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Waterfront Hospital

Gynaecomastia Surgery in Edinburgh

Gynaecomastia is more common than most men think, but for those who decide on surgery, it is usually a decision made after years of consideration. At Waterfront, the procedure is performed discreetly by a consultant plastic surgeon, and the right approach for your case depends on whether the underlying cause is fat, gland or skin (often a combination).

Many patients travel from across Scotland for this procedure, and consultations and reviews are scheduled to make the journey straightforward.

Adult man at consultation discussing gynaecomastia surgery at Waterfront Private Hospital, Edinburgh

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Top service, top result !!!

A very good service from Mr Quaba.
I had a surgery about Gynecomastia, a condition I had for several years.
The process has been easy and straightforward he explain everything step by step regarding the surgery and what to expect.
I had no problem or complications at all post surgery and the result after six month is unreal.
I would highly recommend Mr Quaba and team.

Thank you!

Luca
Oct 2023

Trustpilot

Overview

  • TYPE OF ANAESTHETIC
    General
  • LENGTH OF SURGERY
    1-2 Hours
  • HOSPITAL STAY
    Day case
  • RECOVERY
    1-2 weeks off work, 6 weeks before strenuous exercise
waiting area warterfront private hospital edinburgh

What the procedure involves

Gynaecomastia surgery at Waterfront is planned individually around the cause of the enlargement. Most cases involve one or a combination of the following:

  • Initial assessment: a thorough examination at consultation to determine the underlying cause of the gynaecomastia and which surgical approach is appropriate.
  • Liposuction: used where the cause is predominantly excess fatty tissue. Performed through small incisions to remove fat and recontour the chest.
  • Glandular tissue excision: where the cause is excess glandular breast tissue (the firm tissue behind the nipple), this is surgically removed, usually through a small incision around the lower border of the areola.
  • Skin excision: where there is significant skin laxity — often after significant weight loss or in long-standing cases — excess skin is removed to tighten and reshape the chest.
  • Combined approaches: many cases need a combination of two or more of these techniques to address fat, gland and skin together.

Benefits and expected outcomes

Gynaecomastia surgery can address:

  • Persistent enlargement of the male breast that does not respond to diet, exercise or weight loss
  • The visible breast contour that affects what you can comfortably wear
  • Physical discomfort such as chafing, irritation or sensitivity in the area
  • Long-standing self-consciousness in settings where the chest is exposed — beach, gym, intimate situations
  • Asymmetry between the two sides of the chest

What it does not always achieve: a completely flat, contoured chest in every case. Where the underlying cause involves a large amount of skin laxity, scarring is part of the trade-off — a flatter chest in exchange for visible scars (typically across the lower chest). Your consultant will be honest at consultation about the trade-offs of the approach that suits your case.

Results are long-lasting if you maintain a stable weight. Significant weight gain after surgery can change the appearance, and in cases where the underlying cause of the gynaecomastia is not addressed (for example, ongoing use of medications or anabolic steroids), enlargement can recur.

Gynecomastia gallery

View some examples of our male breast reduction before and after photos

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Who is an ideal candidate

Suitable candidates for gynaecomastia surgery:

  • Are in good general health and non-smokers, or are willing to stop smoking well in advance of surgery
  • Are close to their ideal weight and stable in weight — large weight changes after surgery can affect the result
  • Have stable, mature breast development — surgery is most appropriate for adult men whose chest has not changed in size for at least a year
  • Have realistic expectations, including an honest understanding of where scars will sit if skin excision is needed
  • Are making the decision for themselves, in their own time, not under pressure from anyone else

A consultation is a conversation, not a commitment to surgery. If we feel surgery is not the right answer for you — for example, if the cause is medication-related and stopping the medication may resolve the enlargement first, or if your chest has not yet stabilised — we will say so honestly.

