Gynecomastia, also derisively called “man boobs” by some is a condition that causes male breasts to swell and become larger than normal. It can affect one or both breasts and can a toll on a male’s self-esteem. If you are a male and are unhappy with the way your chest looks and the way it makes you feel, there are options for treatment. Now is the time to arm yourself with information in order to find the right surgeon to help take care of the issue.
What is Gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia is not simply an abundance of fat in the chest area that liposuction can deal with effectively. Fat is just the half of it. The other half is the breast gland itself. Yes, men have glandular tissue in the chest that can respond to hormone changes and increase in size. In rare cases, the glandular tissue of the male breast can even develop breast cancer just as it can in women.
Surgery to correct gynecomastia is becoming more and more popular for men. However, in monitoring question-and-answer sites like RealSelf.com, it is evident that men are reporting disappointing results from their surgery. To properly address gynecomastia, attention must be paid to both the fatty and glandular components of the condition. Liposuction alone can address the fat, but liposuction alone will not completely treat gynecomastia. The glandular component must also be removed to give satisfying results.
When meeting with a surgeon, ask him or her what the plan is to deal with the glandular tissue. The gland must be directly removed to completely treat gynecomastia. Typically, this entails an incision along the lower half of the nipple/areola complex (NAC). This allows access to the glandular tissue to be directly removed. The problem is, it can leave the NAC looking “operated on”. Effective, aesthetic treatment of true gynecomastia requires an experienced surgeon that is Board Certified by the Society of Plastic Surgeons.
Why Choose Dr. Delgado for Male Breast Reduction Surgery?
Dr. Delgado is a board-certified plastic surgeon and a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. He has treated gynecomastia patients and all types of male breast enlargement for over 30 years and is dedicated to supporting adolescents and men across the globe. He aims to establish leading professional standards in gynecomastia care and treatment.
Schedule a Consultation
For personalized information about gynecomastia plastic surgery procedures, please complete Dr. Delgado’s inquiry form. Take the first step toward treating your gynecomastia today!
Gynecomastia FAQs
What Causes Excess Male Breast Tissue in Men?
There is an array of possible causes of gynecomastia, including hormonal imbalance, certain medications, thyroid disease, liver disease, alcoholism, adrenal tumors, anabolic steroids, and more.
Does Gynecomastia Cause Breast Pain?
Men and boys with gynecomastia can experience breast pain or sensitivity.
What is Drug Induced Gynecomastia?
This occurs when gynecomastia is the result of taking certain drugs or medications. Once a patient stops the medication that is the cause, gynecomastia may resolve on its own.
Who is at a Greater Risk to Develop Gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia is usually triggered by an imbalance in the hormones testosterone and estrogen. It is most often seen in newborn male babies, adolescent boys during puberty, and older men once their testosterone levels begin to decrease.
Displeased with the results of your gynecomastia surgery? You are not alone. Gynecomastia surgery, like all surgery, is all about attention to detail. The details, in this case, are identifying and treating each component of what comprises gynecomastia. Gynecomastia, or enlargement of the male breast typically has three major components.
The first is the fatty component. This is typically approached effectively by the surgeon with liposuction. A small incision is made, fluid containing local anesthetic and a vasoconstricting agent is injected into the area, and a cannula is used to remove the fatty component of the gynecomastia and contour the chest to a masculine appearance. The second component, which is often overlooked or undertreated by surgeons, is the glandular component. The glandular material cannot be treated adequately with liposuction alone, whether it be conventional suction assisted liposuction or ultrasonic or laser liposuction.
To adequately address the glandular component, the gland must be removed. This means separating the gland from the skin above it and from the pectoralis major muscle beneath it. The goal of surgery is to remove the fat and the glandular material between the skin and the muscle and then encourage the skin to redrape over the muscle properly. This is typically achieved with a compression vest and foam material to compress the skin on to the muscle. This also helps prevent complications such as hematoma or fluid collection under the skin.
