We had the pleasure to talk with Bravo’s TV Newlyweds star Brandon Liberati about his Gynecomastia surgery with Dr. Cruise who is one of the top plastic surgeons in the US.
But what is a Gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia is swelling of the breast tissue in boys or men, caused by an imbalance of the hormones estrogen and testosterone. Gynecomastia can affect one or both breasts, sometimes unevenly. Newborns, boys going through puberty and older men may develop gynecomastia as a result of normal changes in hormone levels, though other causes also exist.
:: Interview with Dr. Cruise ::
When people need to decide to do a Gynecomastia? Is there any psychological impact before and after?
Gynecomastia is more than a mere aesthetic concern. The emotional and psychological effects of this condition run deep and strip away self confidence like a cancer. It spares no age group or race, often rearing its ugly head early in puberty when young teenagers are already having a difficult time fitting in. They become withdrawn, and begin to feel alone and trapped in a body they begin to hate, eating away at their body image during a critical time. This emotional pain continues into adulthood on a broader scale as grown men begin to feel self conscious by the pool, changing at the gym, and ashamed in their own skin. Most patients, regardless of age, don’t even realize this condition has a name, let alone a treatment. Patients suffer in silence, enduring profound feelings of embarrassment and becoming extremely self-conscious. Patients choose to have Gynecomastia at all ages and stages of life to allow them the freedom they desire from the emotional trauma and physical insecurity they feel while enduring this condition.
I have seen nearly every demographic of men living with this condition. The affect it has on them before surgery is generally described as leaving them feeling very emasculated. It affects their confidence and self image. It also hinders them from participating in “normal” activities many of us take for granted such as being comfortable taking their shirt off at the pool or changing in a locker room. After surgery men stand taller, choose better fitting clothing as they are no longer selecting items to strategically hide their condition, and no longer feel embarrassed as they embrace their new masculine chest. The most common comment we hear from our patients is “I wish I did this sooner.”
Can you share with us some of the details of Brandon’s surgery?
I admire Brandon’s bravery in choosing to not only address this condition which hindered him nearly his whole life, but the fact that he chose to utilize his experience to help bring awareness to this condition so others do not continue to suffer in silence. Brandon not only grew up in the 80’s as a Gay Male, but in traditional Utah, and suffered from Gynecomastia. This combination created some deep emotional wounds for Brandon and this mixture had the potential to result in suicide, which thankfully it did not.
Brandon’s case was a great representation of the most common misconception about Gynecomastia, as he is not only an attractive but very fit individual. It is not merely a condition that overweight men experience. Brandon is in excellent physical shape, eats well, and exercises regularly resulting in very low body fat. His condition at its core was literally excess glandular tissue. There is no combination of diet and exercise that would have ever improved his condition. In fact, what frustrates many men when trying to fix the problem with exercise is that they notice more projection in the chest because the breast tissue sits above the muscle which becomes more defined with targeted, progressive exercise.
What do you recommend for a post-surgery rehabilitation?
Gynecomastia is different than any other type of plastic surgery concern in that the underlying issues become deep rooted. Even upon correction, some patients never completely recover from the pain and shame they felt. Older patients have this to some degree, however this is most problematic in younger patients who have endured bullying or compounded emotional issues due to the condition rearing its ugly head during puberty.
The post op/recovery from Gynecomastia procedures is a lot easier that most patients expect. When clients visit me their first day post surgery they usually describe the discomfort comparable to soreness from a chest workout. Within the first week, patients can resume their light, routine daily activities.
Is there a specific diet, time to rest, etc. that you recommend?
Patients can resume their regular balanced diet right away. We recommend drinking lots of water and consuming protein and Vitamin D rich foods which will aid in the recovery process.
Is it very common for people to do this kind of surgery?
Gynecomastia affects a staggering amount of the male population and typically falls into one of six categories I have defined. This is one of the most common procedures I perform within my practice and on average see 5-10 Gynecomastia cases per week.
Which other celebrities you have worked with before with?
Numerous celebrities have entrusted myself and my practice with their Gynecomastia procedures among others. Professional athletes, models, actors and actresses who desire that competitive edge from enhanced confidence seek out treatment for a variety of conditions. We value our patient’s privacy and remain committed to being discreet and respectful of that. Brandon is the first celebrity to come forward and choose to showcase his condition to the public. We are proud to have been able to help Brandon feel the extreme relief he does from finally achieving permanent results and the masculine chest he has dreamt of.
Where people can contact you?
orangecountycosmeticsurgery.com
facebook.com/cruiseplasticsurgery
lagynecomastia.org
949.644.4808
info@cruiseplasticsurgery.com
:: Interview with Brandon Liberati ::
How do you feel watching the episode on Tv?
It was interesting that days before the episode aired I was starting to have some anxiety and I could feel the shame that was a constant in my past start to creep back in. There was no turning back now, everyone was going to know the secret that plagued me. I think I held my breath through most of the episode! It wasn’t until I saw all of the support and outreach on social media during that I started to relax. Hundreds of people that were feeling the same effects that gynecomastia had mentally tortured me with. I made the right decision sharing this.
When did you decide to go trough this surgery and most important why?
I had discovered lumps in my chest, which at the time I did not know they were just fibrous, but because I have a chronic family history of double mastectomies and breast cancer related deaths, I didn’t want to put it off.
How did you found Dr. Cruise?
Craig helped me research online hundreds of dr’s. There were only two that we found that had the results I was looking for- one was on the east coast and Dr. Cruise was in Newport Beach. I absolutely made the right decision in choosing Dr.Cruise.
How important was Craig’s support on this procedure?
Craig’s support was vital when it came to me getting this procedure done. I was already feeling ashamed and I needed his positivity and strength to even make the decision to have gynecomastia surgery.
Did you have to rest for long time after the surgery?
My case was a bit more invasive than most because I had skin elasticity issues from my skin type and putting this surgery off for so long, and I also elected to have liposuction and fat transfer to my face. Therefore I had to be put under general anesthesia, most can have this done under local in Dr. Cruise’s office. So my recovery was a bit longer but I only had to rest a couple of weeks before I was going about my day (in the compression gear of course).
How long it took you to get back in your daily routine?
I was back in the gym after four weeks doing light movements and treadmill (not running of course), but walking at an incline and I was back to work AND filming!
Do you think after the show aired and your social media interaction will help others?
I have already seen the positive impact sharing this experience with others has had. It’s almost like someone has given them permission to talk about it and it has made many feel like they are not alone.
Any message for our readers?
I have had many messages from men asking how they know if they or someone they know is suffering from gynecomastia- if you are questioning it you most likely know the answer. Call Dr.Cruise’s office and book a consultation.
How was the support from your followers and Newlyweds fans?
I have felt and continue to feel overwhelming support from my social media friends and The Newlyweds fans.
Any future plans you want to share with us?
Be sure to stay caught up with me (@BrandonLiberati) and my husband @CraigRamsayFit on social media platforms to see all of the exciting new projects that our business called #FitandPhab has coming up…. Stay tuned!
