Gynecomastia Surgery Cost and Best Financing Options
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Summary:
The average cost of gynecomastia surgery is approximately $4,200, but it can range anywhere from $3,900 to $5,000. Because this is a cosmetic procedure, it’s highly unlikely that your health insurance provider will cover it. However, you do have other financing options available, such as medical loans and payment plans.
Most people are a bit self-conscious about at least one part of their body, whether it’s a little extra flab around the waist or wrinkles under the eyes. If you are a man, you don’t expect that part of your body to be your chest, but for those with gynecomastia — enlarged male breasts — it can be a major point of embarrassment.
Men with gynecomastia are often made fun of, refuse to remove their shirts in public, and can end up developing extreme confidence issues. Understandably, many of these men believe getting rid of their “man boobs” will help them regain confidence and feel more comfortable in their skin. But how much does gynecomastia surgery cost?
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What is gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia is the medical term for men who have excess breast tissue, skin, or fat around the chest area. In other words, it constitutes abnormal breast tissue growth in men. Though most men may never expect it to happen to them, it’s surprisingly common — according to Mayo Clinic, 24–65% of adult males between the ages of 50 and 80 experience some level of gynecomastia.
Is gynecomastia dangerous?
Gynecomastia is not physically dangerous. However, men who have enlarged breasts often find it takes a heavy emotional toll. They may have a hard time finding clothes that fit, suffer from social anxiety, or lack the self-confidence to go on dates.
Remember, mental health is just as important as physical health. Even if the condition is physically harmless, the emotional effect that gynecomastia can have on men should be taken seriously.
Can gynecomastia go away on its own?
Whether gynecomastia goes away on its own depends on the cause and the severity of the tissue growth. In most cases, a proper diet and exercise regimen is enough to reduce enlarged breasts in men. However, if that doesn’t work, then a flat chest may only be achievable through plastic surgery.
How much does gynecomastia surgery cost?
Gynecomastia surgery is one of the more affordable plastic surgery procedures you can get. The current range of prices for this surgical procedure is from $3900 to $5000, while the average cost of gynecomastia surgery is around $4,239, according to 2020 data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
What does this surgery cost cover?
A board-certified plastic surgeon will not simply start snipping away at excess tissue and excess skin willy-nilly. There are multiple components to a typical bill for a surgical procedure. The most common costs include the following:
- A consultation to determine if you’re a good candidate for the cosmetic procedure. Gynecomastia consultations will determine if you have a stable weight, if you have previously tried to reduce your breast size through natural means, and if your breasts have stopped growing.
- Fees for general anesthesia. This is standard for every surgical procedure.
- Surgeon’s fee. This includes the work your surgeon does in terms of fat removal, skin removal, liposuction, and suturing.
- Surgical center fees. These will cover the time the medical team spends in the surgical center.
- Prescription pills and recovery equipment. Post-op recovery may include the need for painkillers and a chest binder.
Factors that impact the cost of gynecomastia treatment
If you’re considering breast tissue removal, you should know that the following factors can influence the final cost of your procedure:
- Location. Not all plastic surgeons will charge the same for gynecomastia surgery. For example, a male breast reduction procedure will likely cost more in New York than in Kansas.
- Size of the excess fat deposits. The larger your breasts are, the more extensive (and expensive) the procedure will be.
- Doctor. A celebrity plastic surgeon will obviously charge you more than a lesser-known doctor specializing in the same field.
Is it possible to avoid the need for gynecomastia surgery?
It’s important to know going into your consultation that almost every doctor will suggest alternative methods to manage gynecomastia first. This is mainly to ensure that patients understand what other options are available to them before they commit to surgery.
In some cases, gynecomastia surgery may the best choice. Depending on your needs, however, your doctor may instead recommend weight loss, bariatric surgery, or even a different type of plastic surgery.
Is gynecomastia surgery worth the cost?
The value of gynecomastia surgery depends on the extent of a man’s gynecomastia. About 96% of patients who have undergone the surgery agree that it was worth it and will recommend it to others.
However, the caveat is that most people who undergo gynecomastia surgery have far more extra fat than the average man. If you don’t have a noticeable bulge of excess fat and breast tissue on your chest, this surgery will likely not be worth the cost.
Most men with gynecomastia can reduce a large portion of their excess fat through diet and exercise, but individual results will vary. If your breasts have continued growing regardless of your efforts and you’ve exhausted all your other options, gynecomastia surgery may be a worthwhile investment.
How to finance male breast reduction surgery
The following are some ways you can finance your male breast reduction surgery:
- Cash. The easiest way to make sure you can cover your gynecomastia surgery costs is to offer to pay the full bill in cash. This is the most reliable way to pay if you can afford it.
- Credit cards. If you can’t pay in cash, you can take out a line of credit to finance your surgery. This option is increasingly popular with plastic surgery firms. If you use a credit card for medical expenses, you can agree on a flexible payment plan with your doctor.
- Personal loans for medical expenses. Loans tend to have lower interest rates than credit cards, which is why personal loans are among the more popular financing options for medical expenses, including plastic surgery.
- Insurance. In rare cases, your insurance policy might cover gynecomastia surgery. With that said, this procedure is usually considered purely cosmetic, so you should check with your health insurance provider if your surgery cost will be covered.
- Payment plans. While somewhat rare, some patients have been able to pay for their gynecomastia surgery in installments, so you should ask your doctor if they offer this option.
Pro Tip
Because gynecomastia surgery falls under the umbrella of cosmetic procedures, you can generally use the same financing options as you would to cover liposuction, breast augmentation, or even dental work.
FAQ
Is gynecomastia a painful surgery?
As with any plastic surgery, there is a chance that you will feel some pain and discomfort after the procedure. This pain should subside fairly quickly as your chest heals.
Can gynecomastia return after surgery?
It is possible for gynecomastia to return after surgery, but that’s only in extreme cases. Usually after you have gynecomastia surgery performed, it’s gone for good. Weight gain and hormonal fluctuations are the most common reasons why excess male breast tissue can grow back, so as long as you maintain a healthy lifestyle after your surgery, you should be fine.
Does gynecomastia surgery leave scars?
Gynecomastia surgery involves making small incisions under the breast tissue on the chest. Depending on how big the incision is, you might see a small scar or minor dimpling after surgery. It’s unusual to suffer serious scarring unless you have pectoral implants inserted during your procedure.
How invasive is gynecomastia surgery?
As far as plastic surgery goes, this is one of the least invasive procedures you can get. While general anesthesia is involved, the surgery is still considered an outpatient procedure.
Key Takeaways
- Gynecomastia surgery is a male breast reduction procedure.
- In most cases, it’s possible to reduce male breasts through diet and exercise. However, for some men, surgery may be the only viable option.
- Surgery to treat gynecomastia will usually cost between $3,900 and $5,000.
- Because gynecomastia surgery is considered a cosmetic procedure, it’s unlikely your health insurance policy will cover the cost.
- Cosmetic surgery loans, cash payments, credit cards, and installment plans are some of the payment methods you can use to finance your gynecomastia surgery.
- Most men who undergo gynecomastia surgery are happy with the results and recommend the procedure to others.
- Though cosmetic surgery is usually permanent, there is a small chance that excess fat on your chest will grow back. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help you avoid this.
Whether it’s wisdom teeth removal, Botox, LASIK, or a vasectomy, a medical procedure can often feel overly expensive, especially if it’s not covered by insurance. Fortunately, there are usually plenty of options to finance major medical expences. Start by checking out SuperMoney’s guide to medical financing, or use our comparison tools to find a personal loan or credit card that’s right for you!
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