Have you heard the term gynecomastia before, but you’re not sure exactly what it is? Gynecomastia is a medical condition that is not usually serious, but men with gynecomastia often feel so embarrassed and self-conscious about it, they avoid activities that involve taking their shirt off. But what is gynecomastia, and how is it treated.
What Is Gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia is the abnormal enlargement of the male breast, which is typically caused by the overdevelopment of the breast tissue. Genetics hormones, dramatic weight gain, and certain over-the-counter drugs, can all play a role in gynecomastia.
Gynecomastia often appears during puberty due to an imbalance between the hormones testosterone and estrogen. Although gynecomastia can resolve without any medical intervention, it sometimes persists into adulthood.
Image-conscious young men with gynecomastia often find the condition problematic because of the pressure they feel from media images of the ideal male physique. Consequently, many of them choose to have plastic surgery to treat gynecomastia and achieve a sculpted, more masculine chest.
Gynecomastia Surgery
Gynecomastia surgery or male breast reduction surgery may involve surgical excision of the excess breast tissue, or liposuction.
The incision for gynecomastia surgery is typically made around the areola, which is the dark area around the nipple. During the operation, the surgeon will remove the excess breast tissue as well as any extra fat. Fat is typically removed with liposuction.
Gynecomastia surgery is an outpatient procedure that is done under general anesthesia or IV sedation.
Recovery after male breast reduction takes about 7-10 days. Some improvement in chest contours will be noticeable immediately after surgery, but final results can take 6-12 months to show.
Would you like to learn more about gynecomastia? Search our directory to find a practice in your area.
If you are in the Las Vegas, NV and surrounding areas, Stile Aesthetics is our featured practice.
You can reach them at https://www.drstile.com/, or by calling 702-243-9555.