A Gynecomastia Sufferer Spoke Up, Today is not an easy society to survive in.
From fierce job competition and the volatile nature of job stability, to the fear of being judged on both the superficial and personal levels, society today is a brutally tough crowd.
While women may find it easy to talk about their insecurities, the same unfortunately, cannot be said for the opposite gender. Males are stereotypically perceived as more ‘dominant’, and emotional insecurity can be unfairly judged as weakness. But that is not the case.
“I used to be a lot rounder in junior college,” Jun Jie shared. “And I would often skip out on physical activities as the white colour of my shirt would make my man boobs super obvious, especially when we were doing vigorous exercise.”
And although he has lost weight since then, he reveals that his male boobs never completely went away, and he still avoids wearing light coloured shirts.
Although many attribute these boobs to being ‘fat’, it can also be a health problem with pain in the chest area, and this pain can aggravate with age. One method guys could try would be to accept treatments.
Although surgery might sound like a drastic solution, it is actually a highly accepted solution in countries such as the US. Other surgery benefits also include a more well-defined chest area and fat reduction.
Gynecomastia is not just an aesthetic problem; it is a medical condition. Symptoms include tenderness around the breast, swelling of the breast gland tissue and more. The cause of the condition varies, and this includes hormonal imbalance and also from the side effects of certain medications.
Ageing is also a known cause of the condition. Gynecomastia during puberty is not uncommon, but if the problem persists into adulthood, surgical intervention is the recommended option.
• Reduces excess fat and overly enlarged glandular tissues
• Define masculine appearance on the chest area
When Jason’s mom discovered her son was searching gynecomastia.psstage.com for information, she realized her son’s breast development was causing him more stress than she realized. Jason’s pediatrician had told them that his male breasts would probably resolve on their own within two years without any type of intervention. However, if his moobs remained after those two years, then they may be permanent, and can only be corrected by surgery.
Jason Schedules Surgery
After three years, Jason’s mom delicately asked her son if he would like a consultation with gynecomastia specialist, Miguel Delgado, M.D. Jason seemed very relieved to get support from his mother but his embarrassment was very obvious, and he asked if his father could take him for a consultation. Father and son met with Dr. Delgado; they were impressed with Dr. Delgado, his sensitive staff, and state of the art surgery center. They were impressed with Miguel Delgado, M.D.’s expertise which was revealed through many before and after pictures of male breasts, some of which can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nr6cNvjc7s
Surgery Scheduled!
With much anticipation, Jason’s surgery was scheduled. Although he was quite nervous, he told his parents that it was “a piece of cake!” He had a very easy recovery, and before long he was able to enjoy all the outdoor activities that required removal of his shirt within a very short time. View Jason’s before and after gynecomastia surgery pictures below.
Dad’s Turn
Jason and his parents were elated with his surgical results; in fact, Jason’s father announced that he was going to schedule male breast reduction surgery for himself with Dr. Delgado. Jason’s mom was surprised that her husband wanted surgery; she had no idea that his man boobs bothered him, as they never bothered her.
The Light Pull-Through Procedure
Jason’s father, Tom scheduled a consultation. Tom was surprised to find that since his gynecomastia was only moderate and he had good skin elasticity, that he was a candidate for the gynecomastia treatment referred to as the “light pull-through” procedure. The light pull-through procedure is less invasive and has a faster recovery. A 3 to 5 mm incision is made at the lower edge of the areola where the fat and tissue are removed with a pickle fork type instrument. Since the light pull-through procedure is less invasive, the gynecomastia cost is significantly less.
Gynecomastia Affects Posture, Many men attempting to hide their gynecomastia breasts may roll their shoulders and even tip their spinal cord forward. Ultimately, this poor posture may have many detrimental effects such as; back and neck pain, and misalignment of their skeleton, and even digestive and breathing problems.
Slouching shows a lack of self-confidence, insecurity, and weakness which may affect personal relationships and job prospects. With continued slouching, the joints, ligaments, and cartilage may become inflamed and then the body will react to the stress by producing cortisol. When there is excess cortisol produced in the body, the production of testosterone will be reduced, resulting in additional complications.
Standing straight counteracts the pull of gravity. Bad posture will affect energy expenditure and as mentioned hormone production.
It is challenging to correct bad posture, but men who have male breast reduction surgery have new found confidence that encourages them to stand tall and proud.
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.
Jason’s father, Tom scheduled a consultation. Tom was surprised to find that since his gynecomastia was only moderate and he had good skin elasticity, that he was a candidate for the gynecomastia treatment referred to as the “light pull-through” procedure. The light pull-through procedure is less invasive and has a faster recovery. A 3 to 5 mm incision is made at the lower edge of the areola where the fat and tissue are removed with a pickle fork type instrument. Since the light pull-through procedure is less invasive, the gynecomastia cost is significantly less.
