In the male bariatric surgery patient who has undergone massive weight loss, the resultant chest wall (breast) deformity is often of major concern. The appearance of the male chest, like the female breast, is of understandable significance. This male chest deformity is often called gynecomastia but this is inaccurate and actually signifies a different pathology. Gynecomastia is the enlargement of native breast tissue producing an enlarged nipple-areolar complex to a decent-sized breast. Chest deformity after massive weight loss is a deflation (loss of breast tissue) with resultant skin excess, sag, and a low-hanging nipple. As such, they are quite different from each other in many cases.
In some male bariatric patients, simple liposuction with or without a nipple lift, may be all that is needed. But in many cases, this is simply inadequate. The problem is what to do with the sagging skin and how to get the nipple positioned up higher on the chest……without creating a lot of scarring. (which may be worse than the original problem) In short, there are no easy answers to these issues.
Possibilities for correction include staged, repeat nipple lifts (each time inching it up higher), pectoral implants to add some volume (but you can’t have too much skin or this makes it look worse), or cut-outs of skin along the bottom part of the chest out to the side with the resultant scarring. Either way, getting the nipple up higher and removing excess skin often fights against each other.
Male chest ptosis (sagging) after massive weight loss is somewhat similar to that of the aging male’s chest problem. (but usually with less extra skin) Both are ‘deflation’ issues with low nipple positions. Most of the time a compromise has to be reached. Which is more important….tightening the skin or lifting the nipple? I usually encourage the male patient to avoid any significant scarring on their chest. While cut-outs of skin can very effectively tighten and lift the sagging chest, the resultant scars will usually make you feel no better about your chest problem. If your goal is only to look better in a shirt, then this might be an option. However, I caution the male patient about scarring. Even if they think it won’t matter, there is no magic eraser to take it away later.
As you can see, the male chest in massive weight loss poses a dilemma for which there is no easy solution in the extreme cases. It is the most extreme form of gynecomastia even though it does really represent true gynecomastia. A good in-depth discussion with your plastic surgeon is really needed here. The consequences of plastic surgery must be balanced against the original chest wall deformity to be certain that enough improvement can be obtained to make the surgical experience worthwhile.
Dr Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana