While women desire full and noticeable breasts, the same cannot be said for men. Although it isn’t widely discussed, enlarged male breasts are more common than you might suspect, affecting men of all ages. For men, having enlarged breasts can bring both emotional and physical anguish. Many men find that having gynecomastia (the condition of enlarged male breasts) dampens their confidence in social or intimate situations, even causing them to refrain from participating in the activities they enjoy. Additionally, many men find that excess fat, tissue, and skin in their chest makes exercise physically painful. Even though much of the chest’s volume is made up of fatty tissue, exercise and diet typically do not have any effect on gynecomastia. The one sure way to get rid of this condition, however, is through gynecomastia surgery.
What Causes Gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia can be present in men for several reasons. One common reason is a hormonal imbalance in which estrogen levels are increased in comparison to androgen (male hormone) levels. For this reason, gynecomastia often develops during puberty and may or may not resolve itself over time. Other causes of gynecomastia include weight gain, a loss of skin elasticity, and the use of anabolic steroids or other medications that create an imbalance in estrogen levels.
What Does the Procedure Entail?
During gynecomastia surgery, surgical techniques are tailored to each patient depending on the amount of excess fat, tissue, and skin needed to be removed. If the primary concern with your gynecomastia is excess fatty tissue, then liposuction alone may be enough to rid you of the condition. In this procedure, a cannula (a thin tube), is inserted under the breasts, and the fatty tissue is removed. While the majority of gynecomastia surgeries involve liposuction, there are some cases where liposuction alone is not enough and incisions to excise excess skin and glandular tissue are required. If this is the case, an incision will be made around the areola to remove the excess skin and tissue to flatten the chest.
What Is the Recovery Like?
While all surgeries come with a recovery period, gynecomastia surgery is relatively minor. After your procedure, you will be wrapped in a compression garment to reduce swelling and promote the healing process. You will be given instructions on how long you need to wear this bandage. Patients can typically return to work after one week, depending on the nature of your specific procedure, and you can resume your daily activities soon after. Gynecomastia surgery offers long-lasting results that flattens, contours, and creates a more masculine physique.