Cosmetic Surgery for Men
Gynecomastia is enlargement of the male breast. There are three causes of gynecomastia
1. Increased size of the male breast gland sometimes called true gynecomastia
2. Increased amount of fat in the breast, referred to as pseudo gynecomastia
3. Most often there is a combination of these two conditions called mixed gynecomastia
FAQs
What causes true gynecomastia?
All men normally produce testosterone. But did you know that a very small amount of estrogen, the female hormone. True Gynecomastia is triggered by an imbalance in the amount of these hormones. This imbalance of hormones is brought about by conditions that block the effects of testosterone, reduce the amounts of testosterone, or increase the amount of estrogen in your body.
Psychological impact
Gynecomastia can be emotionally challenging for many men, leading to feelings of embarrassment or self-consciousness. Various factors can upset the hormone balance, including:
• Anabolic steroids.
• Natural hormone changes: puberty/aging.
• Alcohol or marijuana use.
• Herbal products: tea tree oil or lavender oil.
• Medication: ulcers, heart disease, cancers.
• Liver disease, tumors, kidney failure.
Recovery
Immediately after the procedure the patient wears a snug vest. Most patients return to normal activities in 1 to 2 days, begin light exercise within a week and start strenuous exercise in 2 to 4 weeks.
Puberty and anabolic steroids make the breasts grow?
It may seem odd that when the body has a lot of testosterone the breast gland grows. What happens is during puberty or when taking testosterone (anabolic steroids) there may be a large surge of testosterone. In some males this extra testosterone is changed into estrogen. The result to this increased estrogen and larger breasts.
Treatment
Whether your gynecomastia is caused by enlarged gland or excess fat or both there is usually no need for excisions and scars. The gland and/or fat is routinely removed through a small 3 mm entry site on the side of the chest using specially designed suction cannulas and precise technique. The area is then treated with radio frequency for skin tightening. If there is a truly excessive amount of extra skin then excision of skin may be required.