my Walnut Creek Plastic Surgery office directly at (925) 943-6353. We are open weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm.
The Lastest in Breast Reduction (Reduction Mammoplasty)
Reduction Mammoplasty – Breast Reduction Information
This Breast Reduction Surgery Video includes answers to frequently asked question and general information about:
What are the indications for Breast Reduction?
How is Reduction Mammoplasty performed?
What is the recovery for Breast Reduction?
What is an Inverted-T Breast Reduction?
Where are the scars for Reduction Mammoplasty?
Can Liposuction be used for Breast Reduction?
Before and after Breast Reduction photos
Why can saggy breasts require shorter Breast Reduction incisions?
Can asymmetry be addressed during Reduction Mammoplasty?
Can symmetry be improved with a Mastopexy?
Can Breast Reduction be part of a Mommy Makeover?
More Breast Enhancement Information
The other video segments from my Body Beautiful appearance are available here:
The best information is obtained in person. If you are considering Cosmetic Breast Surgery, the most reliable way to clarify the specific options that will work for you is with a personal consultation. To schedule a Breast Reduction consultation in our San Francisco Bay Area, Walnut Creek Plastic Surgery Office call (925) 943-6353, or use the contact form to the left.
A Breast Lift is used to firm a saggy breast. The procedure, also called a Mastopexy, changes the shape, but not the volume of the breasts. San Francisco Breast Lift patients can have their Mastopexy combined with Breast Augmentation or Breast Reduction, if a change in breast volume is desirable.
Breast Lift with Breast Augmentation Before and After
The Breast Lift is combined with Breast Augmentation when we want to increase the size of the breasts or when more upper pole fullness is desired. Before surgery on the left; After periareolar mastopexy augmentation on the right.
When Breast Size is Good, Just Lift Them
The Breast Lift is primarily a Breast Shaping procedure. Larger breast can be left larger, and smaller breast can be left smaller, depending on what you are comfortable with. Larger breasts do tend to require more maintenance in most cases, and may be at higher risk for needing another Breast Lift in the future. It is important to seek a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, and be fully informed before any procedure.
Large Breast Lift Before and Afters
Below is an example of a Breast Lift for a patient with larger breasts. If desired, the breast could have been reduced at the same time.
Breast Lift can be performed for larger breasts without a Breast Reduction. Often the vertical scar can be eliminated in these cases.
Small Breast Lift Before and Afters
It is not always desirable to increase the size of small breasts during the mastopexy surgery. The bridge, as they say, is not burned however. If in the future a larger cup size is desired, a Breast Implant can be inserted in the future. There are certain cases when it is better to stage the Breast Lift and Breast AUgmentation, but most the time they can be performed at the same surgery.
Breast Lift can also be performed for smaller breasts without making them larger. This is especially helpful for very active, athletic women who do not want to deal with the added weight of larger breasts.
Mastopexy Before and After – Side View
A breast lift not only raises the nipple up on the breast, but can raise the breast mound on the chest. This is best seen in the lateral (side) before and after pictures. My patient has a conveniently located skin lesion that makes this amount of elevation easy to see. The red spot (hemangioma) along side her breast is seen just in front of her arm, at the level of the elbow. After her Mastopexy, the breast is back on the chest, leaving the hemangioma on the abdomen, and well below the perky breasts.
Mastopexy Before and After Pictures: The side view dramatically shows the amount of lift possible with today’s modern breast lifting techniques. A red spot (hemangioma) is seen just in front of he elbow. On the left, the before breast sags well below this marker, while on the right, after the breast lift is well above it.
Breast Lift Specialist
If you are considering a Breast Lift, Breast Augmentation, Breast Reduction, or any other Cosmetic Breast Enhancement, give us a call at (925) 943-6353. We can discuss all the latest innovations, and find the procedure with the right aesthetics for you. Many Breast Lift procedures exist, and it is good to review your options before surgery. That way you can make the best decision, one that is the safest and most predictable means to achieve the goals you want.
Six Breast Augmentations are performed for every Breast Reduction; however, bigger is not always better. Large breasts can cause pain and embarrassment. The weight of the breasts can cause discomfort, especially during physical activity. Heavy breasts put strain on the back and neck, and cause chronic lower neck and upper back pain. Shoulder rutting from bra straps digging into the shoulders is another common problem. In the summer months, skin-on-skin contact below the breasts can lead to rashes, infections and even ulcerations.
Female Breast Reduction Before and Afters
Breast Reduction (Reduction Mammoplasty) reduces and lifts the breasts. Notice the mole in the upper inner quadrant of the breast on the right? Before breast reduction, it is well above the south pointing nipple. After reduction mammoplasty, the mole is lower on the reduced and elevated breast mound, between the now perky nipples.
