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Male Breast Reduction Surgery: Correcting Overly Developed or Enlarged Breasts in Men

While men are not typically at the forefront of discussions regarding breast reduction, the appearance of enlarged male breasts, or gynecomastia, wields untold stress and embarrassment for those plagued by it.

Although women with disproportionate breast size might readily seek medical solutions, it may be much harder for men to address a problem unassociated with masculinity.

Yet, roughly 60% of men worldwide possess some degree of gynecomastia. The medical definition of gynecomastia is the swelling of breast tissue in males resulting from an imbalance in estrogen and testosterone hormones.

Testosterone is the hormone responsible for male traits such as body hair and muscle mass. Thus, when the proportion of testosterone to estrogen declines following blockage of its effects or production or conditions elevating estrogen levels, hormonal balance is upset. Men do produce estrogen - a hormone that controls female breast growth - but on a much smaller scale than women. Although gynecomastia can occur in male infants due to excessive maternal estrogen, or in teenage boys going through hormonal changes, these situations usually resolve on their own.

This is not always the case for adult men, for whom it sometimes represents more serious underlying health problems. Despite some occurrence of pain or tenderness, it is not usually indicative of serious physical problems. Nonetheless, it can create major psychological stress from coping with unwanted female characteristics. Specific causes of this hormonally induced havoc for men between 50 and 80, the age its most prevalent, include, but are not limited to:

• Medications for heart ailments, ulcers, prostate enlargement, AIDS, cancer, or anabolic steroids, anti-depressants, antibiotics, and chemotherapy.

• Aging, heredity, street drugs and alcohol

• Medical condition like hypogonadism, tumors, hyperthyroidism, kidney and liver failure

• Malnutrition and starvation.

Other less likely causes, yet possible, include excessive usage of herbal products containing plant oils like tea tree or lavender which are estrogenic. Initial solutions for unresolved gynecomastia may involve eliminating or replacing current medications or treating newly diagnosed conditions viewed as causative. Moreover, though not FDA approved for this purpose, various medications like tamoxifen, used for treating breast cancer and other illnesses, may reduce male breast size. When drugs or treatments fail to yield results for stubbornly persistent gynecomastia, consultation with a physician skilled in performing male breast reduction surgery may be a wise decision. Clearly, options should be weighed with any surgical procedure. However, male breast reduction surgery appears to be an excellent choice for those in reasonably good health, within normal weight range and with realistic expectations. Upon consulting a surgeon, patients will be asked about their desired outcomes, medical conditions, any personal drugs, medications and supplements, or alcohol, tobacco and drug usage.

Moreover, diagnostic tests are sometimes performed to determine the problem’s underlying cause, while general health status and risk factors are also evaluated. Breasts will be examined, measurements taken and skin quality noted. When deciding upon a gynecomastia procedure, the surgeon should be carefully chosen from a field of those licensed and highly competent, such as plastic surgeons. Plastic surgery for correcting overly enlarged or developed male breasts is technically labeled reduction mammaplasty. Procedures may be performed on one or both breasts as needed, and include liposuction, which vacuums out fat below the skin's surface rather than removing the breast gland itself; it is effective for gynecomastia characterized by localized, excessive fatty deposits.

Alternately, there are excision techniques involving removal of breast glandular tissue and, sometimes, extra skin. Excision is suited to gynecomastia resulting from excessive glandular tissue development. Overall, the goal of any type of reduction mammaplasty is to reduce breast size by removing tissue, thus flattening the chest and improving its contour. And while male breast reduction surgery results in scarring from incisions, most will be concealed within the body's natural curves. After surgery, dressings and bandages are applied to incisions; an elastic bandage or support garment is often used to minimize swelling and support the new chest contour during healing.

Excess blood or fluids may be drained from under the skin by a temporary thin tube. Most importantly, the surgeon will furnish instructions regarding at-home care of the surgical site, any medications to apply or take to aid healing or decrease infection risk, and follow-up appointments. In summation, when excessive male breast enlargement or development produces a constant nagging perception of disproportionate size, surgery can provide long-lasting, often permanent results.

Undoubtedly, deciding to improve or eliminate gynecomastia's physical symptoms through male breast reduction surgery will also yield a better, decidedly male, outlook on life.

 

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