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View Dr. Ambani's Crisalix profileGynecomastia Surgery (Male Breast Reduction)
If chest fullness keeps you self-conscious in fitted shirts, at the gym, or shirtless, gynecomastia surgery, also called male breast reduction, may be worth considering. In my Ann Arbor practice, this is a calm, judgment-free plan for a flatter, more contoured chest. This page will help you decide whether a consultation is your next step.
A considered introduction
What is gynecomastia surgery?
Male chest fullness can come from glandular tissue, fat, or both. Gynecomastia specifically means enlarged glandular breast tissue; mostly-fat fullness is called pseudogynecomastia, and the two can coexist. Weight loss may improve a fatty chest, but it does not remove established glandular tissue, which may need surgery for definitive contour correction once reversible causes are addressed.
You cannot reliably tell the two apart on your own. An in-person exam is my first step and often identifies the pattern; unclear findings can mean imaging or further evaluation before we finalize a plan. Male breast reduction is contouring surgery, not weight loss, and it works best from a stable weight.
Technology in consultation
See the plan more clearly.
These tools support discussion and evaluation. They do not replace the examination or guarantee an outcome.
Honest guidance
Are you a good candidate?
YOUR CONSULTATION CONSIDERS
- Tissue & Contour: I examine whether the fullness is glandular, fatty, or mixed, along with asymmetry, skin quality, and the contour you want.
- Health & History: We review your conditions, when the fullness began, and your medications, supplements, and other substances, including anything hormonal or affecting bleeding, anesthesia, or healing.
- Timing & Weight: If your weight is still moving, we can plan surgery for after it settles.
AN INDIVIDUAL DECISION
Typical candidates are healthy, weight-stable adults whose chest development has stabilized, who are completely nicotine-free, and who have realistic expectations. I will not operate on anyone with nicotine in their system, because complication risk rises sharply. Gynecomastia is common across body sizes and ages.
Diabetes or another condition does not automatically rule surgery in or out. Your health must be optimized before elective surgery; we partner with your primary care providers as needed to reduce avoidable risk.
At consultation, we look at the whole picture:
A hard or fixed lump, nipple discharge, skin changes, or rapid new asymmetry needs a physician's evaluation before cosmetic planning.
The most valuable consultation is one that leaves room for every outcome: proceeding, refining the plan, staging care, or deciding that waiting is right for you.
Why Choose Dr. Ambani
ABPS board-certified plastic surgeon with more than twenty years of experience
MEDICAL SCHOOL
Duke University School of Medicine
RESIDENCY
Plastic Surgery, University of Michigan Affiliated Hospitals
FELLOWSHIP
Microsurgical Reconstruction, University of Pittsburgh Affiliated Hospitals
BOARD CERTIFICATION
American Board of Plastic Surgery
EXPERIENCE
Attending surgeon since 2017
Supported at every stage
What recovery involves
01
Early healing
Recovery depends on your anatomy and the approach we choose, so I will give you a plan specific to your surgery. Expect soreness, swelling, and bruising early on, with steady improvement over the first weeks.
Like any surgery, this carries risks, including anesthesia complications, bleeding, infection, fluid buildup, delayed healing, temporary or permanent changes in nipple or chest sensation, unfavorable scarring, contour irregularity, asymmetry, and possible revision. I review each with you before consent.
02
Returning to routine
A compression garment is commonly used to manage swelling and support the new contour; I will tell you whether you need one and for how long. Desk work is commonly realistic within about seven to ten days, and physical work can take up to two weeks or more. Heavy lifting, hard training, and contact activity wait several weeks, and resume only after I clear you.
03
Long-term care
Every incision leaves a scar, and placement depends on the approach; scars are permanent but typically fade and flatten as they remodel over one to three years. Judge your result over months rather than weeks, since final contour commonly settles over roughly three to six months.
Clear, personalized planning
Cost & Self-Pay Philosophy
Shoshana Ambani Plastic Surgery is a cosmetic, self-pay practice. We do not bill insurance for gynecomastia surgery, and we do not make coverage assessments for insurers.
Cost reflects the approach used, how much tissue is involved, whether one side or both are treated, whether skin removal or extra contouring is needed, and the anesthesia, facility, and surgical time.
A price only helps if it matches your actual plan, so I do not post a figure. We review an itemized estimate with you after consultation.
Thoughtful answers
Common Questions
If chest fullness keeps you self-conscious in fitted shirts, at the gym, or shirtless, gynecomastia surgery, also called male breast reduction, may be worth considering. In my Ann Arbor practice, this is a calm, judgment-free plan for a flatter, more contoured chest. This page will help you decide whether a consultation is your next step.
How much does gynecomastia surgery cost in Michigan?
It varies with the approach, the tissue involved, and whether both sides are treated, so we share an itemized, self-pay estimate after your consultation and exam.
Do you bill insurance for gynecomastia surgery?
No. Shoshana Ambani Plastic Surgery is a cosmetic, self-pay practice, so we do not bill insurance or make coverage determinations for this procedure.
What is the difference between gynecomastia and chest fat?
Gynecomastia means enlarged glandular breast tissue; pseudogynecomastia is mostly fat, and the two can coexist. An in-person exam usually tells them apart, and imaging can help when findings are unclear.
What does gynecomastia surgery involve?
It varies with the anatomy. Surgery can involve removing glandular tissue, reducing fat, or both, and I explain which approach, if any, fits you after your exam.
Are the results permanent?
They are generally long-lasting. Significant weight gain or renewed hormonal or substance triggers can affect the result, so stability is part of maintaining it.
How long is recovery, and when can I get back to the gym?
Desk work is often realistic in about seven to ten days. Heavy lifting and hard training wait several weeks, and resume only after I clear you at follow-up.
Will there be visible scars?
Yes, every approach leaves some scar. Placement depends on the plan we choose, and I review expected placement with you before surgery.
Plan Your Care with Shoshana Ambani Plastic Surgery
Consultation-based, self-pay plastic surgery in Ann Arbor.