Risks and considerations

Gynaecomastia surgery is generally safe in experienced hands, but it carries a defined set of risks that any patient should understand before deciding to go ahead:

  • Bleeding and haematoma: bleeding can occur during or after surgery, particularly after glandular tissue excision. A collection of blood beneath the skin (haematoma) may occasionally need to be drained.
  • Infection: uncommon but possible, managed with antibiotics and wound care.
  • Seroma: a build-up of fluid in the treated area, which may need to be drained.
  • Scarring: incisions leave scars; size and position depend on the surgical technique. Where skin excision is needed, the scars are more visible.
  • Under-correction or over-correction: removing too little tissue can leave a residual prominence; removing too much can create a hollow or saucer-shaped deformity behind the nipple.
  • Contour irregularities: lumpiness or unevenness in the treated area can occur, particularly after liposuction.
  • Incomplete skin retraction: after liposuction or gland excision, the skin may not contract back fully, particularly in long-standing cases or where elasticity is reduced.
  • Changes in nipple or skin sensation: temporary or, less commonly, permanent.
  • Need for revision surgery: in a small number of cases a second procedure is needed for an optimal result.
  • Anaesthesia risks: all anaesthetists involved in surgery at Waterfront are consultants in their own right.

Further reading: BAAPS — Male Breast Reduction

Aftercare and recovery

Your recovery is led by the consultant who performed your surgery. A nurse reviews you at one week, and your consultant sees you again once everything has settled. Between appointments, our team are available whenever you have a concern — you do not need to wait for a scheduled review. Practical guidance on dressings, activity and returning to work is in our aftercare guide.

Detailed aftercare instructions
aftercare

What is the cost of gynaecomastia surgery?

Cost depends on which surgical approach is needed for your case. Guide prices at Waterfront Private Hospital:

  • Gynaecomastia under local anaesthesia (suitable for smaller, fat-predominant cases): from £5,800
  • Gynaecomastia with liposuction and/or gland excision (the most common approach): from £6,800
  • Gynaecomastia with skin removal (for cases involving significant skin laxity): from £9,400

Each price covers the surgeon’s fee, the anaesthetist’s fee where applicable, the hospital and theatre fee, the compression garment, and all post-operative reviews until you are fully discharged.

The full price for your individual case can only be confirmed after a face-to-face consultation with the consultant who will perform your surgery. Our consultation fee with a consultant plastic surgeon is £200.

Our male breast reduction surgeons

Frequently asked questions about male breast reduction

Will the same surgeon plan, perform and review my surgery?
Yes. The consultant who assesses you at your first appointment is the consultant who plans your operation, performs it, and follows you through every post-operative review. There is no handover between assessment and surgery, no patient coordinator, and no surgeon rotation. The whole pathway is discreet — only the people directly involved in your care know you are having surgery.
What is gynaecomastia surgery?
Gynaecomastia surgery (also called male breast reduction) is a procedure to correct enlarged male breasts, restoring a flatter and more typically masculine chest contour. Depending on the cause, it may involve liposuction, removal of glandular breast tissue, removal of excess skin, or a combination of these.
What does gynaecomastia surgery involve?
The surgical approach depends on what is causing the enlargement. Fat alone is treated with liposuction; firm glandular tissue (the dense tissue behind the nipple) requires surgical excision through a small areolar incision; significant skin laxity needs skin excision, which leaves visible scars. Many cases need a combination of two or three of these techniques.
Should my GP investigate the cause first?
In most adult cases gynaecomastia is benign and does not need GP investigation. However, if the enlargement has appeared recently, if there is asymmetry that looks unusual, if there is associated pain, or if there are factors in your medical history that raise concern, your consultant may recommend a GP investigation before booking surgery. Common reversible causes — including certain medications, anabolic steroids, and some hormonal conditions — are worth identifying first because addressing them may resolve the enlargement without surgery.
Who is an ideal candidate for gynaecomastia surgery?
Suitable candidates are adult men in good general health, close to their ideal weight, with persistent breast enlargement that has not responded to diet, exercise or — where relevant — addressing the underlying cause. The chest should have been stable in size for at least a year.
How is the right approach decided for my case?
At consultation your consultant will examine you to determine whether the enlargement is primarily fat, gland, skin or a combination. From that examination they will explain which surgical approach is appropriate and, importantly, what each option will and will not achieve — including where scars would sit if skin excision is needed.
Can gynaecomastia return after surgery?
If the underlying cause is not addressed, yes. The tissue that is removed at surgery does not grow back — but the body can lay down new fatty tissue if weight increases, and ongoing use of anabolic steroids or certain medications can cause new glandular tissue to develop. Maintaining a stable weight and avoiding the underlying causes where they are identifiable is the best way to preserve the result.
Is gynaecomastia surgery painful?
Discomfort is generally mild to moderate and well controlled with prescribed pain medication. Most patients describe a tight, sore feeling that improves significantly within the first week.
How long is the recovery after gynaecomastia surgery?
Most patients return to desk-based work within one to two weeks and resume normal activities within a few weeks. Strenuous upper-body exercise should be avoided for around six weeks. A compression garment is worn for the first four to six weeks.

