As cosmetic surgery for men becomes more mainstream, thousands of patients in Atlanta are flocking to their doctors.

Plastic surgeons use a procedure, known as “male breast reduction surgery”, and use a small incision to enter the breast area to remove excess fat or tissue that may be causing the chest or nipples to appear “puffy,” “feminine” or “enlarged”.

This procedure is typically performed under general anesthetic and can be performed using liposuction and/or a combination procedure where some tissue may need to be excised.

Renowned Atlanta plastic surgeon, Dr. John Connors, is not surprised by this trend. As a surgical partner at the Swan Center for Plastic Surgery (the premier cosmetic surgery center in Atlanta, Georgia), Dr. Connors believes male breast reduction surgery is a dream come true for men suffering from gynecomastia.

“For decades, men have been suffering the embarrassment and low-self esteem that accompanies enlarged male breasts. So it’s no surprise then that men are openly embracing a procedure that allows them to combat enlarged breasts with very little pain or downtime.”

Enlarged male breasts are usually the result of a genetic condition known as gynecomastia. Gynecomastia can occur in one breast or both, and usually will not resolve with a traditional diet or exercise routine.

And while most cases of enlarged male breasts are genetically caused, certain medications such as Zantac, Celexa, Zoloft, Xanax, Vytorin and Cipro are also knownto cause enlarged male breasts as a side effect.

“While some men have noticed the presence of enlarged breast due to certain medications or weight gain, for the most part, the Atlanta male breast reduction patients we see on a daily basis have suffered with this condition since puberty. They often come in with painful stories of how they used to feel embarrassed to take their shirt off in the locker room or how they’ve always felt uncomfortable on the beach,” says Dr. Connors.

Yet as Atlanta plastic surgeon Dr. Connors points out, the general acceptance of this procedure has gone beyond adult males looking to fix a problem that’s haunted them since high school. Rather, pediatricians are now sending young adults in for surgical intervention to fight this irreversible genetic condition.

“We see a variety of young adults, mainly because their doctors realize that one simple procedure can save them from years of embarrassment and insecurities caused by a condition that is beyond their control. High school and college is a period when young men should be having the time of their life-not feeling humiliated to take their shirt off at the pool or feel uncomfortable with certain clothing because of how it makes their chest look."

Yet the popularity of male breast reduction surgery goes beyond the Atlanta area, as the American Society for Plastic Surgery ranked male breast reductions as the 4th most popular procedure for men in the United States last year.

“We’re happy to offer such a wonderful procedure at the Swan Center for Plastic Surgery,” says Dr. Connors. “It’s time men start to experience some of the uplifting results of cosmetic surgery that women have taken advantage of for years."

For further information on Atlanta plastic surgeon, Dr. John Connors or Atlanta male breast reduction surgery, visit www.swancenteratlanta.com.