Gynecomastia

Introduction

Gynecomastia is a common condition among adolescent boys and grown men that causes enlarged breast tissue. In many cases, the tissue naturally disappears with time. However, some cases do not resolve, and can cause embarrassment and self-consciousness. Gynecomastia is not just an excess of fat, as commonly believed. Instead, it is enlarged tissue that may persist if not addressed.

Advances in plastic surgery techniques offer hope for patients with gynecomastia. Rather than living with shame, you now have a straightforward solution for this embarrassing condition. This is a very sensitive issue, and many cases are not diagnosed due to the reluctance to discuss the topic. Boys with gynecomastia may be seen as simply shy, may begin to work out excessively in an attempt to reduce their breasts, and may be extremely reluctant to shower at the gym or in other public situations. Parents may have to broach this topic, as it is unlikely that your child will bring it up on his own. However, this is a treatable condition, and excellent results can be achieved.

Ideal Candidates

Ideal candidates for this procedure are boys in their late teens or adults with abnormally large breast tissue. Surgery is not recommended immediately after onset of this condition. However, if the tissue has not returned to normal after nine months to a year, surgery should be considered. As with all surgical procedures, you should be in general good health prior to surgery. A hormonal evaluation prior to surgery may be necessary. 

How It's Done

Gynecomastia surgery is performed under general anesthesia, so you will feel no discomfort. The surgeon will make a very small incision around the areola to remove the excess breast tissue. Other small incisions may be made to remove any excess fat via liposuction, if necessary. Incisions are made very carefully to ensure that there is little or no visible scarring.

You will spend about two hours in the operating room. Total time at the surgery center will range from three to five hours. Due to the anesthesia, you will need a family member or friend to drive you home after the procedure.

Recovery

Immediately after surgery, you will spend half an hour to an hour in the surgery center recovering from the effects of anesthesia. You will be asked to wear a supportive vest for two to three weeks to help the healing process. Exercise can be resumed two weeks after surgery.

Risks

The vast majority of patients recover fully with no visible scars. Many men are worried that hair growth on their chest will be adversely affected, but the procedure will not change your chest-hair patterns at all. The most common side effect is a numbing of the areola during healing, but this is usually temporary. Our surgeons make every effort to place incisions in such a way that any scarring will be hidden but, rarely, some scars may be visible. This is more common in men of color, because incision sites may heal a slightly different color from the surrounding skin.