Male Breast Reduction (Gynecomastia)
Male breasts, or gynecomastia is a relatively common occurrence, affecting up to 60% of men. However, it can be the source of great distress and embarrassment for the patient. Men with gynecomastia in Los Angeles may be self conscious to go shirtless, or wear multiple layers to conceal their chests. It can alter their daily activities from picking out the outfits they will wear to becoming intimate. Most men with gynecomastia believe that if they just exercise more they will help make it “go away”.
Over 75% of pubescent boys develop some form of breast enlargement. In most, this resolves on its own, but in many it may persist into adulthood. In the past most patients seen with gynecomastia were either adolescent boys who developed breast tissue during puberty or bodybuilders who developed breast tissue through steroid and growth hormone use. Today, gynecomastia patients come in all shapes, sizes, and ages. The treatment has become more common. One of the reasons for this is increased awareness, especially through the internet.
Although awareness has increased for gynecomastia it is still not the topic of conversation between men. Unlike women, who openly discuss breast enhancement with each other, men with gynecomastia typically keep it to themselves. With the internet, however, information on gynecomastia is only a keyword away. Whether typing in “gynecomastia,” “male breast reduction,” “male breast surgery,” or a host of different keywords or phrases, accurate information is available at your fingertips.
Causes of Gynecomastia
There are a variety of different causes of gynecomastia. The most common cause is an imbalance between testosterone and estrogen levels. However, there are a host of different agents that can cause gynecomastia, especially in adulthood, from medications to street drugs to other health conditions and herbal supplements. In a certain population of men, there is no obvious cause of their gynecomastia.
Long term use of some medications and recreational drugs such as alcohol can contribute to the development of gynecomastia.
Certain health conditions, such as hyperthyroidism, hypogonadism, certain tumors, liver cirrhosis, kidney failure, and malnutrition can cause an imbalance between testosterone and estrogen leading to gynecomastia.
Finally, certain herbal products, such as lavender, can cause gynecomastia if used frequently because of their weak estrogenic properties.
Gynecomastia Surgery
Gynecomastia is treated in most cases by removal of fat and breast tissue and in extreme cases by the removal of excess skin. How do you know which procedure is right for you? Well, in most cases the physical exam will guide the decision making. If you have fullness under your nipple that is firm and the rest of your chest is flat, then excision of that tissue is most appropriate. If the patient is overweight and has fullness over the entire chest but no area of firmness under the nipple, then liposuction would be the best technique. Most patients, however fall somewhere in between with some generalized fullness in their chest as well as firmness under their nipples. In these cases, liposuction of the chest to remove the fat and soft breast tissue is combined with excision of the firm breast tissue underneath their nipple. The excision is performed using an incision on the lower half of the areola and heals exceptionally well. The goal of gynecomastia surgery is to give the patient a flatter chest and relieve the physical and psychological stress that the patient has endured.
Anesthesia
Gynecomastia surgery in LA is an outpatient procedure that is typically performed under general anesthesia. However, for specific cases, intravenous anesthesia and sometimes local anesthesia may be all the patient needs. Dr. Dadvand has experience with all three approaches and will guide you in selecting the right one for your case.
Recovery
After your gynecomastia surgery, you will have a foam pad on your chest covered with a compression vest. The foam pad is left on for a week and the compression vest should be worn for 4 weeks. The purpose of the compression is to minimize swelling which will decrease the time to your final results. The compression vest Dr. Dadvand gives you can be replaced by latex sports tops such as Under Armor, after 2 weeks.
Bruising varies from one patient to another, but generally bruising goes away between 7-10 days after your gynecomastia procedure. Avoiding aspirin products, fish oils, vitamin E, and alcohol, especially red wine, 10 days before and after surgery can significantly reduce your bruising. Also, Dr. Dadvand promotes the use of Arnica, an over-the-counter homeopathic medicine, 5 days before and 5 days after your surgery to decrease the bruising. Furthermore, minimizing salt in the diet for 4 weeks after surgery diminishes the amount of post-operative swelling.
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