Male breast problems: what to do with gynecomastia

Benign breast augmentation in men has become more common in recent years, and more and more young men with the problem of excessive development of the mammary glands are coming to see plastic surgeons. If in the middle of the last century gynecomastia occurred in about 8 cases per 100 thousand of the population, today, according to various experts, this problem occurs to one degree or another in almost every second young man. For what reasons gynecomastia develops, and how this problem is solved, read on & nbsp; estet-portal.com.

Why does gynecomastia develop and how does it manifest itself

Gynecomastia is a condition in which a man's breasts begin to grow rapidly – sometimes on one side, sometimes symmetrically on both sides.  The causes of this condition can have very different origins, and therefore an accurate diagnosis will help to prescribe treatment correctly and in a timely manner.

The most physiological cause of gynecomastia – These are hormonal fluctuations. The first period of such a state – immediately after birth, when maternal estrogens that have penetrated the placental barrier cause temporary breast growth in the infant. Usually involution occurs after a few weeks, and this condition does not require treatment.  It is possible to develop pubertal gynecomastia, when a teenager temporarily accumulates more estradiol in the blood than testosterone, but this condition also resolves on its own, without medical intervention. After age 65, a man may develop gynecomastia due to age-related decline in testosterone levels.

The most common diagnosis of gynecomastia today is in young men who enthusiastically build an athletic figure through exercise in the gym and taking special drugs as part of sports nutrition.

Often, such drugs contain hormonal components (estrogens and their derivatives), and their uncontrolled intake negatively affects the health of a man, stimulating the excessive growth of glandular tissue.

Specialists note that the provoking factors,  causing hormonal failure in the male body and, as a result, the development of gynecomastia, can be:

• exacerbation of herpes virus infection,
• strong constant stress,
• alcohol abuse.

In addition, gynecomastia can develop due to certain congenital diseases, metabolic disorders, injuries, or medications. Breast growth can be triggered by certain tumors that stimulate estrogen production. The cause of excessive breast growth in a man is diseases such as kidney failure, cirrhosis, thyrotoxicosis.

Methods of gynecomastia therapy, features of the operation

If  gynecomastia is associated with increased levels of estrogen in the blood, this is a prerequisite for drug treatment.

Surgical removal of hypertrophied glandular tissue remains the gold standard in the treatment of gynecomastia.

In true gynecomastia, a dense glandular formation is palpated under the skin of the breast, which is removed through an incision under the nipple. Sometimes breast augmentation in a man occurs due to adipose tissue. In this case, gynecomastia is called false and is treated by liposuction through small skin punctures.

On the eve of the operation, the patient must undergo a complete examination and consultation with an endocrinologist. Plastic surgery is performed under general anesthesia and takes no more than two hours. For a month after the operation, the patient wears compression underwear and should not allow himself physical activity that affects the chest area.

In general, the results of gynecomastia treatment by surgery are permanent if the patient maintains a constant body weight.