Breast Reduction = Symptom Reduction
Breast Reduction Surgery reduces Macromastia (large breasts) and changes how clothes fit, but it also reduces the symptoms associated with heavy breasts. Less weight means less torque on the back and neck. Less skin redundancy means fewer rashes and firmer breasts that move with you, not on their own. Proportionate breasts also make it easier to find bras and tops that fit.
Reduction Mammoplasty Before and After Pictures
Breast reduction before and after pictures showing the side view. The majority of the scar is hidden in the fold under the breasts. A large amount of breast tissue and skin was removed from the lower breast. The freckles show how the skin is shaped over the breast.
Different Procedures for Different Breasts
The gold standard Breast Reduction in the United States is an “Inverted-T” or “Keyhole” method base on an “Inferior Pedicle.” But one size does not fit all. The top most example on this page was done without the vertical scar that runs down the middle of the breast, from the areola to the base of the breast. Other alternatives eliminate the horizontal scar beneath the breast, or both the vertical and horizontal scars. Scarless Breast Reduction is possible for small reductions when there is little sagging. This is done with liposuction, but liposuction alone is usually not an option for Breast Reduction.
Breast reduction before and after photos. The breasts have been lifted up on the chest, tightened and reduced significantly.
Breast Reduction Consultation
If you are considering Breast Reduction, be certain to seek a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon for your procedure. If know the size you would like to be, a careful history and examination will help to determine the best course of treatment. If you are in the San Francisco Bay Area call Dr. Mele’s Walnut Creek Plastic Surgery office at (925) 943-6353 to schedule your personal consultation appointment today.
Dr. Joseph Mele appears on KRON4′s Body Beautiful.
On Monday, Walnut Creek Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Joseph Mele, MD, FACS, appears on the San Francisco Bay Area’s News Station, KRON Channel 4, with the latest in breast enhancement options. As a guest of Body Beautiful with Janelle Marie, Dr. Mele will discuss Breast Augmentation, Breast Lift, Breast Reduction and even Breast Revision Surgery.
Answers to Your Breast Enhancement Questions
The television show is broadcast live, so you can call in and ask your questions on the air, and get your Breast Enhancement Questions answered during the show. Tune in to channel 4 at 11 AM on Monday (December 10, 2012) for the number to call. Also, feel free to call the office at (925) 943-6353 any weekday, 9 AM to 5 PM.
San Francisco Breast Enhancements
In conjunction with Monday’s topic, the San Francisco Breast website has had a mini lift. New pages have been added to expand the popular Breast Augmentation and Breast Implant Revision pages. More details and the latest information is available about your Breast Augmentation, Breast Implants and Breast Augmentation Revision options.
Click on the banners below to visit the site. Menus for the new pages are available at the top of these pages.
Click above to visit SanFranciscoBreast.com’s New Breast Augmentation Page
Click above to visit San Francisco Breast's New Breast Implant Revision Page
More Information
The goal is to provide you the best information available about Cosmetic Breast Surgery. If you need more information, use the contact form on the left to send our Walnut Creek Plastic Surgery office a question. Information here, and on my web sites, provides good general knowledge; however, it cannot substitute for an in-person consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. If you are looking for specific details, or a personalized treatment plan, schedule your private consultation appointment today (925) 943-6353.
Recently, inquires about Mommy Makover procedures have been on the rise. Astute Bay Area consumers of Cosmetic Plastic Surgery are seeking the assistance of an experienced Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, like myself, Joseph A. Mele, MD, to repair the damage that pregnancy sometimes causes.
Mommy Makeover Before And After Pictures: Side-by-side before and after photos of Breast Augmentation combined with a Tummy Tuck.
What is a Mommy Makeover?
What is a Mommy Makeover? The Mommy Makeover takes care of the two areas of the female body that take the biggest hits with pregnancy: the breasts and the belly. Traditionally, Breast Augmentation (Breast Implants) is combined with Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck), but other variations exist.
The Mommy Makeover before and after photos above show what can be achieved. After pregnancy, her breasts have lost volume, but are not saggy. The skin on the abdomen has become loose and the muscle behind it is lax, bowing forward due to stretching during pregnancy. In this case, Breast Augmentation with Breast Implants restores the lost breast volume, and a Tummy Tuck tightens the abdomen.
What Else Can a Mommy Makeover do?
Other procedures can be combined or substituted depending on your specific needs. When the the breast sag, a Breast Lift can be added. If there is sagging, but size of the breasts remains good, Breast Augmentation may not be needed. On the other hand, when the breasts remain too large, a Breast Reduction is performed.
