Gynecomastia and Male Breast Reduction

Gynecomastia is the medical term for female-like breasts on males. The word is derived from the Greek language and actually translates to "womanly breasts." Most guys don't talk about it but many more of them suffer from it than one might imagine. In fact, some estimates put the incidence of this malady at half of the male population. To get rid of these soft appendages, guys can opt for surgical intervention. Here are some things to think about.

What causes it? There are various ways gynecomastia can occur, including being overweight, taking drugs (recreational or prescription), genetic predisposition or bad luck. Some evidence points to use of steroids in body builders, or marijuana in pot smokers. Many adolescent boys exhibit these surprising mounds on their chest as they're experiencing the hormonal changes of puberty. Luckily, those associated with adolescence usually disappear as they reach maturity.

What can a man can do about it? The first thing a sufferer of gynecomastia should do is see his doctor. The physician will rule out tumors in the chest and prescription medicine side effects, and may put him on a diet to get rid of some weight. If none of these fixes alleviates the problem, his next step may be to see a cosmetic surgeon. Other than that, his only options would be to wear a flattening garment over his man-boobs for life or live with slight cleavage.

If a man really does not like his appearance, cosmetic surgery can be an option.

- Surgical intervention: In order to return the patient's chest to a more manly appearance, the plastic surgeon may perform a combination of liposuction and breast reduction. These would be outpatient procedures performed in a hospital or clinic setting.

- Liposuction: Lipo is a technique which removes fatty deposits that haven't responded to dieting or exercise. The MD will make tiny incisions in the region before inserting a medical tool called a cannula into the openings. A cannula is a slender wand that is hooked up to a lipo machine in order to suction away excess adipose tissue.

- Breast reduction surgery: This operation entails removing excess skin and glandular tissue before tightening up the region with sutures. Drains may be placed to alleviate pooling of fluids. A compression garment will need to be worn in order to support the healing. There will be some scars but these should fade over time.

As with all surgeries, there are certain risks that a patient should be aware of. Examples are infection at the site, blood clots, unexpected scarring, asymmetry, and change in nipple sensation. Most of these complications are rare, however, but they should be considered and discussed with one's doctor.

When a man ends up with gynecomastia and soft breasts on his manly physique, it can be a devastating experience. This is true for all guys but for some, such as the teen boy with emerging manly self esteem, or the body builder who builds his life around the concept of looking buff, this can be a crushing blow to the ego. Luckily, there are steps that he can take, including seeing his family doctor to rule out possibilities, lose weight, wear a flattening corset device or opt for lipo and surgical reduction.