Many men strive for a toned and chiseled chest. Hours spent at the gym focus on the muscles in the chest wall to create this look. Unfortunately, conditions like gynecomastia and pseudo-gynecomastia cause abnormal enlargement of male breast tissue or increased fatty tissue deposits around the breast gland. These conditions cause the development of male breasts, leaving many men self-conscious when it comes to their bodies. While severe cases may require breast tissue reduction for gynecomastia, pseudo-gynecomastia and gynecomastia treatment without surgery are possible.
What Is Gynecomastia?
If increased male breast size is not caused by the breast gland, increased weight and fat deposits may contribute to a similar condition known as pseudo-gynecomastia.
Gynecomastia is an abnormal increase in breast gland tissue in boys and men, resulting in enlarged breasts. It can occur in newborns, boys going through puberty and older men as a result of changes in hormonal levels. The increased breast tissue develops when there is a decrease in the amount of testosterone as compared to estrogen. Many different things can contribute to this imbalance. These include certain medications, alcohol, street drugs and health conditions such as hyperthyroidism, kidney failure and liver failure or cirrhosis.
In most cases, gynecomastia does not cause any health problems, though the increased breast size can cause pain and tenderness of the tissue. In addition, it makes many men self-conscious and embarrassed. In many cases, the excess breast tissue resolves over time, especially in the case of infants and adolescents. As hormones begin to balance, breast tissue returns to normal. In these cases, treatment is usually not necessary, and the breast tissue returns to normal within a year or two. If gynecomastia does not resolve on its own, treatment may be necessary.
What Is Pseudo-Gynecomastia?
Pseudo-gynecomastia is another condition that can cause male breast enlargement. While pseudo-gynecomastia causes the same physical appearance of enlarged breasts seen with gynecomastia, this enlargement is not breast tissue. Instead, this is an area of excess adipose (fat) in the chest area, resulting in enlarged breasts. In this case, the treatment is weight loss and an exercise routine that targets the muscles in the chest wall.
Treatment Options without Surgery
There are some options for gynecomastia treatment without surgery. In boys, this is often to wait until after puberty when the hormones rebalance. Typically, this allows the breast tissue to return to normal and reduce the size of the breasts.
In cases where gynecomastia occurs due to an underlying condition, treating this problem is often the best place to start. For example, medicating for hyperthyroidism and balancing out the hormones can return the breast tissue back to standard male levels. In cases of medication-induced gynecomastia, physicians may recommend a different medicine.
However, in cases where gynecomastia does not improve with time or causes significant pain, tenderness or embarrassment, male breast reduction for gynecomastia is often necessary.Unlike pseudo-gynecomastia, exercise will not help reduce breast size in gynecomastia.
Male Breast Reduction for Gynecomastia
Surgery for gynecomastia, known as male breast reduction, often combines liposuction with breast gland removal. By combining these two procedures, the surgeon is able to reduce the appearance of breasts while sculpting the chest. This results in a defined and masculine appearance.
Incisions to remove the gland are on the nipple area and generally do not produce a noticeable scar. After the procedure, you may be asked to wear a compression garment or bandage while you recover. While swelling and soreness are common with male breast reduction recovery, individuals are typically able to return to work within a week or two.
Dr. Andan’s good bedside manner and customized approach ensures that every person who visits New York Surgical Arts enjoys a welcoming and positive experience from the initial consultation to the post procedure period and beyond.
