Male Breast Reduction: The Shame of Gynocomastia

Gynocomastia is the medical term for fatty glandular tissue forming in men. This condition can be hereditary and genetic in nature, or it could be caused by risky activity such as taking anabolic steroids or drugs with estrogen in them. Male breast reduction surgery can eliminate the effects of this condition.

Across the country, men tease other men about their “man-boobs”. Typically, this teasing is centered around normal fat accumulation in the chest area and has nothing to do with a medical condition. However, there are thousands of men who suffer from gynocomastia, a real condition that can only be treated through male breast reduction surgery. This condition can be genetic or it can be brought about through the use of drugs such as anabolic steroids, marijuana, or drugs containing the female hormone estrogen. Whatever the root cause, once it has taken hold, there are few treatments that will help other than surgery.

As with any cosmetic surgery, the best candidates for male breast reduction are those who are in good overall health and have a realistic, emotionally stable expectation for the procedure. It helps if the candidate is fairly young and in good shape, as this will mean the skin has more elasticity. Typically, the surgery may not be used as a substitute for weight loss. Though the bulk of gynocomastia is made up from fatty deposits, it should not be as a result of obesity.

The surgery entails removing glandular tissue from the chest, which is usually found just around the nipple. If required, the surgeon may actually remove the glands in the chest that produce the fatty tissue, though this is relatively uncommon unless the gyno has come back repeatedly. The operation usually takes approximately two hours and can be done with the patient under local anesthetic. It is generally performed as an outpatient procedure.

In most cases, the results from male breast reduction are permanent. There may be a recurrence of the problem if the patient continues to use steroids or engage in other risk factors, however. One of the good things about the surgery is that there is usually very little downtime. The patient can be expected to be able to return to most lines of work within a week’s time. There will be some minimal scarring around the nipple but these scars should fade with time and are generally very small to begin with.

If you have gynocomastia or know someone with the problem, you probably know how embarrassing it can be. What you should also know is that male breast reduction is very safe as far as cosmetic surgeries go and the results are usually permanent. For further assistance, you should contact a good plastic surgeon in your area and set up a consultation.

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