Gynecomastia is such a condition which involves the swelling of the breast tissue in boys and men. It is mainly caused by an imbalance of hormones oestrogen and testosterone and can affect one or both the breasts. The enlargement of the breasts is also caused by the presence of excess breast tissue under and around the nipple. This condition is mostly seen among newborn, boys passing through puberty and older men.

However, Gynecomastia is not a serious physical condition in men and boys. But it may be one of the greatest cause to create mental discomfort. The actual risk is in terms of losing self-confidence to form relationships, missed social exposure, feelings of inferiority as well as the chances of being bullied among the public.

Should you treat Gynecomastia?

The medical world ruminates Gynecomastia as benign, which is not harmful to the body or does not give rise to an immediate health issue. In most of the cases of Gynecomastia when diagnosed in men do not cause any serious medical condition. There are very cases of gynecomastia causing some serious health conditions like a tumour. Usually, Gynecomastia does not need to be treated. The enlarged breasts in teenagers usually go back to a more normal form naturally within two to three years. If the condition does not go away then surgeons may prescribe some medications or may also ask to undergo a surgical procedure.

Gynecomastia caused by breast cancer is rare and if the surgeon suspects a tumour then the patients may be asked to go for a mammogram. Some men may also undergo a biopsy test where a small piece of the lump will be removed for analysis.

Gynecomastia surgical procedure:

Before beginning with the procedure the surgeons administer general or local anaesthesia to the patients to ensure that they are do not experience any discomfort while performing the entire procedure. In cases where Gynecomastia is primarily due to the presence of excess fatty tissues, liposuction alone can fetch the desired result. The liposuction procedure involves insertion of a cannula through several small incisions. Through controlled movements of the cannula the excess fats are loosened which is then removed from the body by vacuum suction. Any liposuction technique may be chosen to achieve the best results.

Now for breasts that have an excess amount of glandular breast tissues or excess skin needs to be removed to rectify the enlarged breast condition. To get rid of the certain conditions tissue excision procedure may be very effective to achieve a masculine flat chest. The excisions will be necessary to remove the glandular breast tissues and the excess skin. The areola may also be reduced and the nipple can be repositioned to a more natural male contour. The incision patterns depend on specific conditions and surgical preference. At the end of the procedure, the incisions are sutured up and bandaged. A compression garment or elastic bandage is used during the recovery period to provide support to the skin and heal quickly.

Often it has been found that the surgeons cannot achieve satisfactory results with only one procedure. In such cases, they may choose to perform both the liposuction and tissue excision procedure to fetch a desirable masculine chest appearance.

Recovery:

Immediately after undergoing the procedure the area of treatment is dressed and held with bandages. An elastic bandage or support garment is used to reduce the swelling, enhance the healing and also provide support to the new chest contour during the recovery process.

The post-op instructions provided by the surgeon must be followed by the patients to achieve the best complication free results. The candidates can resume normal activities and office within a couple of weeks, but strenuous activities cannot be continued until the surgeons allow the patients to do so. A compression garment is also recommended to wear during the recovery period as that would provide support to the new chest contour.

Side effects of Gynecomastia:

Major complications after undergoing a Gynecomastia surgery I rare but every surgical procedure beholds some complications and risks. Similarly, the risks associated to Gynecomastia are-

  • Allergic reaction to anaesthesia.
  • Bleeding
  • Formation of blood clots.
  • Breast asymmetry.
  • Breast contour or breast irregularities.
  • Changes in the nipple sensation or numbness in the area of treatment.
  • Deep vein thrombosis.
  • Hematoma and seroma.
  • Poor healing and persistent pain.
  • Unfavourable scarring.