It took Lee Russell several years to realise he had a medical problem.
He was suffering from a condition suffered by countless other men, called Gynecomastia, more commonly know as “man boobs” or “moobs”
In fact 40 to 60 per cent suffer from what are known as Man boobs (Gynaecomastia) and find living with this excess fatty tissue embarrassing and demoralising.
Gynecomastia is an enlargement of the gland tissue of the male breast and the result of growth of the glandular, or breast tissue, which is present in very small amounts in men. It can be caused by an imbalance in hormone levels in which levels of estrogen (female hormones) are increased relative to levels of androgens (male hormones).
And it’s not just a problem that affects older men. Gynecomastia can occur in infancy, puberty and middle age. However Gynecomastia must be distinguished from pseudogynecomastia, which refers to fat deposits in the breasts of obese men.
While women have spent millions of pounds on surgical procedures to rectify problems with their breasts, many men suffer in silence. However medical procedures to solve the problem are simple and easily available.
Like many men, Lee had wanted to do something about his “moobs” for some years, but was unsure where to start.
Lee Russell before his operation
"I used to be overweight as a kid but through healthy eating and exercise I managed to lose the excess weight.” he said. “However, no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t get rid of the fatty tissue around my chest, which really affected my confidence.
"I visited a doctor who told me I had Gynocomastia, which meant that the excess fat on my chest wouldn’t be reduced through diet and exercise. After a lot of research I decided to opt for male breast reduction surgery at The Harley Medical Group.”
Male chest reduction surgery is becoming increasingly popular among men as more and more learn about the procedure and the positive impact it can have on self-confidence. It uses similar techniques to those used during liposuction or fat removal surgery, and the operation is quick and simple with a short recovery time.
Lee soon emerged from his operation with a lean new body and not a “man boob” in sight.
Lee Russell after his operation
“Since having the surgery I feel much better about the way I look and my confidence has rocketed,” he said. “I couldn’t be more happy with the results."
Lee is not the only patient helped by this operation and certainly not the youngest. Nicky, aged 20 and another Harley Medical Group client says:
"To me my moobs looked huge. If I wore a tight T-shirt, they'd poke out like women's breasts. The GP said it was down to excess skin tissue, which is why exercise didn't work. Since surgery having a flat chest like everyone else has massively boosted my confidence."
What it involves:
You may be advised to lose some weight prior to surgery for better results and to stop smoking or taking aspirin. Your surgeon will discuss your expectations with you.
On the day the surgeon will draw marks around the areas to be treated and discuss any worries you might have.
You will be given an anesthetic. When you wake up after the op you will have a support garment applied, which will be changed when needed, you will be offered painkillers and may be given antibiotics.
You will need to rest for 48 hours, avoid bending or heavy lifting and stay off work for one and two weeks – your surgeon will advise. An elastic garment will need to be worn for a week.
Any bruising and swelling should subside after one to two weeks. You will be asked not to remove your support garment until your first post-op visit to the clinic - strip washes rather than baths and showers are advised.
It is very important that you attend the follow up post surgery appointment to care for your wound, see your surgeon and make sure that you are healing properly.
Stitches are usually dissolvable and so don’t need to be removed and the area heals quickly with scars fading well.
How much will it cost?
An operation will cost between roughly £2,500 and £3,000, depending on your problem and the clinic.
More info:
Many clinics now feature chest surgery.
www.harleymedical.co.uk. UK: 0800 085 4984 Ireland: 1800 24 24 42
