Gynecomastia Surgery

Excess chest tissue can make you feel uncomfortable in your own skin—even if you’re healthy and active. Gynecomastia surgery offers a permanent solution to restore confidence and a more masculine shape.

Gynecomastia Surgery at a Glance

Overview

Gynecomastia surgery removes excess chest tissue to create a flatter, more masculine chest contour.

Recovery

Most patients return to light activity within a week, with swelling and soreness gradually improving over a few weeks.

Results

A firmed, more defined chest that looks natural and feels more like you.

Let Us Help You Identify the Problem

Identify Your Grade

Let Us Help You Identify the Problem

Grade One

Overgrowth of breast tissue below nipple

Grade 1 gynecomastia is the mildest form, with slight swelling around the nipples, some tenderness, and maybe a bit of puffiness or discoloration. It’s usually not noticeable under clothes, but might show when shirtless—like at the beach or pool.

Grade Two

Breast tissue overgrowth giving breast shape

Grade 2 gynecomastia involves more noticeable breast growth that starts to spread across the chest, sometimes even showing through clothes. Puffiness and tenderness around the nipples can stick around too, which can make going shirtless feel uncomfortable or embarrassing.

Grade Three

Nipple is below chest muscle border with more fatty tissue

At this stage, the chest looks fuller and droopier, often showing through clothes and making it hard to feel comfortable. At this stage, the changes can really affect confidence, and it’s common for people to start looking into treatment options.

Grade Four

Ususally from weight loss and skin excess. Nipple slides below the chest muscle shape.

Grade 4 gynecomastia is the most severe form, where the chest takes on a noticeably feminine appearance with sagging, excess skin, and larger nipples. It can be hard to hide, even under clothes, and often causes emotional stress that makes treatment and support especially important.

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Gynecomastia Treatment in Charlotte, NC

Over-growth of male breast tissue commonly starts during adolescence or puberty and can persist into adulthood. Gynecomastia is quite common in teens, occurring in 4% of boys ages 10-19. After the age of 17, the persistence of male breast tissue is unlikely to disappear on its own and men will require surgical treatment with a male breast reduction surgery.

New Awake Procedure

Dr. Ditesheim’s new awake procedure corrects gynecomastia, restores a masculine chest with minimal scarring, and promotes a quick recovery. Dr. Ditesheim has designed an advanced gynecomastia treatment procedure that removes male breast augmentation with minimal or no scar on the chest, no drains, 1-3 day recovery, and no general anesthesia.

The goal of every gynecomastia procedure is the removal of the excess tissue and the restoration of a natural, masculine chest shape. Traditional surgical techniques meant larger incisions, drains, 6-8 weeks recovery, and sometimes unnatural chest shape.

Surgical Excision

In complex gynecomastia patients where there is excess skin to remove, where nipple placement must be returned to a more natural position, or where the size of the areola must be reduced, excision techniques are used. Incisions for these procedures are either placed around the areola border or in the chest crease, following the chest muscle border depending on the complexity. (see Complex gynecomastia below)

Advantages of Gynecomastia Treatment with Surgical Excision of Glandular Tissue:

Scarless Skin Tightening with Renuvion

Scarless Skin Tightening for an Even Better Result

If you’ve lost weight and are experiencing loose chest skin but want to avoid additional scarring, Renuvion may be a great option. This advanced technology tightens the skin from beneath the surface, helping it adhere more closely to the chest muscles—without creating a new scar.

Renuvion uses controlled heat delivered through a specialized probe, typically after gynecomastia surgery. The procedure takes an additional 30 to 60 minutes and can often be performed while awake.

This treatment is especially effective for men who have lost a moderate amount of weight (typically under 60 pounds), have lower nipple positioning (Grade 2 or 3), or are over the age of 50. However, if the nipple has dropped below the chest crease (Grade 4), surgical skin removal may be the better solution. Our clinic offers specialized care for Gynecomastia Treatment for Teens as well as cases caused by Gynecomastia from Steroids & Gym Supplements, ensuring safe and effective results.

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Testimonials

What Our Patients Are Saying

Testimonials

Real Patient Reviews

“I always had this issue with protruding male breast tissue that made me very self-conscious...being a bodybuilder, it was not always easy to take your shirt off...this was a great experience and I highly recommend. Dr. Ditesheim is the one for a happier YOU.”

