Gynecomastia, Body Builders, and Performance Enhancing Drugs. Body builders have almost no fat or excess skin, and therefore gynecomastia surgery takes a different approach than men with “true gynecomastia.” Their chest muscles are highly developed with increased blood flow, and therefore they have a higher risk of bleeding complications. All patients are warned to stop taking blood thinners before surgery and body builders need to be aware that they need to stop, protein shakes, fish oil and vitamin E, among many other products.
Developing muscle mass is so important to some men they are willing to take dangerous risks that can severely affect their health. It is illegal to use anabolic steroids for performance enhancement, but body builders have been using them for years. Steroids have many side effects such as lower sperm count, painful erections, impotence, and the development of breasts or gynecomastia.
To block estrogen, many men resort to taking estrogen blockers such as Tamoxifen. Tamoxifen will stop the development of breasts, but there is a price to pay. Tamoxifen is a prescription drug used for cancer treatment of the breasts, and although it is illegal to be prescribed as a performance enhancement drug, men can get it online and through social media. Estrogen blockers come with their own side effects including, leg cramps, hot flashes, blurred vision, depression, and more.
When seeking gynecomastia surgery, many competitive body builders request that their entire breast gland is removed to avoid regrowth of male breasts, allowing them to continue the use of steroids. Dr. Delgado discourages his patients with this practice in order for men to have a more normal looking chest; some breast gland is needed for sculpting and to give the chest natural contours.
Dr. Delgado encourages his patients to stop taking dangerous performance enhancing drugs and enjoy a healthy lifestyle.
Should I Worry About my Male Breasts? Dr. Miguel Delgado, M.D. recommends that men seek a professional evaluation from a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who specializes in gynecomastia if they feel tenderness, pain or have swelling of their breasts. If it is determined that the patient has gynecomastia, caused by fat and breast tissue, no treatment will be required unless the condition is causing psychological distress, in which case surgery may be recommended.
When the surgeon is trying to find the cause of male breast abnormalities some questions asked will be:
• What age did your breasts first develop?
• Are your breasts tender or painful?
• What, if any, supplements do you take?
• Are you now or ever have been on steroids?
• How much alcohol do you consume per day?
• Are you taking any legal or illegal drugs?
Further questioning might be:
• Does anyone in your family have or had breast cancer?
• Do you have Hodgkin’s Lymphoma or Klinefelter’s Syndrome?
• Do you have prostate cancer being treated with estrogen?
Depending on your surgeon’s assessment, he/she might want you to see an endocrinologist for further testing.
Both men and women have male and female hormones with their own gender dominate. However, if men should have an increase in estrogen throwing their hormones out of balance, they might start to develop breasts.
The incidence of breast cancer in men is about 1 out of 1,000, and while it is rare, it can occur. The onset of breast cancer in men is usually between the ages of 60 and 70. Symptoms you need to watch for are:
• A lump or fast growing mass on either breast
• Nipple discharge
• Rash on either nipple
If breast cancer is not detected early enough, it can spread to the lymph nodes. Men are less likely than women to get an early diagnosis and therefore when it is discovered it usually is much more advanced and serious.
The Silent Condition Gynecomastia, and I think that’s the biggest challenge. Those who suffer from it often hide it from the rest of the world, even from their closest family members. The symptoms can start as early as puberty. This leaves young men, maybe as young as adolescents, battling the condition on their own without much knowledge of what it is and how it can be treated.
The Silent Condition Gynecomastia: Silent Symptoms
In some cases, gynecomastia can be accompanied by mild breast pain and discomfort, but more often the symptoms are silent. Gynecomastia, on its own, it’s not life threatening unless it’s connected with other underlying health issues.
However, living with gynecomastia can have a strong, and often dangerous, psychological effect on the individual. This could be living with an unhealthy body image and the extreme measures that accompany it, social alienation and, in most cases, depression.
The Silent Condition Gynecomastia: Seeking Treatment
I can only treat those who walk into my clinic, but I hope to take my reach further and help other men suffering from gynecomastia. I hope when they search for advice online, these type of blogs help answer their questions. Ultimately I want to empower them to contact a doctor and ask about treatment options.
I know men with gynecomastia dread the idea of walking into a clinic for a gynecomastia consultation. It’s often the one thing that keeps them from seeking treatment – the idea of speaking to someone else about their condition.
What Happens During a Gynecomastia Consultation
The first goal is to confirm whether or not you have gynecomastia and try to pinpoint the cause. It’s a relaxed and confidential chat with the surgeon, at the clinic. After that, we will talk you through the treatment options, what to expect, recovery time and aftercare.