Recovery from gynaecomastia surgery is straightforward for most patients. As a general guide:

  • Most patients take one to two weeks off work and avoid strenuous upper-body exercise for around six weeks.
  • A compression garment is worn continuously for the first four to six weeks to support healing, reduce swelling and help the skin re-contour.
  • Bruising and swelling are at their most noticeable in the first ten days and continue to settle over the following month.
  • Final shape takes three to six months to settle as the tissues refine and the skin contracts.

A nurse reviews you at one week, and more often if needed in the early healing period. Your consultant sees you again at around six months once the result has settled. Between then, your consultant is always available — if anything concerns you, they will respond directly and arrange to see you as soon as needed.

What are the risks of gynaecomastia surgery?
Risks include bleeding and haematoma, infection, seroma, scarring (more visible where skin excision is needed), under- or over-correction, contour irregularities, incomplete skin retraction, changes in nipple or skin sensation, and the small chance that revision surgery may be needed. Specific risks for your case will be discussed in detail at consultation.
How does gynaecomastia surgery impact body image and confidence?
Many patients describe a significant change in how comfortable they feel in everyday situations — clothing, exercise, intimate moments. That said, surgery is a physical change rather than an emotional one; if longer-standing distress is part of the picture, surgery alongside appropriate support tends to be more helpful than surgery alone. Your consultant will discuss this honestly at consultation if relevant.
How do I choose the right surgeon for gynaecomastia surgery in Edinburgh?
Look for a surgeon on the GMC Specialist Register for plastic surgery with specific experience in gynaecomastia surgery — not just in breast surgery generally. Ask whether the consultant who assesses you will be the consultant who performs and reviews your surgery (at Waterfront, they will). Look at before-and-after photos of the consultant’s own gynaecomastia cases, and use the consultation to gauge whether the conversation feels honest about what the right approach is and what it will achieve.
What happens if I have concerns after my surgery?
All patients are seen by a nurse at one week, and more often if needed in the early healing period. Your consultant reviews you again at around six months once the result has settled. Between those reviews, your consultant is always available — if anything concerns you, they will respond directly and arrange to see you as soon as needed.
How much does gynaecomastia surgery cost?
Cost depends on the surgical approach needed for your case. Guide prices for each approach are listed in the Cost section above. The full price for your individual case is confirmed after a face-to-face consultation with the consultant who will perform your surgery.

Author

Mr Omar Quaba - Consultant Plastic Surgeon

Mr Omar Quaba, MBBChir, FRCS (Plast), GMC 4586300, is a Consultant Plastic Surgeon with over 20 years of experience in plastic surgery. Based at Waterfront Private Hospital in Edinburgh, he is fully accredited on the GMC Specialist Register and specialises in advanced cosmetic procedures. Full member of BAAPS.

Waterfront Private Hospital Edinburgh

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