Just the thought of showering with their school friends after a sports activity can send a young man running for the hills. In many cases, these young men shy away from sports activity or avoid spending the day by the pool or at the beach.

What can be done?

The male breast can consist of both fat deposits and breast tissue. And yes it is possible for men to get breast cancer. If the problem is only abnormal fat deposits, the issue can be easily addressed by either traditional liposuction or by using the laser lipo-sculpting technique.

If the patient presents with breast tissue, this will require additional surgery allowing the surgeon to surgically remove the breast tissue. This will leave a scar, however in many cases the scar can be hidden in the dark area around the areola. The scar will heal over time and fade.

How can a person determine whether he has fat deposits and/ or breast tissues on his chest?

At the time of the consultation, the physician may be able to palpate the breast tissue and make a diagnosis at that time. If the doctor is unable to feel any breast tissue but still has some concerns he/she may order a breast mammogram to determine if there is any tissue present.

A second method of assessing the breast tissue is to first complete the fat removal (liposuction) and wait until the breast has healed. After healing, the surgeon can revisit the situation and determine if additional excision is needed.

Some of our happiest patients are men coming in for this very problem. Down time is minimal, especially if liposuction is the only treatment required. We encourage the patient not to be active for the first two weeks after surgery. The patient can then start back on a regular routine.
If the patient is involved in any contact sport then he needs to stay out of the sport for six to eight weeks. The patient is required to wear a supportive vest to assist in his post operative recovery.

So, to all you guys out there who have put off baring your chests at the beach or in the gym, these are real treatment options. It’s your time to shine.