“I had a great experience here! Dr. Ditesheim did an amazing job with my gynecomastia surgery...the surgery could not have been more smooth and I felt comfortable the whole time. The night after my surgery, Dr. Ditesheim even personally called to make sure everything was alright.”

“I chose Dr. Ditesheim for several reasons: his many years of experience with this surgery, his willingness to do a virtual consultation, [and] performing the surgery under local anesthesia which allowed me to drive myself...I felt no pain before, during, or after the surgery...it’s been over a year and nobody would know I had surgery...he truly nailed it.

“Staff was very welcoming and Dr. Ditesheim was very helpful in giving me an understanding of what Gynecomastia is and walked through the procedure. Also, made sure all my concerns and questions were answered.”

“Dr. Ditesheim and his entire staff were very knowledgeable and put me at ease (as this was my first cosmetic surgery ever). I was extremely pleased with the ease of the “awake” procedure for gyno removal.”

“Dr Ditesheim and his team had a lot of experience treating patients with my problem. I appreciated the minimally invasive methods that Dr Ditesheim uses to create outstanding results with almost nonexistent scarring.”

Recovery Timeline for Gynecomastia Surgery

1-3 Days

Rest and wear your compression vest. Mild soreness and swelling are normal. Most patients manage discomfort with over-the-counter meds.

1 Week

You can return to light activity or work. Compression garment still worn. Bruising fades

2-3 Weeks

Most swelling resolves. You’ll start to see early results. Avoid upper body workouts or heavy lifting.

4-6 Months

Resume exercise. Chest appears flatter, more sculpted, and natural.

3-6 Months

Final results set in as tissues heal and settle. Scars continue to fade.

1-3 Days

Rest and wear your compression vest. Mild soreness and swelling are normal. Most patients manage discomfort with over-the-counter meds.

1 Week

You can return to light activity or work. Compression garment still worn. Bruising fades

2-3 Weeks

Most swelling resolves. You’ll start to see early results. Avoid upper body workouts or heavy lifting.

4-6 Months

Resume exercise. Chest appears flatter, more sculpted, and natural.

3-6 Months

Final results set in as tissues heal and settle. Scars continue to fade.

View Our Pricing

Upfront, Honest, No Guesswork.

Our pricing is all-inclusive—covering everything from your pre-op visits and surgery to all post-op care. It also includes anesthesia, your custom compression garment, and scar treatment. These estimates are meant to give you a clear, accurate idea of what to expect.

Each surgical plan is personalized, so your exact pricing may vary. Additional options like fat grafting, Renuvion (scarless skin tightening), high-definition etching (to enhance muscle definition), higher BMI considerations (over 32), or an overnight stay may affect the total cost.

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Three Simple Steps to a Custom-Tailored Plan

Your Consultation Journey Starts Here

At Ditesheim Cosmetic Surgery, your consultation is more than a conversation — it’s a process built around you. In just three clear steps, we listen to your goals, evaluate your needs, and present surgery plan options designed to fit your lifestyle, body, and vision.

01

Book Your Consultation

Meet with our team to talk through your goals, concerns, and vision—no pressure, just support.

02

Explore Your Options

We’ll walk you through the possibilities and explain what’s realistic for your body and lifestyle.

03

Build Your Surgical Plan

Your treatment plan is fully customized around you—designed to deliver results that feel natural and lasting.

01

Book Your Consultation

Meet with our team to talk through your goals, concerns, and vision—no pressure, just support.

02

Explore Your Options

We’ll walk you through the possibilities and explain what’s realistic for your body and lifestyle.

03

Build Your Surgical Plan

Your treatment plan is fully customized around you—designed to deliver results that feel natural and lasting.

Schedule Your Consultation for Gynecomastia Treatment in Charlotte

The consultation is a confidential meeting for you to meet with Dr. Ditesheim. He will answer your questions, examine you and give you a personal plan to address your gynecomastia condition. At your consultation, you will be given exact fees for your procedure and detailed instructions to prepare for the procedure and aftercare. Ditesheim Cosmetic Surgery performs gynecomastia surgery in Charlotte, NC, and surrounding areas. Call or contact us online to schedule your consultation today.

Gynecomastia FAQs

Still have questions? Here are some of the most common questions we get from patients considering body contouring procedures:

What causes gynecomastia in males?

Dr. Ditesheim’s surgical technique for gynecomastia does not require general anesthesia. He will use local anesthetics to keep you comfortable, and you will be awake during your surgery. You will be able to drive yourself home from the surgery.

