Gynecomastia

GYNECOMASTIA is an over developed breast in the male. Hormone imbalance can effect the breast tissue in the male chest, causing an overgrowth of tissue.  This can occur in very young men who have not yet approached adult hormone balance. When it occurs, it can cause an enlargement in the breast tissue as the young man grows to adulthood. As the man ages, the tissue can continue to grow.

This is not an unusual occurance. A sizeable percentage of men have female-like breasts. Though rarely talked about, this condition affects an estimated 40 percent to 60 percent of men.

If you are a man who has excessively large breasts, you would be a potential candidate for the male breast reduction procedure. Also, you would be a good candidate if you have excess or sagging tissue in your chest area after losing a large amount of weight.

The Gynecomastia procedure is similar but somewhat different for procedures performed for females. We generally perform breast-reduction surgery in our outpatient surgical facility, a nationally accredited, state-of-the-art surgical center. The procedure itself takes about two hours. However, the procedure can last longer if a more extensive surgery is required. Patients generally receive a general anesthetic and sleep through the surgery.

The type of procedure will depend on whether your breast enlargement is primarily from fatty tissue or glandular tissue. When the cause is fatty tissue, we will use liposuction to remove the excess fat through a small incision made around the edge of the areola or in the underarm area. The doctor will insert a slim hollow tube (a cannula), which is attached to a vacuum pump, break up the fat, and suction it out. If excess glandular tissue is the primary cause of the breast enlargement, we will remove it with a scalpel through an incision on the edge of the areola or under the arm. Sometimes they combine the procedures, using both scalpel and liposuction for best results. In cases where large amounts of fat or glandular tissue have been removed, the doctor may remove excess skin to allow the remaining skin to firmly re-adjust to the new breast contour.

Sometimes, a small drain is inserted through a separate incision to draw off excess fluids. Once closed, the incisions are usually covered with a dressing. The chest may be wrapped to keep the skin firmly in place. You will feel some discomfort for a few days after Gynecomastia surgery, but this can be controlled with medications prescribed. Most patients feel well enough to return to work within three to seven days after surgery and any stitches will usually be removed in one to two weeks. You should avoid strenuous activity for two to three weeks.

Typical, temporary side effects of Gynecomastia breast reduction surgery are temporary bruising, swelling, numbness, soreness or a burning sensation. Swelling and bruising may last as long as three to six months or longer. More severe possible complications include infection, skin injury or fluid accumulation. The procedure may also result in noticeable scars, permanent pigment changes in the breast area, a rippling or bagginess of skin and slightly mismatched breasts or nipples. If asymmetry is significant, a second procedure may be performed to remove additional tissue.

Recovery requires rest.  You should stay away from any sport or job that risks a blow to the chest area for at least four weeks. In general, it will take about a month before you’re back to all of your normal activities. You’ll be swollen and bruised for awhile, as long as three to six months. To help reduce swelling, you’ll probably be instructed to wear an elastic pressure garment continuously for a week or two and for a few weeks longer at night. Although the worst of your swelling will dissipate in the first few weeks, it may be three months or more before the final results of your surgery are apparent. You should also avoid exposing the resulting scars to the sun for at least six months. Sunlight can permanently affect the skin’s pigmentation, causing the scar to turn dark.