Helping Mississauga and Toronto, Ontario Men with Male Breast Reduction Surgery

Men who have excessive breast tissue often feel embarrassed and go to some lengths to conceal their condition. The condition is not unusual, however. Enlarged male breasts, a condition known as gynecomastia, affect a surprising 40 to 60 percent of the male population worldwide. Some drugs and medical problems have been linked to gynecomastia, but in most cases the cause is unknown. At the Plastic Surgery Clinic in Mississauga, near Toronto, male breast reduction surgery can reduce breast size, resulting in a flatter, firmer, better contoured chest. Dr. Lista performs male breast reduction surgery on 100 to 150 men every year, so he has the experience and expertise necessary to help our gynecomastia patients achieve aesthetic, natural-looking results.

• The Consultation
• Gynecomastia Candidates
• Male Breast Reduction Surgery
• Power Assisted Lipoplasty (PAL®)
• After the Surgery
• The New Look
• The Risks of Male Breast Reduction Surgery

The Consultation

All of our patients can be assured that Dr. Lista and his staff are extremely discreet and are careful to protect the privacy of every patient. Dr. Lista prefers to meet with his patients personally before any surgery. If you are a resident of Brampton, Oakville, Mississauga, or Toronto having male breast reduction surgery, he'll ask to meet with you at least twice before your procedure. In a private consultation, Dr. Lista will fully explain the benefits and risks of male breast reduction surgery, and he'll answer any questions and address any concerns that you might have. We encourage you to be very direct about your expectations because not all results desired by our patients are possible through male breast reduction surgery. Dr. Lista can give you a very good idea of how you will look after your surgery using advanced computerized digital imaging.

Many of our Brampton, Oakville, Mississauga, and Toronto patients combine their male breast reduction procedure with laser wrinkle removal or BOTOX® treatment, or even a face lift, forehead lift, or rhinoplasty procedure. Contact the Plastic Surgery Clinic today to learn more about the exciting options we have to help men look their best.

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Gynecomastia Candidates

Male breast reduction surgery can help men of any age who are healthy and emotionally stable. Men who have firm, elastic skin that forms easily to new contours will achieve the best results from the surgery.

If you are obese or overweight and have not attempted exercise or weight loss to reduce breast size, Dr. Lista may discourage you from having male breast reduction surgery. He also discourages patients who use alcohol in excess, take anabolic steroids, or smoke marijuana from having male breast surgery as these habits can lead to enlarged male breasts. Patients are encouraged to stop these activities before attempting surgical correction to see if cessation will reduce the size of the breasts.

Smokers should quit two weeks prior to their procedure as smoking can impair healing. Dr. Lista will provide detailed instructions for other precautions that should be taken before surgery.

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Male Breast Reduction Surgery

Dr. Lista performs most procedures at the Plastic Surgery Clinic, convenient to Toronto. He also performs male breast reduction surgery at the Trillium Health Center (The Mississauga Hospital), where he serves as chief of plastic surgery, for patients who prefer a hospital setting. Dr. Lista personally performs all procedures. Assistants or students never take part in a procedure. Anesthesia is administered by a board-certified anesthesiologist who stays with the patient from the beginning of surgery to the time the patient awakens. Male breast reduction surgery typically takes one to two hours to complete. Because anesthesia is used in the procedure, it is necessary for a companion to drive the patient home after surgery.

Excess fat and glandular tissue are responsible for gynecomastia. In male breast reduction surgery, Dr. Lista cuts away and removes excess tissue through a small incision made in an inconspicuous area near the breast, usually on the edge of the areola or under the arm. If an overabundance of fat is a primary cause of the gynecomastia, Dr. Lista may use liposuction to reduce breast size. He inserts a cannula, or small suction tube, through the existing incision. Dr. Lista then moves the cannula through the fat deposits to break them up and suction away the fat.

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Power Assisted Lipoplasty (PAL®)

Dr. Lista is one of the first surgeons in Canada to use the newest liposuction technique, Microaire power assisted lipoplasty (PAL®), for male breast reduction surgery. With this revolutionary method, the cannula oscillates 3 or 4 millimeters at a frequency of several hundred cycles per second. The vibrating action allows much more efficient removal of fat and tissue with less force. As a result, the patient experiences less bleeding, trauma, and bruising, as well as a much shorter recovery period.

Many patients at our Toronto-area practice who have male breast reduction surgery do not want to have a tell-tale scar left near the areola. Because of this, Dr. Lista developed a new PAL® technique. To begin, he inserts the cannula through an incision made in an inconspicuous area at the lower side of the chest. Dr. Lista removes excess fat with the cannula, then, using a special instrument inserted through the same incision, he removes excess glandular tissue. The resulting scar is almost unnoticeable and resembles the scar left after removal of a mole.

At the bottom of this page are photographs of patients who have undergone male breast reduction surgery with Dr. Lista's new PAL® technique. Notice that there is no scar around the nipple. You should be able to discern a tiny scar on the outside lower area of the chest.

Dr. Lista developed his new PAL® technique to help Toronto-area men who choose male breast reduction surgery achieve a better result. If you desire a firm, contoured chest, Dr. Lista's expertise can help you get the results you seek. Contact the Plastic Surgery Clinic today to schedule a consultation with our skilled surgeon.

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After the Surgery

After male breast reduction surgery, some discomfort can be expected. Dr. Lista can prescribe medications to alleviate this. Swelling and bruising will also occur. To help reduce the swelling and ensure proper healing, the patient will have to wear an easily concealable elastic garment continuously for six weeks. Stitches will be removed after 10 days to two weeks. Most of the swelling will subside within a few weeks of undergoing surgery; however, it will take three months or more for the final results to become apparent.

Dr. Lista encourages his male breast reduction surgery patients to begin walking on the day of surgery. After a week, patients are able to return to work. Gentle exercise is fine after two weeks have passed, but strenuous exercise should not be attempted for at least a month. Also, the scar should not be exposed to the sun for at least six months as sunlight can cause the scar to darken. Strong sunblock or a bandage is recommended if exposure to the sun is unavoidable.

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The New Look

As is apparent in the photographs below, surgery for gynecomastia can significantly improve the appearance of the chest. Virtually without exception, our Brampton, Oakville, Mississauga, and Toronto patients who undergo male breast reduction surgery and are realistic in their expectations are extremely satisfied with their results. The procedure can boost self-confidence, enhance appearance, and make a man feel more attractive. If you have gynecomastia, contact the Plastic Surgery Clinic today to find out how male breast reduction surgery can help you.

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The Risks of Male Breast Reduction Surgery

Dr. Lista's expertise in performing male breast reduction surgery greatly reduces any chance of complications with the procedure. Nonetheless, all surgery carries some risk. Adverse reactions to anesthesia and infection are possible. Other risks include skin injury, excessive bleeding, and excessive loss or accumulation of fluid. The breasts may not match each other after the procedure. If the difference between the breasts is pronounced, a second procedure may be necessary. Scarring is inevitable, but Dr. Lista strives to make scars as inconspicuous as possible. The patient may experience numbness in the breasts that usually disappears after a few weeks but may become permanent.

At the Plastic Surgery Clinic in Mississauga, a quick drive from Toronto, Dr. Lista performs advanced male breast reduction procedures to help men achieve a flat, firm, contoured chest. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Lista, the gynecomastia expert.

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