Can liposuction be used to treat male breasts?

For patients whose gynecomastia is mostly excess fatty tissue, Aquashape (water-assisted liposuction) or Vaser (ultrasound-assisted liposuction) can be used to remove the excess fat.

Who is a good candidate for gynecomastia surgery with liposuction?

Breast tissue under the nipple can be made of fatty, fibrous (firmer), or glandular (hard) tissue. It is hard to predict who will have which type of breast tissue. Gynecomastia surgery with liposuction is very efficient in removing fatty tissue under the nipple and over the chest wall. If the breast tissue is too tough, glandular tissue can be removed with an intra-areolar incision.

What is the recovery? When can you go back to the gym? Or work?

With Dr. Ditesheim’s surgical technique, most men recover in three days or less. You can return to work in one to three days. We ask that you hold off on exercise and strenuous activities for one to two weeks.

Do stitches need to be removed? How will the skin not be saggy?

Most patients with grade one or two gynecomastia will not have stitches to be removed. If you require skin removal, there may be a few stitches to remove. Your skin will not be saggy because Dr. Ditesheim determines its elasticity before surgery. If he feels that your skin will require excess skin removal to give you a natural-appearing chest, you will have discussed this and made plans for the removal of skin during your surgery.

Will you need skin removed?

Dr. Ditesheim evaluates every patient to create a personalized surgical plan. He will tell you if skin removal will be needed when he discusses your surgical plan with you.

Will you need general anesthesia for this surgery?

Dr. Ditesheim evaluates every patient to create a personalized surgical plan. He will tell you if skin removal will be needed when he discusses your surgical plan with you.

Will there be drains?

No. Dr. Ditesheim’s advanced surgical technique for the treatment of male gynecomastia does not involve drains.

Will you need a compression vest postop?

You will wear a compression garment for three weeks after surgery to minimize swelling.

Will you be ok for a vacation in one month?

You should be ready for vacation in one month as long as there are no complications. Any scars will still be going through their natural healing transitions but will be strong enough to withstand whatever activities you would like to do while on vacation. If you have any scar lines from removing skin, you will need to keep them either out of the sun or apply high SPF suntan lotion frequently and liberally. This will keep those scars on track to being pencil-thin lines when completely healed.

What is the cost?

For most men who can be treated with liposuction or glandular excision, the total cost is $7,950. Grade 4 or more complex gynecomastia costs will be higher. You will know the costs before you commit to having surgery.

How does Dr. Ditesheim do the procedure?

Your procedure starts with the injection of a tumescent local anesthetic fluid. This will provide the anesthesia you need to stay comfortable during the procedure. Next, Dr. Ditesheim will use liposuction to remove fatty tissue. If you have grade 3 or 4 gynecomastia, you will likely need glandular tissue removed as well. This is done through a tiny incision in the rim of the areola, just beneath your nipple. If you require the removal of excess skin, this step will be completed next. Lastly, Dr. Ditesheim will inject new, long-lasting local anesthetic in all the areas where he worked to provide you will extra pain relief immediately postop.

Will Dr. Ditesheim take out all the breast tissue?

Whatever breast tissue—be it fatty, fibrous, or glandular—is in the way of creating the best masculine chest contour will be removed.

Will the gynecomastia come back?

The excess tissue that was causing your enlarged breasts will be gone and cannot return. If you were to gain an excessive amount of weight, the remaining fat cells could enlarge and cause gynecomastia again.

Will there be a change in nipple sensation?

You may have a transient loss of nipple sensation immediately after the surgery, but this will correct itself. Dr. Ditesheim uses special techniques to ensure the nerves to your nipples are not severely damaged, but they can be irritated a little from the surgery and not function perfectly for a few days to a week.

Where are the scars?

Sometimes, Dr. Ditesheim performs gynecomastia surgery that only requires liposuction through a small incision in your armpit. If glandular tissue needs to be removed, you will have a small scar just below your nipple at the areola border or in your natural chest crease. These types of scars are easily hidden. For patients requiring excess skin removal, Dr. Ditesheim will show you exactly where he plans to leave a scar. Rest assured that Dr. Ditesheim always has the best cosmetic results in mind, so incisions are made in places where the scars will fade into your natural contours.

Always remember that we are here to answer your questions. If you are still wondering about some aspect of your surgery or recovery, call our clinic today or ask Dr. Ditesheim on the day of your surgery.