Gynecomastia / Male Breast Reduction

Excess breast tissue and fat on a male can be unflattering and embarrassing. Taking off their shirts in front of others and trying to hide their oversized breasts with thick clothing can take a great toll, mentally and emotionally.


Meaning:
Gynecomastia is a term derived from the Greek words “gyne” or “gyneko” meaning “female” and “mastia” meaning “breasts.”

Male Breast reduction, also known as Gynaecomastia (sometimes referred to as "man boobs") is a common condition that causes boys’ or men’s breasts to swell and become larger than normal. It is the appearance of a abnormally large breasts or female-like breast in a male. The condition may be isolated to only one side or may involve both breasts. This can result from a hormone imbalance or from being very overweight, which increases levels of estrogen and cause breast tissue to grow or sometimes even due to rare genetic conditions. A majority of men develop a typical breast tissue during adolescence. Excess fat and tissue in the chest area tend to naturally go away after puberty, although sometimes it doesn’t and leads to lasting breast development.  Non-surgical alternatives like diet, exercise and pills will not help this condition. In most cases man boobs can be classified into two types:

1. Gynecomastia
2. Pseudogynecomastia

The difference between gynecomastia and pseudogynecomastia is that the former is caused by hormonal imbalance and the latter is caused by excess of body fat.

Causes of Gynecomastia: 

• There could be many causes of this disease. If the condition is witnessed in babies, it could well come from the mother due to an overdose of oestrogen. 
• Certain medications can be a reason of Gynecomastia like anti-anxiety related medications, certain antibiotics, chemotherapy shots, HIV patients receiving HAART, anabolic steroids etc. 
• Certain drugs such as heroin, alcohol, methadone, marijuana, Amphetamines etc. 
• Certain health conditions such as hypogonadism, hyperthyroidism, liver cirrhosis, ageing, certain tumours, failure of the kidney malnutrition etc. 

You might want to consider the gynecomastia treatment for one these common reasons:

• You are unhappy with the size or appearance of your breasts.
• If you are reluctant to remove your shirt in public, to swim, to participate in sports or to exercise at a gym.
• You experience physical discomfort because of your breasts.
• If you experience psychological discomfort associated with large breasts.

Procedure:

Breast reduction surgery is an option for men with this condition. It may also be used to tighten the breast area after dramatic weight loss that has caused the skin to sag. Reduction methods include liposuction or removing the glandular tissue by excision or using a combination of liposuction and excision. During the consultation, our plastic surgeon, Dr.Sahebgowda Shetty will determine what will be required to improve the contour and shape of your breasts and discuss how and where the procedure is done as well as give you a overview of the recovery process.

1.  Liposuction is often preferred. A thin, hollow tube (cannula) is inserted through the small incisions and moved back and forth in a controlled motion to loosen fat. The fat cells are then suctioned out using a vaccum.

2.  Depending on your health and amount of excess skin, excisional treatment may be necessary. In the excision method,Surgeon will make an incision around the areola (dark area around the nipple) and remove excess fatty tissue or glandular tissue.  It is then closed with surgical tapes or sutures. It is performed under general anesthesia, commonly at a day care centre. It can be done as an outpatient procedure and there is minimal discomfort involved. Any scarring is usually small, minimal and inconspicuous and should fade over time.

Recovery:
Recovery time is often short following gynecomastia surgery. A post-operative compression garment (a stretchy vest) will be necessary for approximately a month after the surgery. It helps in achieving the best results by compressing some of the swelling in the breast and decreasing the likelihood of fluid accumulation. Normal activity may be resumed within a few days. You will be able to go back to work within 3-4 days. The results are long-lasting.


Benefits:
Although not considered as a serious condition, Gynecomastia can be a difficult condition to cope up with. Gynaecomastia surgery restores a normal male chest appearance, which will enable the patient to wear normal clothing or expose the chest without the embarrassment associated with Man Boobs. This result can restore self-confidence and boost self-esteem. 

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