Tulsa Surgical Arts

7322 E 91st St, Tulsa, OK 74133 · 918-392-7900 · tulsasurgicalarts.com

Oklahoma Surgical Arts · 12400 Saint Andrew’s Dr, Oklahoma City, OK 73120 · 405-751-0042

Gynecomastia Surgery (Male Breast Reduction)

Plain-language patient guide

What this surgery is

Gynecomastia means extra breast tissue in men. It is common and usually harmless, but it can be embarrassing. Surgery removes the extra gland tissue and fat to flatten the chest.

Diet and exercise cannot shrink gland tissue. That is why surgery works when workouts do not.

What happens during it

You get anesthesia (medicine that makes you sleep) or deep sedation.
Fat is removed with liposuction through tiny cuts (a thin tube suctions the fat).
Firm gland tissue is removed through a small cut along the edge of the dark skin around the nipple.
The skin is closed with fine stitches. A snug compression vest goes on.
Surgery takes about one to two hours. You go home the same day.

Main risks

Every surgery has risks. Here are the main ones for this surgery, in plain words. We will go over all of them with you in person.

A dip or crater under the nipple if too much tissue is removed. Careful technique avoids this.
Changed nipple feeling for months. It usually returns.
Loose skin if the skin does not shrink back. Older skin shrinks less.
The tissue can regrow with weight gain or certain drugs and supplements.
Bleeding. Some bleeding can need another trip to the operating room.
Infection. Signs are spreading redness, warmth, pus, or fever.
Scars. Every cut leaves a scar. Most fade over a year. Some stay raised or wide.
Numb skin near the cuts. Feeling usually returns over months. Small areas can stay numb.
Blood clots in the legs. A clot can travel to the lungs. That is an emergency.
Problems from anesthesia (the medicine that makes you sleep). These are rare in healthy people.
Uneven results. The two sides of the body are never a perfect match.
The need for another surgery to fix a problem or improve the result.

What recovery is like

First few days: Chest soreness and swelling. Wear the compression vest day and night.
One week: Most men return to desk work. Bruising fades.
Two weeks: Light cardio is fine. Keep the vest on as directed.
Six weeks: Full workouts, including chest exercises. The final contour shows over months.

When to call us right away

In any emergency, call 911 first.

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department now — do not drive yourself, do not wait:

Chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, or trouble breathing.
Fainting, sudden confusion, or weakness on one side of the body.
One side of the chest swells fast and feels tight or very painful.
You have chest pain or trouble breathing.
One leg swells, or one calf hurts more than the other.
Blood soaks a bandage and does not slow down with gentle pressure.

Otherwise call us at 918-392-7900, day or night, if:

You have a fever of 101.5°F (38.6°C) or higher.
Redness spreads out from a cut, or you see pus.
Your pain gets much worse instead of better.
A wound pulls open, or stitches come apart.

Reviewed and approved by Austin Kluis, MD — 2026-08-23.