Gynecomastia is the enlargement of the breast tissues in males. Gynecomastia may affect one or both breasts. More than half of the male infants are born with enlarged breasts due to the effect of estrogen hormone coming from the mother. The enlarged breast tissue usually goes away within two to three weeks after birth. The condition is seen in about one in four men between the ages 50 and 69. Gynecomastia is usually not seriously harmful, but it can be tough to cope with the social, physical and psychological effects of it. In some cases, however, it may result in sore breast tissue or occasional pain, as well as swelling or discharge in one or both nipples. Seek medical care immediately if you experience pain. Males with Gynecomastia may feel embarrassed with the condition, resulting in psychological and emotional problems as well.
Gynecomastia may be triggered by an imbalance in hormones, such as estrogen and testosterone. The male body produces both estrogen and testosterone, although normal levels of estrogen in males is usually low. Testosterone and estrogen are responsible for the development of gender in both males and females. Testosterone controls muscle mass, body hair as well as the male sex drive and mood. Estrogen controls female traits like breast development, resulting in larger breasts in males in a case where the level of testosterone is lower than the level of estrogen. The imbalance may be caused by environmental conditions, medications or other causes reducing the level of testosterone and increasing the level of estrogen. Certain changes in hormone levels are normal in infancy, puberty and aging.
Besides an imbalance in hormone levels, the majority of males who are diagnosed with the condition are also diagnosed with obesity or have irregular diets. Obesity is frequently seen in patients diagnosed with Gynecomastia due to the extreme weight causing an increase in the levels of estrogen and therefore leading to a growth in the breast tissue. If you are overweight, it’s more likely that you may have excess fat that may contribute to the enlargement of breast tissue. However, Gynecomastia does not mean that someone has extra fat from being overweight since it is primarily caused by an additional breast tissue. Therefore, physician-directed Gynecomastia treatment which involves exercise and diet may not help to get rid of the large breast tissue. In this case, Gynecomastia surgery is an exact solution.
How is Gynecomastia Surgery applied?
The human breast consists of both a glandular tissue, which is firm and dense, and a fatty tissue, which is soft. The ratio of these two tissues varies between individuals. A gynecomastia patient may have too much of both types of tissues. Liposuction is a useful choice for removing excess fat tissue. The procedure involves inserting a small tube through a 3 to 4 millimeter incision in the breast. An excision method may be preferred if liposuction seems to prove insufficient. Excision means the removal of excess glandular tissue. Both excision and liposuction procedures may be necessary in some cases.
How is the recovery process after Gynecomastia surgery?
After Gynecomastia surgery, the breast area will be bruised and swollen, and the patient may have to wear an elastic garment for 2 weeks to help reduce the swelling.
It normally takes about 6 weeks to return to a normal routine. Complications from the surgery are rare, but may include an insufficient removal of breast tissue, uneven contouring of the chest and reduced senses in one or both nipples. There is a rare risk of thrombosis during the excision which will require thrombectomy in such a case.
