All pictures
are unretouched photographs of patients operated
on by Dr. Davidson. Individual results will vary.
See About Our Photos.
Gynecomastia
is a condition in which excess breast tissue is
present in boys or men. It comes from the Greek
word meaning women's breast ( female breasts). Gynecomastia
occurring in teen aged boys is often a temporary
problem which improves spontaneously. In others,
this condition persists into or occurs during adult
life. Many males having this condition request surgical
correction. Prior to 1990, this usually required
excising the excess tissue through a half circle
incision at the lower edge of the areola ( the pink
or brown skin around the nipple ).
The
most typical history provided by patients is that
excess breast tissue was first noticed shortly after
puberty, between the ages of 11 and 14. In some
cases, this condition was noted several years prior
to puberty.
Gynecomastia
may occur later in life and, in some cases, can
be attributed to certain medications, including
estrogen derivatives taken for treatment of prostate
cancers. Body Builders who have taken anabolic steroids
may also develop Gynecomastia.
There
is more than one technique available to treat gynecomastia.
The traditional technique (excision) requires an
incision (and scar) along the lower edge of the
areola (although this usually heals well). The disadvantages
of excision include a higher risk of a depression
or dent in the overlying skin surface (saucer deformity)
and a larger scar.
Dr.
Davidson is well known in the scientific community
for his original contributions in the treatment
of gynecomastia, especially for a method of removing
excess skin (when necessary) with minimal scars.
Dr.
Davidson is a contributor to the medical textbook,
The Breast, An Atlas of Reconstruction by Williams
and Wilkins, 1984. He authored part of the gynecomastia
chapter.
Patient
Example #1, Gynecomastia - Male Breast Reduction
- Boston - Massachussetts
Before
Surgery
|
After
Surgery
|
| This
18 yr old college student had been troubled
by gynecomastia since he was 12. He was treated
by the traditional (older) method of excision,
cutting the excess tissue away by means of
a half circle incision along the lower edge
of the areola. His incision is seen 6 wk's
after surgery, so it is still reddish in color.
Copyright Cosmetic Surgery Boston - Gynecomastia,
Male Breast Reduction 1 |
Patient
Example #2, Gynecomastia - Male Breast Reduction
- Boston - Massachussetts
Before
Surgery
|
After
Surgery
|
| This
23 year old Systems Analyst was extremely
self conscious because of his gynecomastia.
He had never been to the beach as an adult
and always wore baggy, loose-fitting shirts.
After treatment with a combination of power
liposuction and ultrasonic assisted liposuction,
he felt more confident and self-assured professionally
and socially.
Copyright Cosmetic Surgery Boston - Gynecomastia,
Male Breast Reduction 2 |
In recent
years, many qualified plastic surgeons have come
to prefer other techniques that utilize small incisions
in the crease under the breast, possibly supplemented
by one or more additional small incisions. These
techniques include power assisted liposuction (PAL),
ultrasonic liposuction (UAL ) and specialized small
cannulas (hollow tubes) that have been designed
for this procedure. Typically, Dr. Davidson uses
PAL first and UAL only if necessary to remove residual
excess glandular tissue. The advantage of PAL and
UAL is that the excess breast fat and gland is removed
gradually which reduces the likelihood of an irregular
contour of the overlying skin. In UAL, high energy
sound waves are used to liquefy fat and breast gland,
which is then removed with suction. There is also
less bleeding and scarring. The disadvantage is
that all excess glandular tissue may not be removed,
and that excision may be indicated either at the
same procedure or at a later time.
It is
not possible or desirable to remove all
tissue (fat and/or gland). It is necessary to retain
a layer of breast tissue on the undersurface of
the breast skin in order to produce a contour that
is not indented and appears normal.
Patient
Example #3, Gynecomastia - Male Breast Reduction
- Boston - Massachussetts
Before
Surgery
|
After
Surgery
|
| This
34 yr old business executive had always avoided
going to the beach with his family because
of his gynecomastia. Three months after power-assisted
liposuction and UAL surgery, he is looking
forward to feeling confident in a swimsuit.
Copyright Cosmetic Surgery Boston - Gynecomastia,
Male Breast Reduction 3 |
This
surgical procedure is performed at the Newton-Wellesley
Hospital on a day surgery basis. Dr. Davidson most
often uses one or more of the small incision options
as his preferred technique.
Patient
Example #4, Gynecomastia - Male Breast Reduction
- Boston - Massachussetts
Before
Surgery
|
After
Surgery
|
| This
39 yr old veterinarian had been working out
for years, hoping to get rid of his gynecomastia.
Instead, it slowly became worse. The post-operative
photo were taken 4 weeks after Dr. Davidson
treated him with power
assisted liposuction.
Copyright Cosmetic Surgery Boston - Gynecomastia,
Male Breast Reduction 4 |
Patient
Example #5, Gynecomastia - Male Breast Reduction
- Boston - Massachussetts
Before
Surgery
|
After
Surgery
|
| This
28 yr old college instructor had been teased
and ridiculed as a teenager because of his
gynecomastia and never felt that he looked
like most men. 3 wk's after treatment of gynecomastia
by a combination of power assisted and ultrasonic
liposuction, he felt "normal" for
the "first time in my life" and
was extremely grateful.
Copyright Cosmetic Surgery Boston - Gynecomastia,
Male Breast Reduction 5 |
Patient
Example #6, Gynecomastia - Male Breast Reduction
- Boston - Massachussetts
Before
Surgery
|
After
Surgery
|
| This
23 year old male underwent ultrasonic liposuction
for treatment of gynecomastia.
Copyright Cosmetic Surgery Boston - Gynecomastia,
Male Breast Reduction 6 |
Patient
Example #7, Gynecomastia - Male Breast Reduction
- Boston - Massachussetts
Before
Surgery
 |
After
Surgery
 |
| This
45 yr. old male had Gynecomastia since age
14 . After surgery photo was taken 9 days
post op after power assisted and specialized
cannula ( Rosenburg cannula )
Copyright Cosmetic Surgery Boston - Gynecomastia,
Male Breast Reduction 7 |
Patient
Example #8, Gynecomastia - Male Breast Reduction
- Boston - Massachussetts Plus Removal of Excess
Skin
Before
Surgery
|
After
Surgery
|
| 18
yr. old student had a more difficult type
of gynecomastia with well developed crease
under the breast under the breast and enlarged
areolar diameter. He underwent ultrasonic
and power assisted liposuction plus removal
of a donut of areolar skin (Dr. Davidson's
original technique at 10 days post op)
Copyright Cosmetic Surgery Boston - Gynecomastia,
Male Breast Reduction 8 |
Patient
Example #9, Gynecomastia - Male Breast Reduction
- Boston - Massachussetts - Male
Liposuction Plus Liposuction of Abdomen and Waist
Before
Surgery
|
After
Surgery
|
| This
34 yr. old male underwent liposuction of abdomen,
waist and breasts (gynecomastia).
Copyright Cosmetic Surgery Boston - Gynecomastia,
Male Breast Reduction 9 |
