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Should I Undergo Surgery for Gynecomastia?
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If you’re a man who’s been working to improve the shape of your body or just wants to look relatively good, but you have man-boobs, a more feminine-looking chest, or just prominent, puffy nipples, you may have gynecomastia.
This condition can be quite distressing and noticeable when wearing a T-shirt or dress shirt or when you are shirtless, such as at the beach, pool or during intimate encounters.
What Is Gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia is a common condition sometimes referred to as “man-boobs,” “moobs,” or “bitch-tits” and is characterized by enlarged breast tissue in men.
Some men have had gynecomastia since puberty, whereas others have noticed it develop well after puberty. It quite frequently develops in men over 50 years old.
In the majority of adolescent males, this condition resolves by the end of puberty, and there is no residual excess. In younger men, this condition is quite frequently a manifestation of significant weight fluctuations, hormonal imbalance, drugs, medications, or the usage of anabolic steroids.
Rarely is it associated with pathology related to the thyroid or pituitary gland.
Regardless, the underlying cause should first be investigated before surgically addressing the breast enlargement.
Choosing Gynecomastia Surgery | Male Breast Reduction
Your surgeon should be highly skilled, experienced, and board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, so research them thoroughly.
The surgical techniques chosen for male breast reduction depend on the amount of existing excess tissue and skin.
- When gynecomastia is the result of fat, liposuction alone can be used. The patient may opt to have other areas of their body sculpted at the same time.
- If the sole cause of enlargement is glandular tissue, then direct excision of the breast tissue would be the treatment.
- For men with a more significant excess of fat and glandular tissue, liposuction can be combined with surgical excision using small incisions at the bottom of the areolas.
- In severe cases, a more extensive procedure may be necessary and involve longer incisions, similar to female breast reduction.
General anesthesia is typically used for this outpatient surgery, which usually takes less than two hours.
What to Expect From Male Breast Reduction
During your consultation with a reputable plastic surgeon, you should share your concerns and cosmetic goals. The plastic surgeon will assess your situation and then make recommendations, including what is involved, expectations, the recovery process, risks, and possible complications.
Recovering From Gynecomastia Surgery
After your surgery, you will wake up to a compressive dressing placed around your chest to help control bruising, swelling, and discomfort.
After two or three days, you will return to your surgeon’s office for a follow-up, and the dressing will be replaced with an elastic compression garment. This may be worn for a few weeks according to your surgeon’s instructions and your particular needs.
You will likely experience relatively mild discomfort, which is easily controlled with over-the-counter or prescribed pain medication. You can expect to largely return to your regular routine within several days. However, there are limitations on various physical activities that can be four to eight weeks.
Swelling will steadily subside but can persist to a degree for as long as one year.
Gynecomastia Surgery in Phoenix, AZ
If you are bothered with the appearance of your chest and want to learn more about gynecomastia treatment in Scottsdale or the greater Phoenix area, please contact my office at the Arizona Center for Breast Surgery.