Background: Gynecomastia is enlargement of the male breast caused by gland proliferation. Surgery is performed for symptom relief or for cosmetic reasons. The authors used a modified operative procedure, then evaluated the results and safety.
Methods: Between 2001 and 2005, 22 men (median age, 26 years; range, 13-63 years) with gynecomastia underwent surgery. The operative procedure included a zigzag periareolar skin incision, eccentric subcutaneous mastectomy, and liposuction, with postoperative compression.
Results: All the patients were satisfied with the results of the surgery, which produced a chest contour resembling a normal male chest rather than simply a smaller breast. The only complication was a hematoma. One patient was found to have breast cancer.
Conclusions: The normal male chest contour can be restored by the described method of eccentric subcutaneous mastectomy.