Orange County Plastic Surgeon Provides Male Patients a Way to Eliminate Excess Breast Tissue

LAGUNA BEACH, CA--(Marketwired - Jul 18, 2013) - As cosmetic enhancements have become more popular and socially accepted, Orange County plastic surgeon Daniel C. Mills, MD has noticed that more and more men have become interested in investigating which procedures might benefit them. Dr. Mills says, among a number of cosmetic enhancement and male plastic surgery options to help men achieve their goals, he sees a number of male patients who are experiencing an enlarged appearance in their breasts. According to Dr. Mills, this common condition, called gynecomastia, can often be successfully treated with male breast reduction procedures.

In its annual statistics report, The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery cited a 29% increase in the number of male breast reduction procedures to treat gynecomastia -- going from 17,645 in 2011 to 22,736 in 2012. Dr. Mills says gynecomastia typically results in either an excess of breast tissue or an excess of fatty tissue in the breasts. Oftentimes, both occur in the same patient. He notes that, although there are many potential causes for gynecomastia, some of the more common reasons patients develop the condition may be attributed to:

• Recent weight loss
• Natural aging process
• Genetics
• Steroid or herbal testosterone use
• Marijuana use
• Some anti-testosterone drugs used for prostate cancer
• Other factors

Dr. Mills says gynecomastia can dramatically affect one's self-esteem, and it may even lead to a higher risk of breast cancer in men. He says male breast reduction treatment is a way to effectively improve the condition and give patients a flatter appearance to the chest.

The male breast reduction procedure can be performed in a number of ways, depending on the patient's needs. About 20% of Dr. Mills' gynecomastia patients need only fatty tissue removed. For these patients, liposuction or Ultrasonic Assisted Lipectomy (UAL) will typically be able to address the condition without the need for a more extensive surgical procedure. Dr. Mills notes that suction or UAL is not capable of removing the more fibrous breast tissue.

Most of Dr. Mills' plastic surgery patients suffering from gynecomastia possess a combination of excess breast tissue and fatty tissue. Dr. Mills cautions that if a surgeon were to simply remove the breast tissue and not remove the fatty tissue in these cases, a "crater" can form around the remaining fatty tissue, and may leave a less than desirable result. These patients typically require both the removal of breast tissue and excess fat to provide the breasts with a flatter contour.

Gynecomastia treatment with male breast reduction is often performed as an outpatient procedure. Dr. Mills says the incisions made for the procedure are typically very small, and residual scarring is often very discreet. Dr. Mills says patients are usually able to return to their normal daily activities after 3 to 4 days. His patients are also given a compression garment that can be worn under clothing for a few weeks after the procedure to help speed up the healing process.

Dr. Mills says male breast reduction procedures are some of the most frequently performed treatments for men at his practice, and have helped many men feel more confident with their appearance.

About Daniel C. Mills, MD, FACS
Dr. Daniel Mills is a board-certified plastic surgeon and is currently serving as treasurer for the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. He also partners with charitable organizations to help children who have congenital deformities or burn scars. Dr. Mills is available for interview upon request.

For more information about Dr. Mills and the Aesthetic Plastic Surgical Institute, visit danmillsmd.com, orangecountybreast.com, or facebook.com/danmillsmd.