Many of you have seen both boys and men with saggy or swollen breast tissues. This sagginess is called gynecomastia and it is mostly caused by hormonal imbalance. Today we will discuss the most common causes of gynecomastia, how it’s diagnosed, treated and when is surgery an option.
What are the most common causes for gynecomastia?
Hormones in our body control many crucial functions. Sex hormones like testosterone and estrogen in particular. Testosterone is the male sex hormone which is in charge of a man’s sex drive, muscle mass and bone density. On the other hand, estrogen can stimulate breast tissue growth.
Both men and women have both types of hormones but the quantity of each is different. Men tend to produce more testosterone than estrogen, while women produce more estrogen than testosterone. When hormones are well-balanced our body functions normally. However, when men experience significantly higher level of estrogen, there is a possibility that they will develop gynecomastia.
Higher levels of estrogen aren’t the only possible cause. Sometimes lower levels of testosterone or blocking the effects of testosterone can also cause gynecomastia.
Men can experience gynecomastia through a series of natural processes too, such as:
Some babies might display signs of gynecomastia because their bodies still show the effects of their mother’s estrogen while they were inside her womb. This is nothing alarming and it will go away on its own in the first couple of week after birth.
Another transformation milestone in a boy’s body is puberty. This period has its own hormonal changes which can sometimes result in saggy and swollen breast tissue. Although this might cause some embarrassment among peers, it will usually go away on its own without any treatment. It might take between six months up to two years, but it will pass
Gynecomastia in adult men can develop well into their adulthood. According to some studies, approximately 25% of all men will experience this change between the age of 50 and 70. But, unlike during infancy or puberty, this condition won’t go away on its own. Adult men who show signs of gynecomastia should first and foremost test their hormone levels and find the main cause of the change.
Aside from natural causes, gynecomastia can also occur due to long-term use of prescription drugs such as:
- Medication used to treat prostate cancer or to manage enlarged prostate
- Anabolic steroids and
- AIDS medication
How is gynecomastia diagnosed?
Most common signs of gynecomastia are swollen and tender breasts. In order to diagnose it, the doctor will perform a physical exam and evaluate the medical history.
Sometimes, doctor will also refer you to an endocrinologist for further testing (hormone test levels) to determine how are hormones affecting your body. If the condition is caused by hormonal imbalance, you will be referred to a professional who will address the issue accordingly.
Gynecomastia treatments
Generally speaking, gynecomastia on its own is pretty harmless and the majority of cases improve over time. But in adult men, this condition won’t go away on its own so your doctor might prescribe medication in order to resolve the hormonal imbalance or you could opt in for gynecomastia surgery to get rid of the enlarged breast tissue.
Surgical treatment
One of the common ways to treat gynecomastia is through male breast reduction surgery or mammoplasty. The surgical procedure is used to reduce the breast size, flatted and improve the chest contours.
Depending on the severity of the condition, the cosmetic surgeon will either perform liposuction to get rid of the fat deposits or he will excise the excess tissue (in more severe cases where the extra beast tissue causes sagging and stretching of the areola in the nipple area).
Recovery after surgery
Gynecomastia surgery is considered to be an outpatient procedure which can be done under local anesthetic or general anesthesia.
The first 24-48 hours after surgery are the most important ones. Patients might feel some discomfort since the numbing is wearing off. The breast area might be sore so your movement will be limited, but that will subside over time.
In case your gynecomastia surgery was through trough excision, your doctor will fit a medical drain tube in the surgical area so it could collect excess fluid (blood and pus) and eliminate it. This will help speed up the healing process. Medical drains are usually worn for a few days up to a week and it will be removed by your doctor during the follow-up appointment.
During the recovery time, patients are required to wear a compression west to keep down the swelling and bruising in the chest area. Your surgeon will determine for how long will you need to wear it and it is highly advisable to refrain from any strenuous activity until the surgeon tells you otherwise.
The total healing process from gynecomastia surgery takes at least six weeks, but it can be longer, depending on your overall health and how fast do you heal. Complications from this surgical procedure are minimal, but in order to avoid uneven contouring, loss of sensation in the nipple area or scarring, make sure that the procedure is done by a qualified and experienced cosmetic surgeon.
