Men who suffer from gynecomastia may feel embarrassed about their bodies and alone in the struggle to fix it, but this endocrine disorder is actually more common than many people think. Although gynecomastia, also coined by the nomenclature “man boobs”can be caused by an endocrine disorder 95% of the time it is mostly fat tissue in the chest area. It is rarely due to hormonal changes unless through anti-cancer medications, hormones, steroids and excessive marijuana use. Gynecomastia is a benign enlargement of breast tissue in males. Many males who suffer from this condition see the development and enlargement of breast tissue during adolescence due to maternal hormones and hormonal changes during puberty, but can affect men ages 18-50.
Although the condition is brought out by hormonal changes within the body the condition is often associated with Klinefelter syndrome or the endocrine system’s increased estrogen/androgen ratio which could have caused the development. Although physicians have been able to treat gynecomastia through medications it is rare and more often than not surgery is required to remove excessive tissue, liposuction fat and reshape the gland to create a more athletic appearance.
Patients often seek surgical procedures to improve their chest. With gynecomastia patients complain of large, pointed and unnatural breasts. Many are ashamed to take their shirts off in public. With surgery we are able to create a flatter and more masculine appearance while also chiseling and defining the look of the pectoral muscles and tone. When removing the excess fat through liposuction a by-product of surgery is the natural reduction of pointed nipples and areolas, but if a patient is unhappy with their nipple’s appearance we can address that concern through additional procedures at the same time.
Surgery involves a light and a local anesthetic which is injected into the skin to numb the area for liposuction. Very small incisions are made to suction out the fat and the breast gland is removed from a one inch incision around the areola. There is very mild swelling after surgery and only a few stitches. The results are almost immediate and you can return to work and regular activities within two weeks of the procedure.
For those of you who suffer from gynecomastia you are not alone and there is help to improve the look and feel of your body. For more information on this procedure and to schedule a consultation with Dr. James Romano please call 415-981-3911.
