Gynecomastia

Serving Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Although the word gynecomastia literally means woman breast, it is a male condition in which the mammary glands are unusually large causing breast enlargement and sometimes even milk production. Breast enlargement may also be caused by excess fat, where one or both breasts may be affected. Although gynecomastia may not be openly discussed, 40 to 60 percent of men may be affected by it. Dr. Barber can treat this potentially embarrassing condition, however, through male breast reduction surgery, also known as reduction mammoplasty.

Consequences of Having Gynecomastia

Adolescent boys, as well as men of any age, can be embarrassed by having what looks like female breasts. This may also lead them to suffer from emotional and social problems. It may cause them to opt out of social activities in which they need to remove their shirts, such as swimming, or even simple pick-up basketball games of "shirts" versus "skins."

For gynecomastia patients, the results of undergoing a male breast reduction procedure will offer you the benefit of no longer feeling self-conscious about your appearance.

Causes

The main causes of gynecomastia are due to hormone level changes during puberty, or as a result of aging (remember the "man bra" from the TV sitcom Seinfeld). If the cause is simply breast enlargement from fat accumulation, the condition is called pseudogynecomastia. Hormonal imbalance of the female and male hormones of estrogen and testosterone may also be to blame. In rare instances, the condition may be due to over-the-counter or prescription drugs, as well as illegal drug use, disease, or tumors.

Symptoms

Things that may indicate the presence of gynecomastia include:

• Breast tenderness
• Distended or swollen breast gland tissue
• Inflamed or swollen nipples (particularly in adolescent boys)
• Nipple discharge

Treatment

If drugs, disease, or tumors are the cause, then the treatment involves treating those underlying problems. If the cause is determined to be hormonal, hormone therapy treatment may be possible in the first two to three years after developing the condition. After that time, however, the only treatment for gynecomastia is male breast reduction surgery.

Male Breast Reduction Surgery

During male breast reduction surgery, the excess glandular tissue will be removed by with the use of a scalpel. If there is also a large amount of excess fatty tissue, Dr. Barber may also recommend liposuction in conjunction with the breast reduction procedure. Depending upon how much tissue is removed, some excess skin may need to be removed as well to fit the new, firmer contour of the now well-defined male breast tissue.

In order to learn more about how you can achieve a more masculine appearance through male breast reduction surgery, please call or email us today to set up a confidential consultation with Dr. Barber in which to get all your questions answered.