Breast reduction surgery: Martin's story

Meet Martin Bryan

Martin Bryan, from Glasgow, had always struggled with his weight and confidence. He recalls following countless diets and seeing many dieticians to tackle the issue as a child, but to no avail. When he reached puberty at around the age of 12, Martin developed gynaecomastia, which affected his self-esteem even more.

"I have always had issues with my weight," explains Martin. "The rest of my family are very slim, I must have got the fat gene! I'm a very friendly and outgoing person, but before the surgery I didn't have much confidence at all. At school I always felt different, it was when I hit puberty at around 12 or 13, I developed gynaecomastia.

"I remember being made to do sport and see a dietician to try and tackle the issue, but nothing seemed to work. In the end I didn't want to do sport in school at all. I was embarrassed to take my top off in front of people. It got so bad that I remember forging my mother's signature to avoid having to face doing sport. People weren't very nice, and I was bullied."

What is gynaecomastia?

Gynaecomastia is usually found in newborn babies, boys going through puberty, and in older men over 50. The condition leads to an overdevelopment or enlargement in breast gland tissue and is caused by a hormone imbalance. While it can go away on its own, the solution is usually medication or surgery. Globally, 50% of men suffer with the condition in some form.

Martin continued to struggle with the condition into his teenage years. He continued to try dieting but no matter what he tried nothing seemed to help alleviate the mental and physical pain his battle with gynaecomastia was causing him.

Following the tragic loss of his mother when he was 32, Martin decided to try a new approach to losing weight. Following a revolutionary diet that helped him lose and maintain his weight loss, Mr Bryan underwent surgery at Ross Hall Hospital in Glasgow to treat gynaecomastia. Martin lost weight in 2019 and maintained it until surgery. He wanted to prove to himself he could not only lose weight but keep it off consistently before and after surgery - which he has.

Martin is now using his experiences to help spread the word that men's breast health isn't something you should be embarrassed to talk about.

Getting surgery at Ross Hall Hospital in Glasgow

Martin decided that surgery would be the best option and began to search for a consultant who could help. He discovered Mr Parkash Lohana, a consultant plastic surgeon working at Ross Hall Hospital in Glasgow.

Commenting on his first-time meeting Mr Lohana, Martin said, "I researched consultants who specialised in gynaecomastia. Mr Lohana was one of the best in the area and he came highly recommended."

He added, "The first meeting was a little daunting, but Mr Lohana was very direct and said I needed to lose one more stone before the surgery. I appreciated the directness and felt reassured by it. He told me exactly what to expect from the procedure. I felt in control throughout."

Martin had adopted the 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan, a diet that was instrumental in helping him prepare for his surgery, and he began to see results quickly.

In February, Martin underwent a two-hour operation to remove the gland that was producing excess estrogen in his breast. Under Mr Lohana's expert care, the surgery was a success and Martin felt extremely supported throughout.

"After the surgery I woke up in my own private room at Ross Hall Hospital. Nobody likes going under, but throughout the nurses were very reassuring and comforting. It was an amazing feeling", said Martin.

Since his surgery, Martin has been recovering steadily, with the team at the hospital supporting him.

The importance of spreading awareness: in Martin’s words

When asked why he felt it was important to talk about his experiences with gynaecomastia, Martin said:

"There is a focus on the female breast at puberty so why not in males? I think more could be done in schools to talk to boys about gynaecomastia. I had never heard of the condition until I lost weight. It is so important for people suffering with the condition to feel empowered to talk about their symptoms and treatment. That dialogue is vital to improving general understanding and breaking down the stigma associated with the condition."

He added, "If by sharing my story, I can help break down those barriers then I will feel as though I have made a difference. Feeling good in your body is worth more than the cost of surgery or the pain of feeling embarrassed by something outside of your control."

In July, Martin will be having further surgery with Mr Lohana at Ross Hall Hospital. This will involve a two-to-five-hour surgery known as an abdominoplasty or more commonly, a tummy tuck.

Breast reduction surgery at Ross Hall Hospital

If you want to find out more about breast reduction surgery and whether it would be the right option for you, call us or book online.