Gynecomastia

Diet and Exercise Not Cutting it? Banish your Man Boobs Without Surgery!

Breast tissue on a man should look very different than it does on a woman. There are men, however, for whom “man boobs” are a very real problem. Scientifically, this concern, in which extra fatty or glandular tissue expands the male breast, is called gynecomastia. On a physical level, there is little concern about extra breast tissue on the male body. Psychologically, however, a man with “breasts” can suffer great emotional distress. Men may attempt to wear clothing that pulls in the chest or hides this part of the body. Regardless of age, a man is likely to suffer from lack of confidence due to his physique.

Thanks to modern technologies and modalities, our office is able to avoid surgery and customize a treatment plan tailored to your individual body concerns whether it is for male breast reduction, skin tightening or increasing muscle definition. At Franklin Skin and Laser, we can safely and effectively treat most cases of gynecomastia without the use of anesthesia, little to no downtime, and no scars.  

If any of the below apply to you, you may be a good candidate for non-surgical male breast reduction at our Cool Springs office. A qualified professional, like Dr. Steven Bengelsdorf, can do a thorough examination to rule out other potential risks, like an abscess or growth, and determine if you are a good candidate for the procedure.

  • You have mild to moderate excessive glandular tissue growth 
  • The excess tissue/breasts are not caused by obesity
  • Your male breasts are largely composed of fatty tissue
  • You want to avoid an invasive surgical procedure
  • You can allow for multiple treatments as needed

Real Patient Results

Gynecomastia graphic

Frequently Asked Questions

Many things can contribute to the development of gynecomastia, including lifestyle factors like alcohol and drug usage, steroid usage, minimal exercise, underlying disease, hormone changes, general aging, genetics, and some types of prescription medications. To ensure candidacy for the procedure, a thorough consultation and overview of your health with a physical examination will be performed by our male physician prior to your scheduled appointment.
We offer two non-invasive treatment options for male breast reduction. We are able to perform cryolipolsysis, a method of fat reduction that uses controlled cooling to eliminate fat cells, as well as Exilis, a method of fat reduction and skin rightening that uses radiofrequency heat and melt fat cells. CoolSculpting And Exilis are safe and effective nonsurgical treatments for reducing male chest fat in small amounts. However, some men need both fat and excess glandular tissue removed. In that case, CoolSculpting and Exilis may not be the best options and you may need further evaluation by a plastic or reconstructive surgeon.
CoolSculpting treatments are designed to reduce fat cells in subcutaneous tissue by freezing them away. As the CoolSculpting treatment begins, an applicator is applied to the target area, in this case the male breast tissue, that uses suction and controlled cooling. The intense cold doesn’t only numb the targeted area which assists with treatment comfort, but crystallizes the fat cells to cause cellular death, also known as apoptosis. The dead cells are absorbed, processed, and excreted from the body naturally over the following 12 weeks.
Exilis is the world’s first non-invasive fat reduction device approved for use on the chest for gynecomastia treatment. Exilis targets and liquefies fat cells in the chest with controlled radiofrequency heat and ultrasound energy. As the heat energy penetrates the skin, it can heat the fat cells and cause them to die. Those fat cells are flushed out naturally to reduce the treatment area’s fat layer thickness. The heat, furthermore, initiates the natural healing response of the body, which then stimulates collagen and elastin production over the next 12 weeks.

CoolSculpting freezes fat through different sized applicators that are applied to the skin. These applicators work well to debulk larger areas of fat. Typically, you can reduce between 15%-23% of fat per session and retreat the area as needed after a few weeks. This makes CoolSculpting great for reducing fat on large areas of the body such as the abdomen, flanks, arms, thighs and male breasts.

In comparison, Exilis Ultra utilizes a larger rolling wand, not hands-free applicators, to heat and melt fat. This makes the technology more customizable with its capabilities of being able to contour and sculpt the areas of the body that CoolSculpting applicators cannot fit or cannot be applied. Exilis also tightens the skin so it can be used as a standalone treatment or as an add on after bulk fat reduction with CoolSculpting.

All males have different body types and different amounts/kinds of tissue, so no two treatment plans are identical. If you are a man that struggles with gynecomastia, or feminine-looking breasts, you may be interested in one or both treatment options for best results. Finding the correct body contouring solution requires an in-person consultation with our physician for a proper assessment. Dr. Bengelsdorf will evaluate your concerns and discuss your desired results and the best means to reach those results.
The number of treatments needed really depends on your desired results and current physical state. CoolSculpting on average requires 1-4 treatments 8-12 weeks apart and Exilis is best performed in a series of 4-6 treatments about 4 weeks apart.
With any kind of fat reduction or collagen remodeling treatment, full results may be seen up to 12 weeks after the last treatment in the series is performed.
You should be able to return to your daily routine immediately. There’s generally no social downtime associated with either procedure. There may be some redness, swelling or sensitivity which eventually resolves as your body heals. Patients are encouraged to go about their lives and not limit exercise unless the tissue is sore. Patients are also encouraged to increase hydration with water which helps flush out the dead fat cells.
The destruction of fat cells cannot be done with exercise, so these treatments work well for those who truly are good candidates for fat reduction and not looking for a weight loss solution. Both treatment options permanently kill fat cells in the targeted area although you will need to live a healthy lifestyle with proper diet and exercise to maintain your results. Keeping an appropriate weight will allow for consistent, long-term results and minimal fluctuation. Adults cannot grow new fat cells so once they are frozen and killed or heated and killed, they are gone forever. It is important to note that these treatments do not remove every fat cell from a treated area. Therefore, if you consume calories in excess or gain a lot of weight, the remaining fat cells will expand as they fill with stored energy.

Both of these treatments are FDA approved and are safe and effective for fat reduction. There are some contraindications for both treatments but one of our certified clinicians will go through your eligibility before getting you scheduled for the treatment. Client safety is our priority, and we would never perform a procedure that wasn’t indicated or safe for the patient.

At Franklin Skin and Laser, surgeon Dr. Steven Bengelsdorf offers male breast reduction options that can provide those suffering from gynecomastia with a flatter and more masculine-looking chest. If you are in need of professional care, contact our office to schedule a consultation for your male breast reduction procedure.

BOOK YOUR GYNECOMASTIA TREATMENT TODAY!

At Franklin Skin and Laser, surgeon Dr. Steven Bengelsdorf offers male breast reduction options that can provide those suffering from gynecomastia with a flatter and more masculine-looking chest. If you are in need of professional care, contact our office to schedule a consultation for your male breast reduction procedure.