The final component of gynecomastia is the diameter of the areola. In most cases of gynecomastia, the areola is enlarged and puffy. By thinning the sub areolar tissue, the puffiness will be addressed and typically the areola will shrink. If you think you may have gynecomastia or are displeased with the results of previous surgery, call to schedule a complimentary consultation.
Gynecomastia revision surgery is performed as an outpatient procedure under a general anesthetic. and takes 1-1.5 hours in experienced hands. Recovery time is usually 3-4 weeks with restriction of arm movement for the first week.
Being a parent, it is my responsibility to teach my kids to be confident and that confidence isn’t all about outward appearance. I am personally not a proponent of aesthetic plastic surgery for minors. But as a father of boys, I feel very empathetic towards boys and young men with gynecomastia. Breast reduction surgery is the only plastic surgery I perform on minors. If my boys are ever candidates for this procedure and have the desire, I would fully support their decision, even as teens, to have gynecomastia surgery.
About Gynecomastia
Gynecomastia, sometimes referred to derisively as ‘man-boobs’, is endemic in the United States. While gynecomastia can be associated with excess body fat and obesity, many males I see for gynecomastia reduction surgery are not overweight. They simply have experienced the spontaneous proliferation of fibrous breast tissue on one or both sides of their chest, for reasons that medical science currently cannot fully explain. It has been found that some medications such as anti-anxiety medications, some antibiotics, certain heart medications, cancer treatments, anabolic steroids (which can lead to hormonal imbalance), and more. In these cases, the dosing of the medication may need to be adjusted or the medication stopped altogether.
For younger boys and teens that are living with gynecomastia, the issue of excess breast tissue can create a vicious cycle of self-consciousness and social withdrawal. With breast area enlargement due to excess glandular tissue, a boy can gradually become insecure about his appearance without a shirt or even in tighter clothing (such as workout clothing). In these situations, I have seen males begin to avoid social situations in which their chest appearance is obvious (the gym, the pool, pickup games), and sometimes come to avoid sporting activities altogether. This can potentially damage their psychosocial development and has a profoundly negative effect on their sense of well-being and quality of life.
An Increase In Gynecomastia Cases
There are many theories as to why there has been such a dramatic increase in the incidence of gynecomastia over the last few decades. Some believe it is because of the increase of pro-estrogenic hormones and chemical compounds such as antibiotics in meat and dairy products, and/or chemicals that we are exposed to in the environment (building materials, flame retardants, pesticides, etc.). No one can be absolutely certain what has caused the significant increase in gynecomastia, but I see enough gynecomastia patients with a normal body weight to know for certain that it is not simply due to the rising incidence of obesity.
As a board-certified plastic surgeon, I have experience performing many different plastic surgery procedures. I have noticed that Gynecomastia patients are among the happiest with their results. They are not only pleased with their more masculine chest appearance after male breast reduction surgery but also become more confident socially. The outcome of gynecomastia surgery can be truly life-changing, with young men immediately more socially confident and more socially active.
One very grateful set of parents recently shared with me that their son, who would never even remove his shirt around his family in the privacy of their home, was so happy with his improved appearance that he was frequently shirtless around the house, was back to hanging out with his buddies at the pool and was thinking of trying out for soccer for the upcoming school year. This kind of story is very typical of an adolescent male patient who has undergone gynecomastia surgery.
Gynecomastia Treatment
If you or your son is struggling with the excess tissue on his breasts, please do not hesitate to reach out to me today. I have ample experience performing minimally invasive male breast reduction surgery as well as other gynecomastia surgery techniques to correct the symptoms associated with gynecomastia. During this procedure, I will remove the enlarged male breast glands, as well as contour the chest area to achieve a more masculine-looking, sculpted chest.
