Gynecomastia

Recommended For Gynecomastia

Gynecomastia removal is recommended for individuals with a growing bust, either due to fatty tissue or enlarged breast tissue.Around 75 to 90% of pubertal gynecomastia cases pass by themselves within 2 years, without the need for any treatment. However, it may cause psychological stress and depression in adolescents. 

Not Recommended For Gynecomastia

Overweight patients or patients with serious health conditions may not be suitable for gynecomastia surgery.

Discharge From Hospital

Patient is required to stay 1 night in the hospital

Duration Of Operation

1 to 2 hours

Overview

Gynecomastia, also known as “man boobs” is a very common disorder that affects up to 50% of adolescent boys, but also older males. Gynecomastia causes can include hormonal changes, certain types of medications, drugs, and certain health conditions such asThyroid problems or kidney failure. Hormonal changes can lead to abnormal breast development in men, especially during puberty. Sometimes a higher percentage of estrogen during the puberty may cause male breast tissue to swell. 

The increase in bust usually passes on its own in six months to two years. Older males can also experience gynecomastia, mostly due to a decrease in testosterone production caused by the natural aging process. It is estimated that 50% of men in the United States experience some degree of gynecomastia during their lifetime. Gynecomastia may develop at any age, and the surgery can be performed safely and successfully on teenagers as well as adult men.

Certain medications such as drugs used to treat prostate cancer, diazepam, valium, AIDS medications, antibiotics, and antidepressants can also cause gynecomastia. Finasteride, which is widely used by dermatologists for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia, may also cause developing gynecomastia. 

Gynecomastia is also linked with the consumption of alcohol and certain types of drugs such as marijuana, amphetamines, and heroin.  

 

In some cases, antiestrogenic treatment with tamoxifen is also a safe and effective way of treatment, especially of cosmetically disturbing or painful gynecomastia.

However, gynecomastia without surgery is not an option if the condition lasts for more than two years, as medications during androgen therapy, anti-estrogens, and aromatase inhibitors will be ineffective. 

Some of the most popular surgical techniques used for gynecomastia treatment include: 

● Subcutaneous mastectomy, also known as gynecomastia surgery causes less gynecomastia surgery scars than regular procedures
● Liposuction-assisted mastectomy 
● Laser-assisted mastectomy 
● Laser-lipolysis without liposuction

Preparation

The patient should stop taking any blood thinners such as aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, and herbal supplements and stop smoking before the gynecomastia surgery.

How It Is Performed

Gynecomastia symptoms may look the same, but the causes and treatments may differ. There are two main approaches or goals of the surgery. To restore the natural contours of the breast and to correct any deformity of the breast, nipple, or areola tissues. In both cases the procedure is done under local anesthesia, making it practically painless. The most common one among them is a male breast reduction procedure, which is a combination of breast gland removal and liposuction. The surgery involves inserting a small tube through a 3- to 4-millimeter incision. The choice of surgical technique depends widely on the possibility of skin redundancy or the excess skin the patient will have during the surgery.

Recovery

The Gynecomastia surgery recovery period lasts around 3-4 weeks, but the patient may return to work and normal activities in around 3-4 days. It can take six months to see the full results. The gynecomastia recovery period requires wearing a special type of vest for two weeks – the corset speeds up the healing process and also reduces the chance of complications such as edema.After one or two weeks, your stitches will either dissolve or be removed at your clinic. 

Risks

Gynecomastia surgery, just like any plastic surgery, has a few risks that need to be taken into consideration: Anesthesia risksHematoma Infection A blood clotBreast asymmetry Wound healing problems Unevenly shaped breasts or nipples

Side Effects

Gynecomastia surgery side effects can include bruising, swelling, discomfort, slight pain which can be soothed with painkillers, scarring, bleeding, developing lumps, and a temporary loss of sensitivity in the nipple.

Success Rates

According to a gynecomastia surgery survey based on twenty-nine patients and a total of 53 breasts were operated, there were high satisfaction rates amongst both patients and surgeon. 37.9% of patients classified their outcome as ‘excellent’, 55.2% as ‘good’, 3.4% as ‘satisfactory’ and 3.4% as ‘poor’. 

Before And After

Gynecomastia before and after pictures might look appealing, but the doctor’s instructions need to be followed thoroughly for the gynecomastia removal surgery to be a success.

Faq

Psuedogynecomastia vs. Gynecomastia – What is The Difference?

Pseudogynecomastia as a related condition to gynecomastia develops as fat deposition without glandular proliferation and occurs most frequently in obese men. Because of the increasing incidence of obesity, the number of patients with pseudogynecomastia is also increasing accordingly. 

Gynecomastia vs. Fat – How Can I Know If it’s Gynecomastia or Just Regular Fat? 

Generally speaking, if the patient’s body is at a stable weight, but the breasts tend to be enlarged for a more extended period (2 years union it is usually due to gynecomastia. It’s best to get a checkup from a GP. You should also see a GP if you have pain in the breast area or there's an obvious lump. The lump also may need to be removed in some cases.

Is Gynecomastia Surgery Painful?

Gynecomastia surgery is not painful. The procedure is done under local anesthesia so the patient won’t feel much pain. During the gynecomastia post-surgery period, the patient may feel discomfort and pain, but these effects can be eased by the use of painkillers the doctor prescribed.

Back To Work

3 to 4 days

Extra Content

This content is written and reviewed by our medical content team in May, 2019.