Q: I’m 65 and have “man boobs,” and I would like to get rid of them. What can I do, and how much should I expect to spend on the procedure?
A: The condition you are describing which you have breasts is a condition caused by either large amounts of breast tissue in males known as gynecomastia, or it is the result of being overweight and having excessive fat in the breast area. Of course, both conditions may exist in the same man.
I am concerned that the skin of this area is loose if you have had this condition for a long time. Most of the time the fat and often this excessive breast tissue can be suctioned out in a procedure that is usually outpatient and can sometimes even be done under local anesthesia, depending on the degree (amount) and your general health.
If both the breast and chest tissue is excessive along with excessive or drooping skin, then removal of the chest tissue alone might result in looser skin drooping in the chest area. The excessive skin at your age doesn’t usually shrink back and may need removal. If the skin as well as the excessive tissue under the breast needs to be removed, scarring can result from the procedure.
If the skin and breast or fat tissue requires removal, then this is usually more of a surgical procedure. If your surgeon believes you have breast tissue, the insurance may cover the procedure, but if the tissue is mostly fat, the procedure is considered cosmetic and not covered by insurance. Depending what needs to be done and how it is done will determine the cost, and it varies from about $2,000-4,500 by most plastic surgeons.
— Answer from Dr. Herb Goldberg, plastic surgeon on JustAnswer.
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