Gynecomastia Surgery
What is Gynecomastia Surgery?
Gynecomastia surgery, also known as male breast reduction, is a procedure to treat enlarged breasts in males (gynecomastia) by removing excess glandular tissue, fat, and sometimes skin, to create a flatter, more masculine chest. It’s typically performed for cosmetic reasons but also addresses discomfort or self-esteem issues. In India, gynecomastia surgery is conducted in plastic surgery departments at hospitals like Apollo, Fortis, Medanta, and Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, often at affordable costs. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs is essential for patients.
Why do you need Gynecomastia Surgery?
Gynecomastia surgery is indicated for:
- Gynecomastia:
- Enlarged male breasts due to excess glandular tissue, fat, or both (1–2% of men; common in puberty, 10–20% persist into adulthood).
- Causes: Hormonal imbalance (e.g., puberty, aging), medications (e.g., steroids, anti-androgens), obesity, or medical conditions (e.g., liver disease, hypogonadism).
- Symptoms: Breast swelling, tenderness, or asymmetry; often causes psychological distress.
- Pseudogynecomastia:
- Breast enlargement due to excess fat (no glandular tissue); often in obese patients.
- Timing:
- Typically performed after puberty (18+ years) when gynecomastia persists; earlier for severe psychological impact or pain.
The procedure aims to flatten the chest, improve body confidence, and alleviate physical discomfort by removing excess tissue, with minimal scarring.
Why Do Gynecomastia Surgery Costs Vary in India?
Costs range from ₹50,000 to ₹1.5 lakh :
- Procedure Type: Liposuction only (₹50,000–₹80,000); excision or combination (₹80,000–₹1.5 lakh).
- Hospital/Location: Higher in metro cities (Apollo, Fortis: ₹80,000–₹1.5 lakh); lower in smaller centers (₹50,000–₹80,000).
- Surgeon’s Expertise: Experienced plastic surgeons charge more.
- Additional Costs: Anesthesia (₹5,000–₹15,000), hospital stay (₹5,000–₹10,000/day), compression garment (₹2,000–₹5,000), medications (₹2,000–₹5,000).
- Insurance: Rarely covered (cosmetic); covered if medically necessary (e.g., pain, underlying condition)—confirm with your provider.
Gynecomastia Surgery Procedure
- Before Evaluation:
- Assessment:
- Physical exam: Differentiates glandular tissue (firm) vs. fat (soft); checks for asymmetry.
- Blood tests: Hormone levels (e.g., testosterone, estrogen), liver function; rules out underlying conditions.
- Ultrasound/mammogram: Confirms tissue composition; rules out malignancy (rare, <1%).
- Discussion: Liposuction vs. excision, or both, depending on tissue type.
- Consent: Risks, including scarring, are explained.
- Assessment:
- Surgical Techniques:
- Gynecomastia Surgery:
- Performed under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation, lasting 1–2 hours.
- Techniques:
- Liposuction: For pseudogynecomastia or minimal glandular tissue; small incisions (3–5 mm) near areola or underarm; fat suctioned out.
- Excision: For significant glandular tissue; incision around areola (periareolar, 2–3 cm); glandular tissue removed; excess skin excised if needed.
- Combination: Liposuction + excision for mixed cases (most common).
- Additional steps:
- Skin tightening: If significant sagging (rare in younger patients).
- Nipple repositioning: If asymmetry or sagging present.
- Closure: Sutures close incisions (absorbable); compression garment applied.
- Intraoperative Tools:
- Liposuction cannula: Removes fat.
- Scalpel: Excises glandular tissue.
- Cautery: Controls bleeding.
- Gynecomastia Surgery:
- After Surgery:
- Hospital stay: Same-day discharge or 1 day.
- Care: Wear compression garment for 4–6 weeks to reduce swelling; avoid chest pressure.
- Pain management: Mild to moderate pain for 3–5 days; managed with painkillers (e.g., ibuprofen).
- Instructions: No heavy lifting or upper body exercise for 4–6 weeks; sleep on back.
Recovery After Gynecomastia Surgery
- Hospital Stay: Same-day discharge or 1 day.
- Post-Surgery Care:
- Pain/Swelling: Mild to moderate pain and swelling for 3–5 days; bruising resolves in 1–2 weeks.
- Activity: Avoid heavy lifting or upper body exercise for 4–6 weeks; light activities in 1–2 weeks.
- Incision: Keep dry for 5–7 days; sutures dissolve or are removed in 7–10 days; scars fade in 3–6 months (hidden around areola).
- Chest: Wear compression garment 24/7 for 4–6 weeks; final contour in 3–6 months.
- Follow-Up:
- Visits at 1 week (check healing), 1 month, and 3 months.
- Ultrasound (if needed): At 1 month if swelling persists or fluid collection suspected.
