Embarrassing Troubles for Men… One Surgery Solves Two Problems

In the consulting room of the Plastic Surgery Department at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 28-year-old Mr Li  instinctively hunched his shoulders. Even in the air-conditioned room, he preferred wearing loose, thick dark-colored tops. Facing the doctor, he mustered up the courage to voice the worry that had lingered in his heart for years: "Director Xu, this 'chest' problem has troubled me since puberty. I dare not go swimming or wear tight clothes. And… I’ve also been putting off dealing with my redundant prepuce. I need surgery for both issues, but the thought of undergoing anesthesia twice and suffering twice makes me really hesitant…"

Associate Chief Physician Xu Fawei from the Plastic Surgery Department deeply understood Mr Li’s distress. In the clinic, doctors have encountered countless men tormented by Gynecomastia (male breast enlargement). They not only endure physical abnormalities but also bear a heavy psychological burden. Patients like Mr Li, who face another "unspoken embarrassment," often delay the optimal treatment time due to concerns about multiple surgeries.

Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital has always strived to address patients’ pain points in a more humanized way. For Mr Li’s complex condition, Dr. Xu conducted a joint consultation with experts from the Urology Department and customized an integrated combined surgery plan for male intimate health. Under general anesthesia once, the plastic surgery team and Dr. Chen Yuanlei from the Urology Department simultaneously performed "minimally invasive" small-incision gynecomastia resection + shaping surgery and circumcision. The surgery went smoothly, and Mr Li resolved two long-standing "unspoken troubles" in one go, embracing a brand-new life.

Understand the Truth About Gynecomastia

Many patients initially think they simply have fat on their chests. They try fitness and dieting but find that the "fat lumps" persist stubbornly. In fact, gynecomastia is caused by benign hyperplasia of mammary glands or adipose tissue, while simple obesity (pseudo-gynecomastia) is due to fat accumulation.

How to Make a Preliminary Self-Judgment?

· True glandular hyperplasia: The texture is usually rubbery and resilient, even somewhat hard, located deep beneath the nipple and areola.

· Fat accumulation: The texture is soft, distributed diffusely across the entire chest.

Of course, the most accurate diagnosis must be made by professional doctors, usually with the assistance of breast ultrasound or breast MRI.

Gynecomastia Surgery: A Proven Effective Solution

For established, persistent gynecomastia—especially when it causes severe psychological distress—surgery is currently recognized as the proven and long-lasting solution. Medications or other physical therapies often yield minimal results.

As plastic surgeons, we have always adhered to one philosophy: Remodeling the male thorax is by no means a simple "cut-and-done" procedure, but a delicate "sculpting art."

How is "Male Chest Sculpting" Surgery Performed?

The mainstream approach currently is the "gland resection + surrounding liposuction for precise shaping" technique.

① Precise Resection to Remove the Core Lesion: Through an extremely concealed incision along the areolar margin or in the armpit (with inconspicuous scars after healing), the hyperplastic and enlarged mammary gland tissue is accurately removed. This is the cornerstone of a flat thorax and addresses the root cause.

② Refined Liposuction for Perfect Contour Transition: Simply resecting the glands may lead to chest contour depression or unnaturalness. Therefore, refined liposuction around the glands is necessary. The purposes of this step are:

· Smooth Contours: Eliminate the "step-like" difference between the glands and normal chest tissue, ensuring smooth and natural chest lines.

· Shape Pectoral Muscle Contours: Indirectly sculpt a more masculine pectoral muscle silhouette through fat reduction and redistribution.

· Remove Excess Fat: Completely resolve the "bulge" caused by a combination of glands and fat.

This "1+1>2" combined technique ensures that the post-operative chest is not only flat but also appears strong and well-defined, achieving true "male chest remodeling."

Common Concerns About Gynecomastia Surgery

Are the Scars Noticeable?

Our incision design follows the principle of ultimate concealment, usually located at the junction of the areolar color or in the armpit. Scars are inconspicuous after healing. For pseudo-gynecomastia caused by local fat accumulation, liposuction alone can improve shaping, leaving only two small incisions (a few millimeters each) from the liposuction cannula.

How Long is the Recovery Period?

After surgery, you need to wear a compression vest for 1–2 months to stop bleeding and promote skin adherence and shaping. Generally, you can resume daily office work 2–3 days after surgery, light activities after one week, and strenuous exercise and upper body strength training should be gradually resumed after one month.

Will It Recur?

As long as the hyperplastic glands are completely resected and no special medications are taken or major endocrine diseases are suffered after surgery, the recurrence rate is extremely low.