For the abdomen, when only the lower abdomen is over stretched, a Mini Tummy Tuck may be sufficient for correction. In cases where the muscle remains flat, but a collection of fat develops, Liposuction can help improve the contours. Liposuction may also be used in combination with the Tummy Tuck or Mini Tummy Tuck, to further improve the abdominal proportions.
Mommy Make Over Options
As you can see, there are many variations of Mommy Makeovers. What will work best for you depends on where the problems are, and the simplest, most predictable way available for improvement. To learn more about the Mommy Makeover, and to see what the procedure has to offer you, be certain to consult with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. If you are in the San Francisco Bay Area, call our Walnut Creek, CA office at (925) 943-6353, to schedule an appointment today. Alternatively, you can use the contact form at the bottom of the left column.
Breast Augmentation with Breast Implants remains one of the most popular cosmetic plastic surgery procedures in the San Francisco Bay Area, but breast enhancement comes in all shapes and sizes. As a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in the East San Francisco Bay Area City of Walnut Creek, a large part of my private practice is dedicated to the numerous aspects of breast enhancement, including:
The simplest way to decide what to do to achieve the optimal results in Breast Enhancement Surgery is to independently evaluate what needs to be done to the size of the breast and what needs to be done to the shape of the breast. While intimately related, size and shape often need to be addressed separately.
The Best Breast Size
The best size for your breasts depends on you. The best breast size will vary, and depends on the size of your body (preoperative breast size, the dimensions of the chest wall, height, weight); your level of activity (couch potato, gym enthusiast, serious athlete, Olympian); and most importantly, your comfort level with your desired cup size. This is a simplification, but a good sampling of what I am considering during every breast enhancement consultation. Whether increasing the size of the breasts with breast augmentation or decreasing the size of the breast with Breast Reduction, there is a range of aesthetic outcomes determined by physical parameters. In the vast majority of cases, this range includes what my patient has pictured in her own mind. On the other hand, the imagination has no bounds, and occasionally it outstrips what is possible.
The Best Breast Shape
The ideal breast is perky, with the nipple centered over the most projecting aspect of the breast. Changes in shape solely due to absent or lost volume, like that seen after pregnancy or weight loss, can often be improved with breast implants alone. Changes in shape due to increasing breast volume, whether due to genetics, pregnancy or weight gain, are addressed with breast reduction.
It may seem like breast reduction is the opposite of Breast Augmentation. If you are considering only breast size, it is. However, when we consider breast shape, just removing volume is not sufficient. The result would be a deflated, saggy breast. Breast reduction surgery includes a breast lift as an integral part of the procedure.
The Best Breast Lift
Breast Lifts, like breasts themselves, come in different sizes. Small breast lifts are effective for small amounts of sagging, while big breast lifts are necessary to correct large amounts of sagging. The topic is too large to cover in a paragraph, or even a web page, but more general information is available on San Francisco Breast.
The important part about breast lifts is that they help enhance the shape of the breast. Whether you are born with tubular breasts, have breast asymmetry or your breasts are ptotic (saggy), a breast lift can reshape the breasts into a more attractive form. Unlike breast augmentation, which simply magnifies the existing shape of the breast, a breast lift can remove excess skin and elevate the nipple’s position on the breast mound.
Breast Enhancement Consultations
If you are considering breast augmentation, breast lift or breast reduction surgery, be certain to find a qualified Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. It is important to remember that while there may be several ways to accomplish your desired goals, the method is not as important as the person you choose to do your surgery. Choose a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, who is an active member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). If you are considering cosmetic plastic surgery, members of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) are ASPS members who have shown a special interest in the cosmetic side of plastic surgery. For those truly dedicated to Cosmetic Plastic Surgery, the ASAPS also offers a Certificate of Advanced Education in Cosmetic Surgery. Mine is pictured below, as evidence that I am dedicated to providing you with the best that Cosmetic Plastic Surgery has to offer.
Dr. Mele's Certificate of Advanced Education in Cosmetic Surgery
If you are in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area, and would like to take the next step and schedule a personalized consultation appointment, please give us a call at (925) 943-6353, or use the contact form to the left.
The Tummy Tuck remains one of the most requested cosmetic plastic surgery procedures in my San Francisco Bay Area plastic surgery office. Walnut Creek is a growing community with excellent schools. It’s a great area for raising children, so I see lots of mommies from Walnut Creek and the surrounding areas.
Tummy Tuck, Abdominoplasty, Panniculectomy, it doesn't matter what you want to call it, the result is a flatter, firmer stomach.
What Does a Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) Do?
Tummy tucks are designed to fix abdominal wall laxity. Abdominoplasty can repair stretched abdominal wall muscles. The tummy tuck removes the excess skin and fat that accumulates on the lower belly. This part of the abdominoplasty is sometimes called a Panniculectomy. Whatever the name, the result is a firmer, flatter abdominal wall.