Schedule a Gynecomastia Surgery Consultation
If you are interested in learning more about gynecomastia surgery (male breast reduction surgery) to improve the appearance of the male chest, contact my office today. I will be happy to speak with you about your male breast concerns and goals during a male breast reduction surgery consultation.
Dr. Miguel Delgado and his staff recently welcomed Dr. Ivan Puah from Singapore to Marin Cosmetic Surgery Center, to further hone his surgical skills in gynecomastia surgery.
Dr. Miguel Delgado shared clinical and surgeries cases with Dr. Ivan Puah. Both doctors exchanged experiences on cases they have seen and performed, including post-surgery complications, surgical approaches, and more.
It was rewarding for Dr. Ivan Puah to receive one-on-one mentorship from Dr. Miguel Delgado in gynecomastia surgeries as well as observation of liposuction and a tummy tuck procedure. At the clinic, Dr. Ivan Puah had the opportunity to observe consultations, pre-operative patients, and management of post-operative patients who were having drain and suture removal.
Dr. Ivan Puah has been practicing medicine for more than 20 years with training in various disciplines including general surgery, orthopedic surgery, urology, dermatology, and many more. Since the establishment of his medical aesthetic practice, Amaris B. Clinic in 2004, Dr. Ivan Puah has been performing various types of surgical body sculpting procedures such as laserlipolysis, liposuction, VASER® Lipo, fat grafting, and gynecomastia.
Dr. Ivan Puah is a certified VASER® practitioner, obtaining his VASER® Body Sculpting training in Colorado and Argentina. In Singapore, he is accredited and recognized by the Ministry of Health to perform surgical body sculpting procedures.
“Gynecomastia is the top main concern for male patients in Singapore. As a doctor, it is important to provide patients with honest, ethical advice, as they put their trust in you; while managing their expectations realistically, working with them on achieving the results they want,” explains Dr. Ivan Puah.
We asked Dr. Ivan Puah on his key takeaway from the training, and he stated, “It was a very fruitful trip. Although I have been performing gynecomastia surgery for years, I am extremely humbled to have the opportunity to receive further training and to be mentored personally by Dr. Miguel Delgado, who is an expert in this field. He is very approachable, yet professional, and always ready to give advice. I look forward to more learning opportunities with Dr. Miguel Delgado in the near future.”
Gynecomastia.org, a popular educational online site, set up by Dr. Miguel Delgado and his team, is dedicated to providing comprehensive information for males who are facing issues with manboobs.
“I am glad that gynecomastia.psstage.com offers a platform for patients to share their experiences, research for the right information for their specific concerns and treatment options. To be listed on the doctor’s panel provides physicians like myself another useful channel to communicate and offer appropriate advice,” says Dr. Ivan Puah.
Visit https://www.gynecomastia.org/ to learn more about gynecomastia.
Gynecomastia specialists’ see too often the cases of male breast reduction done by less experienced surgeons. Many gynecomastia revision cases are necessary because the primary surgeon removed too much fat and tissue leaving a “crater deformity,” or in some cases, not removing enough tissue. A large percentage of revision cases are due to liposuction alone being performed, and there is breast tissue left behind.
How many cases does the surgeon do in a year? It should be in the hundreds.
There should be available an extensive photo gallery of before and after surgery.
Custom Plan For Your Body Type
Gynecomastia surgery is very complex; each patient needs to have a surgery plan based on their unique case. For example, bodybuilders do not need removal of excess fat or skin. However, they can be at a higher risk for bleeding due to an increase in blood flow in the chest muscles that are highly developed.
What to Avoid
Beware of advertised discounts and specials on surgery fees. Specialists have devoted many years to perfecting their skills. Specialists are in high demand; they do not need to “reduce” their fees to attract new patients. Unless they should get an unavoidable cancellation, you may find that you have to wait a few months to get on their surgery schedule. But it will be worth the wait, avoid the possibility of gynecomastia revision surgery which will compromise your results and add additional fees. Remember you get what you pay for.
