Breast surgery is sought out by both men and women to help reverse the signs of ageing, or bring the body more into proportion. For men, gynaecomastia, or “man boobs”, can occur due to weight gain, supplement abuse or with hormonal changes during puberty. For women, breast augmentation can help counter the changes that occur with age and child bearing or, in younger patients, add volume and create a more balanced silhouette.
No matter what the reasons for seeking breast surgery, both men and women experience similar concerns going into the consultation.
‘It may come as a surprise, but many of the same elements pertain to men as they do to women in breast surgery,’ says Dr John Flynn from Queensland. ‘As we age, the glandular component in the breast decreases and is commonly replaced with fat. This can lead to loss of volume and sagging breasts in women, as well as gynaecomastia in some men, particularly those who are overweight. By balancing the figure, and establishing more youthful contours, breast surgery can make a significant difference in both male and female patients.’
A tailored approach
Breast surgery in women can involve both breast augmentation and a breast lift. Depending on the patient’s concerns and existing anatomy, Dr Flynn will tailor his surgical approach to achieve the most suitable result.
For younger patients, where the breast anatomy is still firm and glandular, a stand-alone augmentation can achieve optimal results. But, in older women, where collagen depletion in the skin has left the breasts drooping or sagging, a lift and augmentation may be needed to create the same effect.
‘In the initial consultation, I take several measurements to help guide the implant shape and size selection. However, I find the most effective approach is to let the patient simply try on different implants, to establish the size they are most comfortable with,’ Dr Flynn explains. ‘The shape (teardrop or round) and positioning (above or below the muscle) of the implant is always decided based on the expectations, desires and existing anatomy of the individual patient.’
The surgical approach for male patients also depends heavily on the composition of the existing tissue. In older patients, where the breast tissue is predominately fat, liposuction may be sufficient in correcting gynaecomastia. If this is not suitable, Dr Flynn will use a surgical reduction, or a combination of both surgery and liposuction, to achieve the desired result.
‘In younger patients, the tissue is more glandular and gynaecomastia can occur due to the overuse of steroids and peptides or the onset of puberty,’ he says. ‘Older males will sometimes experience gynaecomastia with weight gain, however not all overweight males will suffer from it – it’s very selective.’
The recovery period
‘After surgery, in male gynaecomastia patients, there is sometimes a hollowness where there used to be swelling, and the skin is loose or lax,’ Dr Flynn explains. ‘We can use skin- tightening laser or radiofrequency treatments to improve this, but it is a possible outcome of which patients must be aware. Also, males are often less accepting of scars on their breasts than females. The surgeon’s experience is essential in managing all these components to achieve the best result for each patient.’
To help reduce the appearance of scarring in female patients, Dr Flynn usually creates the incision in the inframammary crease, at the base of the breast in the breast fold. ‘The inframammary crease allows good surgical access but it is also is where the scar is best hidden,’ he says.
The surgical outcomes in both male and female patients depends greatly on the recovery period. A well-planned recovery, involving a diligent follow-up process, is imperative in securing the optimum results following breast surgery.
Natural-looking results
Because of the number of elements involved in breast surgery, and the different techniques required for male and female patients, Dr Flynn explains the surgeon’s experience is paramount in creating natural-looking results, with minimum risk of complications.
‘It is essential the surgeon is aware of all aspects involved; fatty vs glandular tissue; the change to the skin’s collagen with age; and the differences between male and female patients,’ Dr Flynn explains. ‘In taking these elements into account, the surgeon can create optimum results in breast surgery and help restore or improve each patient’s body confidence and self-esteem.’