Most resume normal activities (desk job) in 1–2 weeks; full recovery takes 4–6 weeks. Satisfaction rate: 90–95% report improved confidence and chest appearance; recurrence is rare unless underlying cause (e.g., steroids) persists.
Risks and Complications
- Surgical Risks:
- Bleeding (1–3%): Hematoma under skin; may need drainage.
- Infection (1–2%): At incision site; treated with antibiotics.
- Anesthesia risks (<1%): Reaction to anesthesia; rare in healthy patients.
- Post-Surgery:
- Seroma (2–5%): Fluid collection under skin; may need aspiration.
- Asymmetry (2–5%): Uneven chest; may need revision surgery.
- Nipple sensation changes (5–10%): Temporary or permanent; often resolves in 3–6 months.
- Scarring (1–3%): Hypertrophic or keloid scars; usually minimal around areola.
- Long-Term:
- Recurrence (1–2%): If hormonal imbalance or steroid use continues.
- Contour irregularity (2–5%): From uneven fat removal; may need touch-up liposuction.
Report fever, severe swelling, or signs of infection (e.g., redness, pus) promptly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What causes gynecomastia?
Hormonal imbalance (puberty, aging), medications (steroids, anti-androgens), obesity, or medical conditions (e.g., liver disease).
Can I avoid gynecomastia surgery?
Yes, if mild: Weight loss (pseudogynecomastia) or addressing underlying cause (e.g., stop steroids); surgery needed for persistent glandular tissue.
Is gynecomastia surgery painful?
Mild to moderate pain for 3–5 days, managed with medication; discomfort subsides in 1–2 weeks.
How soon can I resume normal activities?
Light activities: 1–2 weeks; full recovery: 4–6 weeks; avoid upper body exercise for 4–6 weeks.
Is gynecomastia surgery covered by insurance in India?
Rarely (cosmetic); covered if medically necessary (e.g., pain)—confirm with your provider.
Signs of complications?
Fever, severe swelling, or signs of infection.
Will my chest look natural after surgery?
90–95% achieve a natural, masculine chest; skilled surgeons minimize asymmetry or “overdone” look.
Lifestyle changes post-surgery?
Wear compression garment, avoid chest pressure, maintain stable weight, and attend follow-ups.
Conclusion
Gynecomastia surgery is a safe and effective procedure to correct enlarged male breasts, with high satisfaction rates and manageable recovery. India’s top hospitals (Apollo, Fortis, Medanta) provide affordable care, though insurance coverage is limited for cosmetic cases. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs helps patients approach surgery confidently. Consult a plastic surgeon for personalized guidance.
Looking for Best Hospitals for Gynecomastia Surgery
Note: we are not promoting any hospitals
we are not promoting any hospitals we sourced all the details from google and hospitals website, please verify and start with your surgery here we go the list includes government, budget and superspeciality hospitals accreditation bodies are the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) and the Joint Commission International (JCI)
- click on your city and schedule your surgery now done in good hands.
| City | Minimum Price (₹) | Maximum Price (₹) |
|---|---|---|
Agra |
40,000 |
1,30,000 |
Ahmedabad |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Ajmer |
40,000 |
1,30,000 |
Aligarh |
40,000 |
1,30,000 |
Allahabad |
40,000 |
1,30,000 |
Amritsar |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Aurangabad |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Bangalore |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Bareilly |
40,000 |
1,30,000 |
Belgaum |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Bhopal |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Bhubaneswar |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Bikaner |
40,000 |
1,30,000 |
Chandigarh |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Chennai |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Coimbatore |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Dehradun |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Delhi |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Dhanbad |
40,000 |
1,30,000 |
Durgapur |
40,000 |
1,30,000 |
Faridabad |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Ghaziabad |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Gorakhpur |
40,000 |
1,30,000 |
Guntur |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Gurgaon |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Guwahati |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Gwalior |
40,000 |
1,30,000 |
Hyderabad |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Indore |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Jabalpur |
40,000 |
1,30,000 |
Jaipur |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Jalandhar |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Jamshedpur |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Jodhpur |
40,000 |
1,30,000 |
Kanpur |
40,000 |
1,30,000 |
Kochi |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Kolkata |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Kollam |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Lucknow |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Ludhiana |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Madurai |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Mangalore |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Meerut |
40,000 |
1,30,000 |
Moradabad |
40,000 |
1,30,000 |
Mumbai |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Mysore |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Nagpur |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Nashik |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Navi Mumbai |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Noida |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Patna |
40,000 |
1,30,000 |
Pune |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Raipur |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Rajkot |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Ranchi |
40,000 |
1,30,000 |
Surat |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Thane |
50,000 |
1,50,000 |
Vadodara |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Varanasi |
40,000 |
1,30,000 |
Visakhapatnam |
45,000 |
1,40,000 |
Disclaimer
This information is sourced from open platforms and is for general awareness only. Costs may vary based on individual cases. Please consult a qualified doctor for medical advice and explore options within your budget before deciding on the procedure.