Gynecomastia

If you are among the estimated 40 to 60 percent of men with gynecomastia, or overdeveloped breasts, Plastic Surgery Associates can help. Even though it is rarely talked about, it is actually quite common.

A number of factors can contribute to gynecomastia, including age, heredity, hormones, certain medical conditions, drugs and alcohol. But in most cases, there is no known cause. And though it usually does not pose any risk to your health, the condition can be a source of self-consciousness.

Men who may feel self-conscious about their appearance can receive surgery to remove fat and or glandular tissue from the breasts. The results leave the chest firmer, flatter and better contoured.

Gynecomastia can be treated on healthy, emotionally stable men of any age. The best candidates for surgery have firm, elastic skin that will reshape to the body’s new contours. at any age, though children and teenagers might want to wait, as their excess tissue may disappear over time.

What does gynecomastia treatment involve?
The doctor usually begins with a mammogram, to rule out any chance of breast cancer and to determine whether your gynecomastia consists of fatty or glandular tissue.

If it is primarily fatty tissue, the treatment is usually liposuction. The doctor makes a small incision in the targeted area and inserts a cannula, a hollow tube attached to a vacuum. The cannula breaks up the fat and suctions it out.

If your gynecomastia is mostly glandular tissue, the doctor usually cuts out the excess tissue through small incisions in your armpit and the border of your areola (the dark skin around your nipple), where the scars will be less visible. The doctor also may use liposuction with this procedure.

This is typically an outpatient procedure that takes about an hour and a half. If your treatment is extensive and requires an overnight stay, we will perform it in one of the local hospitals where we have privileges.

What should I expect after the gynecomastia procedure?
After either procedure, you will be bruised and swollen. You will need to wear an elastic pressure garment for a few weeks and longer than that at night to control the swelling.

You should be able to return to work within a week, though you will need to avoid strenuous activities for two or three weeks. The results are permanent as long as your weight remains stable.