Tummy Tuck Timing – When to Get Your Abdominoplasty
There are several reasons for abdominal wall laxity, but having children tops the list. Pregnancy stretches the abdominal muscles and skin. Often the stretching is irreversible, and the skin and muscle remain loose, despite weight loss and working out. It may take several months for your abdomen to recover from child birth. Normally, maximum shrinkage is seen by your newborns first birthday. The best time to get a tummy tuck is after your are done having children. For more information about abdominoplasty, click on San Francisco Tummy Tucks
Another common reason for a tummy tuck is a history of being overweight. Weight gain, like pregnancy, stretches the abdominal wall. When the weight is lost, loose skin and stretched muscle may continue to be a problem. This occurs in more areas than the abdomen. Loose skin may affect the breasts, face, arms and thighs too. The best time to have a tummy tuck after Weight Loss, is when you have reached your goal weight. If you have had bariatric surgery for weight loss, it is recommended to wait one year after your weight loss surgery. This allows you to reach a stable weight, and gives your body time to adjust to its new physiology. For more information on plastic surgery that can help improve your appearance after weight loss, click on Post-Bariatric Plastic Surgery.
Mommy Makeovers
The Mommy Makeover is a combination of Tummy Tuck and Breast Enhancement. Since pregnancy affects the breast and abdomen, the mommy makeover is one of the most common combination surgeries I perform. Most commonly, Breast Augmentation, with or without a Breast Lift, is added to the tummy tuck. But sometimes, just a breast lift (mastopexy) or even breast reduction is needed. A mommy makeover may involve a smaller abdominal procedure when appropriate, so liposuction and mini tummy tucks (mini abdominoplasty) are always considered. For more information on Mommy Makeovers, click on San Francisco Mommy Makeover.
If you would like more information about the mommy makeover, tummy tuck, mini tummy tuck, liposuction, Breast Augmentation, breast lift, breast reduction or post-bariatric plastic surgery, make an appointment for a personal, private plastic surgery consultation. Give us a call at (925) 943-6353, or use the contact form on this page.
If you were peaking ahead, the preview screen on the video shows a side-by-side comparison of before and after pictures for breast reduction (reduction mammoplasty). I perform many different aesthetic breast enhancement surgeries. Sometimes reducing the volume and lifting the breasts is the best course of action. For patients with large breast and symptoms like lower neck and upper back pain, shoulder rutting from the bra straps and even recurrent rashes beneath the breasts, breast reduction surgery can provide an improved quality of life. It goes beyond being able to find clothes (and bras) that fit, but my patients are happy about that too.
Breast Reduction, Breast Augmentation and Breast Implant Revision Before and After Pictures
The 800 number in the video was used as part of the live show to allow viewers to have their questions answered by me, live, during the original broadcast. If you have questions, or would like to schedule a consultation appointment, please call (925) 943-6353, or use the contact form on the left side of this page.
Bay Area Breast Implants – Part 2 or 4
This cosmetic breast enhancement video includes information about:
Cosmetic breast enhancement including before and after pictures
I cannot emphasize this enough. If you are considering breast augmentation, be certain to review the benefits, and the risks, with a qualified Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, like myself. This is an important part of any breast augmentation consultation appointment. This is equally important if you have developed problems with your breast implants. A consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon is the best first step toward finding relief.
Additional Information on Cosmetic Breast Enhancement
Dr. Joseph Mele appears on KRON4's Body Beautiful.
To celebrate the debut of the new San Francisco Breast dot com (SanFranciscoBreast.com), a site dedicated to cosmetic breast surgery for the San Francisco Bay Area, I will be dedicating my appearance on Monday’s Body Beautiful on KRON4 to the breast. Breast augmentation, breast lifts, breast reductions, breast implant revisions, everything related to enhancing the breasts is open for discussion.
Body Beautiful is broadcast live at 11:00 AM on KRON4, so tune in and phone in with your breast questions. Whether you have had breast surgery, or are considering it, the show will cover a variety of topics. For a preview of what’s in store visit SanFranciscoBreast.com.
What’s new in Breast Enhancement Surgery?
The new web site is a comprehensive and authoritative review of the latest techniques in aesthetic breast surgery. Located in the San Francisco East Bay Area city of Walnut Creek, Plastic Surgeon, Joseph Mele, has lent his years of experience, and breast expertise, to this free patient education resource. The site is illustrated with graphics, videos and before and after pictures, and there is more to come. The list of topics covered is long and includes:
I look forward to hearing from you on Monday. If you will not be able to watch KRON4 at 11 AM on Monday, December 13, 2010, and you have a question you want answered, you can send your question via the contact form to the left. I will send you a personal response, and perhaps your question will be answered live during Body Beautiful.
