About Gynecomastia Treatment
Gynecomastia is the enlargement of the male breasts and can range in both severity level and appearance. Some men experience breast enlargement around the nipple only, while others may see a swelling of the entire breast. Although, gynecomastia does not lead to any complications, it is often a heavy emotional burden that can have negative effects on a man's mental health.
Gynecomastia is often caused by hormonal imbalance of the male and female hormones, known as testosterone and estrogen respectively. However, in order to successfully treat gynecomastia doctors have to first find out what caused the imbalance, which is extremely difficult to do. This is why most men with gynecomastia never find the cause behind their breast enlargement condition.
Hormonal imbalance can be cause by a countless number of factors, including:
- Drug and alcohol abuse
- Anti-anxiety medications and AIDS treatments
- Cancer Treatments, including treatment for pleural lung cancer
- Certain antibiotics and steroids
- Medical conditions that interfere with normal testosterone production
- Kidney failure
- Liver failure
- Starvation
- Certain types of tumors
The most common symptoms of gynecomastia include:
- swollen breasts
- tenderness
- pain (in some cases)
- nipple discharge (in some cases)
Although, medications that help balance hormone levels may be used as a gynecomastia treatment, the most effective treatment is male breast reduction surgery performed by an experienced breast reduction specialist. In fact, the treatment of gynecomastia is the most common plastic surgery procedure sought by men. The breast reduction procedure may involve liposuction, surgical breast tissue removal or a combination of the two. During surgery, breast tissue and excess fat are removed through a small incision around the nipple or the underarm area. Most patients need to wear a chest binder for one to two weeks, but can return to work and their daily activities within a few days following the procedure. However, it may take several weeks or months before the final aesthetic results become apparent.
In fact, a large number of males are quiet happy with the results of their breast reduction procedure they often return for additional cosmetic surgery, including hair transplantation and tummy tuck. In addition to male breast reduction, top plastic surgeons offer female breast reduction, breast lift and/or breast augmentation procedures.