For personalized information about gynecomastia plastic surgery procedures, please complete Dr. Delgado’s inquiry form.
Liposuction is one of the most common plastic surgery procedures for fat removal. The main types are: tumescent, ultrasound, and laser assisted. Due to the demand for fat removal, there are multiple marketing gimmicks and catchy names for various liposuction methods.
“The Doctors” TV show recently had an episode featuring “BodyTite.” BodyTite combines liposuction with a special instrument that tightens skin using radio frequency energy. The advantage of tightening skin during male breast reduction surgery is ridding the patient of excess skin and avoiding the necessity of a secondary procedure. However, for “true gynecomastia,” surgical excision of breast tissue is required. Breast tissue is too dense to be removed successfully by a cannula.
Over 40% of Dr. Miguel Delgado’s gynecomastia practice is revision cases where other surgeons attempted male breast reduction by liposuction alone. Dr. Delgado does, however, use a technique for tightening skin during surgery where he applies controlled heat directly to the underlying skin.
Only in the case of “pseudo-gynecomastia” can liposuction alone be successful. Surgical excision combined with liposuction for fat removal and contouring remain the “gold standard” for male breast reduction.
When choosing your surgeon, be sure to find a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who specializes in gynecomastia.
For personalized information about gynecomastia plastic surgery procedures, please complete Dr. Delgado’s inquiry form.
Affecting at least 60% of all men at some time in their life is the development of female-type breasts, which is caused by a condition known as gynecomastia. The most prevalent time this occurs is the adolescent years as young men pass through puberty and experience hormonal changes. As their hormones are changing and the estrogen level is temporarily high, they may have what is referred to as “puffy nipples.” Fortunately for most, their gynecomastia will resolve on its own without any intervention. However, for some, if their chest is not back to normal after two years, it may be permanent, with gynecomastia surgery as the only effective option.
Gynecomastia Causes
Overall, there are many different factors that can cause gynecomastia or breast enlargement in males. The most common cause is a hormonal imbalance with estrogen levels being higher than testosterone levels, while certain medications may also lead to male breast enlargement. Anabolic steroids can also lead to gynecomastia, which is common among the bodybuilding community.
True Gynecomastia and Pseudo-Gynecomastia
True gynecomastia occurs when there is excess glandular tissue in the male breasts along with excess male breast tissue resulting in enlarged male breasts. Surgical treatment is often the best solution for true gynecomastia.
It is important to note that true gynecomastia should not be confused with false gynecomastia, or pseudo gynecomastia, which results in enlargement of the male breasts due to weight gain, excess fat, and fatty tissue on the body. The main cure for pseudo-gynecomastia is often weight loss.
Gynecomastia Grades
Gynecomastia can be divided into different grades to determine severity. These grades include:
Grade I: severity is mild with enlargement centered around the areola. At this grade, gynecomastia is usually not noticeable with clothing.
• Grade II: enlargement is moderate without excess skin past the areola. At this stage, gynecomastia can still be concealed with loose clothing.
• Grade III: enlargement is moderate with excess skin. At this point, the swelling of the breast tissue is moderate to severe, and is highly visible.
• Grade IV: significant enlargement with feminine-type breasts and excess skin. This is the most severe stage of gynecomastia.
The severity of the gynecomastia will determine how the male breast reduction surgery is to be performed. It is imperative to select a board-certified plastic surgeon that has extensive experience with gynecomastia.
For patients with mild to moderate gynecomastia, the less invasive “pull-through technique” procedure may be an option. For those with more severe gynecomastia, a “Two Stage Procedure” may be necessary in order to reduce the excess skin.
Schedule a Consultation
If you are tired of living with the symptoms of gynecomastia and are ready to make a change, contact Dr. Delgado in San Francisco today! Your first step will be to schedule a one on one consultation appointment to discuss your concerns and gynecomastia treatment options.
Gynecomastia in San Francisco FAQs
What is the most severe grade of gynecomastia?
The most severe grade of gynecomastia is grade 4, which involves severe levels of excess breast tissue and glandular tissue. This excess tissue will create a noticeable condition regardless of whether the patient is wearing a shirt.
What is the best treatment for Gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia surgery is often the best way to treat gynecomastia. This surgical procedure is performed to correct moderate breast enlargement through the removal of excess glandular and fatty tissues.
Do all adolescent males experience gynecomastia?
No, not all adolescents will experience gynecomastia symptoms. However, most males do experience gynecomastia during their teen years as this is when their hormones are fluctuating.
Does gynecomastia cause breast pain?
For some males, gynecomastia can cause the breasts to be tender or painful to the touch.
