What Is Male Gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia can cause men to have excessively large breasts despite exercise and diet. Gynecomastia is a condition of overdevelopment or enlargement of the breast tissue in men or boys. The breasts become larger. They may grow unevenly. Gynecomastia often happens when a preteen or teenage boy is going through the hormonal changes of puberty. But it can also happen to newborn babies and to men as they age.
Gynecomastia is usually a benign (noncancerous) condition. It may be linked to many different causes of hormone changes. In many cases, the cause isn’t known. Gynecomastia is often caused by changes in levels of the female hormone (estrogen) and the male hormone (testosterone). But it can be caused by other things as well. Gynecomastia can be a side effect of certain medicines, such as antidepressants, antibiotics, chemotherapy, prostate cancer medicines, ulcer or cardiovascular medicines. Illegal drugs, such as anabolic steroids, heroin, or marijuana can also cause gynecomastia.
Dr. Rojas Approach
If you suffer from gynecomastia, Dr. Rojas can perform male breast reduction surgery. This surgery is aimed at removing excess fat and glandular tissue from the male chest. Sometimes where there is also a significant amount of skin excess, skin excision in the form of a mastectomy is also necessary. This surgery can help you regain confidence by making your chest appear more masculine, flatter, and more contoured.
Who is a good candidate for Gynecomastia Surgery
In general, ideal candidates are healthy and with a stable weight. In addition, these patients have:
- Firm, elastic skin
- Are over 18 years of age
- Are not obese
- Are not taking anabolic steroids or recreational drugs
- Have excess fat tissue that does not respond to diet, exercise, or medical treatments
- Are self-conscious about their appearance due to gynecomastia
- Do not smoke or use alcohol excessively
Gynecomastia Procedure Overview
Male breast reduction surgery is usually performed under general anesthesia on an outpatient basis. The surgery typically takes two to four hours. Several techniques can be utilized in male breast reduction, depending on the extent of the procedure.
If the enlarged breasts are primarily caused by excessive fatty tissue, liposuction can be performed through tiny incisions to remove the excess fat. The incision may be made around the edge of the areola (the area around the nipple) or in the underarm. If excess glandular tissue is the primary cause of the enlarged breast, the tissue will be excised, or cut out, in addition to liposuction.
Results and Recovery after a Body Lift
Following male breast reduction surgery, patients will experience some bruising, swelling, and discomfort. This discomfort usually dissipates after a few days and can be reduced with prescribed medication. To help reduce swelling, an elastic pressure garment should be worn for about two weeks, and at night for several weeks later. Swelling and any skin discoloration will partially subside after a week or two, at which time stitches will be removed.
You will be encouraged to walk around on the day of your breast reduction surgery and can expect to return to work in approximately one week. You may also begin light aerobic exercise after a week, but you should avoid strenuous activities for about three to four weeks following surgery.
