Add-on Procedures to Gynecomastia Treatment

Procedures frequently performed with Gynecomastia Surgery

As a gynecomastia specialist, Dr. Edwin Ishoo consults with many patients who are interested in maximizing their surgical results by adding on complementary procedures aimed at enhancing the appearance of their chest and/or body. He and his team at the Boston Gynecomastia Specialists understand that having surgery is a big decision and people should be well informed about all of the available options for eliminating their excess breast tissue and other body contouring needs.

Having multiple procedures done together means one surgery and one recovery. And, oftentimes, this can be more cost-effective than having separate surgeries.

The most common add-on procedures added to gynecomastia surgery are those that help with overall body contouring, such as:

Liposuction Abdomen and Flanks

Average Cost:
$4,500-$7,000 with Gynecomastia starting at $2,500 for each area

Downtime:
1-2 weeks

Fat removed through liposuction can be re-purposed by placing into other areas of the body or face that may benefit from added volume such as the buttocks, cheeks, etc.

Body liposuction is assessed separately from the chest. It can be a powerful complement to gynecomastia surgery in that it offers a more complete body transformation for those who can benefit from it.

Liposuction is one of the top three most popular plastic surgery procedures performed each year. Many people turn to liposuction to address stubborn fat. It is most common for men to carry fat in their flanks (“love handles”) and abdomen. Unfortunately, a consistent regimen of diet and exercise doesn’t always alleviate a person’s trouble areas. Liposuction works well to remove fat from these areas of the body, without the fat coming back, and more than one area can be addressed simultaneously.

Men frequently inquire about having liposuction of the body done at the same time as their male breast reduction procedure. Adding liposuction of the body does require longer procedure time to be performed under local anesthesia which may limit the extent of fat removal in the additional treatment areas at the same sitting.

The most popular areas for liposuction are the flanks (love handles) and abdomen. As Dr. Ishoo always says, “the flanks are the finishing touch.” This area responds very well to liposuction and the skin rarely has an issue contracting down. The abdomen is a little trickier in that the skin isn’t always as taut. Depending on the quality of the patient’s skin, removing fat may cause undesirable loose skin. This will be discussed during consultation.

Abdominoplasty / Tummy Tuck

Average Cost:
$7,500-$12,000 with Gynecomastia starting at $7,500

Downtime:
2-4 weeks

There are various types of tummy tucks ranging from mini to extended. Liposuction is frequently performed at the same time for optimal results.

A tummy tuck is also referred to by the medical term abdominoplasty. It is a procedure designed to improve the upper and/or lower abdomen. A tummy tuck involves the removal of excess skin, and oftentimes fat as well. Men who have lost a significant amount of weight or have experienced ongoing weight fluctuation may have skin laxity that is less than desirable. It is possible to combine a  tummy tuck with gynecomastia surgery for a complete body transformation that is often described by. Dr. Ishoo’s patients as life-changing.

There are different types of tummy tucks similar to their being different types of gynecomastia. There is a mini tummy tuck, standard tummy tuck, extended tummy tuck, and circumferential tummy tuck. Which one is needed depends on the degree of skin laxity and how far it extends along the mid-section. Dr. Ishoo’s specialized technique for the mini-tuck ensures the lowest possible incision so it is well hidden beneath low-cut pants, swim trunks, and underwear and the quickest recovery.

Some patients are on the border of needing a tummy tuck and may be able to start with having liposuction of the abdomen as a first stage. Dr. Ishoo will use his specialized liposuction technique to encourage skin tightening. With a period of approximately 6 months, the patient will know if he is satisfied with the result. If not, a second-stage tummy tuck for skin tightening can be performed. Staging the procedures provides an opportunity to potentially avoid the need for a tummy tuck. This is not an option for everyone. Dr. Ishoo fully educates his patients so they understand the available options and can make an informed decision.