Gynecomastia

Gynecomastia is an endocrine system disorder in which a noncancerous increase in the size of male breast tissue occurs, owing to pubertal changes in hormones.

The disorder is observed in 40 to 60 percent of the male population. It leads to psychological distress or dysphoria in sexual terms, because it womanises the looks of the male body. Gynecomastia results from an imbalance in the hormonal environment in the body, with a relative excess of oestrogens (female hormones) when compared to androgens (male hormones). This condition physiologically occurs in infants, adolescents and middle age to elderly. Statistically speaking, 40 percent of infants and 35% middle aged to older males suffer from gynecomastia. A significant part of the incidents of gynecomastia reported during puberty vanishes up straight in a few years.

Other possible incidents of gynecomastia may be triggered by a variety of hormonal disorders, led particularly by liver cancer and including some other types of cancer and systemic diseases like AIDS. The causes of gynecomastia can result as a side effect of numerous medications such as cardiacs, anti-cancer drugs and anabolic steroids, as well as drugs of abuse.

However, especially in obese or overweight men, there can be an increase in fatty tissue over the breast area, which creates an appearance of enlarged breasts without any true enlargement of the male breast tissue, a condition known as “Pseudogynecomastia”. Pseudogynecomastia is a common, widely encountered condition.

Symptoms of gynecomastia include a rubbery or firm feel or stagnant, non-progressive stance of the glandular tissue observing symmetry in size with a typical nipple, asymmetries between the sizes of both breasts or extravagant enlargement of the breast matching that of a woman’s, or even further growth, yielding a saggy appearance.

The first step before attempting a gynecomastia surgery should be to understand the cause. If there is good reason to believe that there is an imbalance in the hormonal environment in the patient’s body, then his or her conditions must first be checked by an endocrinologist. Advanced hormonal inspections should be performed. If the results testify an imbalance then appropriate therapeutic procedure should be performed. In case of pubertal gynecomastia, time is the only cure, provided that all appropriate monitors are applied. A majority of conditions falling in this definition recover in a few couple of years.

Approach to Gynecomastia Treatment

• Surgery: Extraction of the excessive breast tissue through surgical operation
• Liposuction: Removal of the excessive breast tissue by the liposuction method

Liposuction alone may yield the desired outcomes in most of patients with gynecomastia. Patients with excess and dense glandular tissue, in addition to fat can undergo Vaser Liposuction surgery. Where this falls insufficient, the excess glandular tissue can be removed by applying a small incision in the perimeter of the nipple. Patients with excess skin and downward looking nipples, the skin extraction should follow a pattern that keeps the scar inside the perimeter of the nipple.
INDICATIONS

• Hard or firm glandular tissue, resembling a large button in appearance
• Differentiating size between breasts
• Enlargement of the breasts resembling a woman’s
• Medium to large sized breasts that sag

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

• The procedure requires general anaesthesia
• The surgery takes 1 hour in average
• The patient may return home upon release on the same day
• The operation site should be supported with medical corsets for about four weeks

BENEFITS

• The breasts will look symmetrical, flat and young, following the surgery
• An unnoticeable mark is left on the nipple

Frequently Asked Questions