Gynecomastia is a common condition in which the male breasts grow and develop. While this is rarely a serious medical concern, gynecomastia can takes its toll on a man’s self-esteem and confidence level. Because of the emotional damage gynecomastia can cause, men often seek breast reduction to restore their masculine body contour and their confidence. Dr. Sherman offers male breast reduction surgery at his 5th Avenue office to help men coping with this condition achieve a new body profile and a new lease on life.
Causes of Gynecomastia
Gynecomastia most commonly occurs during the pubescent years, between the ages of 12 and 15. When it occurs early, it almost always resolves on its own over time. However, some men may find the condition does not improve and they must seek treatment to create a proportionate appearance to their chest contour.
There are a number of reasons why gynecomastia might develop:
Hormonal Fluctuations – Hormonal changes explain why so many young men develop the condition during puberty. However, hormone fluctuations can occur at other times of life as well and have been known to contribute to gynecomastia in adult men also.
Health Conditions – Some health conditions can lead to enlarged breasts, including hypogonadism that causes low testosterone levels, hyperthyroidism, kidney and liver failure, and some types of tumors. Treatment of the health condition may reverse the gynecomastia as well.
Medications – Prescription medications such as those used to treat prostate problems and AIDs, heart medications, antidepressants and anabolic steroids can all contribute to gynecomastia. Fortunately, these cases can often be reversed by simply stopping the medication.
Street Drugs and Alcohol – Specific culprits include heroin, amphetamines and marijuana. Excessive alcohol use can also contribute to gynecomastia.
Surgical Treatment Options
For men that do not see their gynecomastia reverse on its own, by treating a medical condition or stopping a medication, surgical treatment may be the next viable solution. Dr. Sherman offers two different techniques for performing male breast reduction today:
Liposuction – The introduction of both power-assisted liposuction (PAL) and ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL) have made male breast reduction via this procedure much more effective. The new techniques allow for less invasive removal of even dense male breast tissue that did not respond well to traditional liposuction techniques in the past.
Surgical Excision – Surgery to remove excess breast tissue is much less invasive today, with a single incision around the areola typically used for the procedure. This eliminates visible scarring after surgery and minimizes the amount of discomfort and downtime after the procedure.
Both liposuction and surgical excision can usually be performed on an outpatient basis using local anesthesia. Recovery from these procedures is generally less than one week.
Some patients will opt to combine liposuction of the breasts with liposuction of other areas at the same time. By sculpting multiple areas in a single treatment, men can enjoy more dramatic results with just one round of anesthesia and one recovery period.
Is Male Breast Reduction Right for You?
The decision to have male breast reduction is a personal one that should be made between a man and his plastic surgeon. If you are unhappy with the size or shape of your breasts, contact Dr. Sherman’s office at [primary_phone] to find out if breast reduction surgery is the right choice for you.