What Does a Gynecomastia Surgery Involve?

Gynecomastia — enlarged male breasts — can cause a lot of embarrassment and self-consciousness, along with some degree of discomfort. While many men may not discuss their concerns openly, the fact is that the condition is common: Roughly half of all males experience gynecomastia at some point during their lives.

Gynecomastia is more common during puberty due to changes in hormones. Often, this type of gynecomastia “corrects” itself as hormone levels stabilize. However, for many males, breast enlargement persists into adulthood or begins or worsens during the adult years.

Rishi Jindal, MD, is a leading provider of gynecomastia procedures for men in and around San Diego, California. In this post, learn how gynecomastia surgery can help patients at Rejuvenate Plastic Surgery achieve more masculine chest contours and an improved sense of self-confidence.

Why gynecomastia happens

Gynecomastia is a medical condition that happens when the balance between the hormones estrogen and testosterone is disrupted. As the primary female and male hormones, estrogen promotes breast tissue development while testosterone inhibits it.

 If estrogen levels rise or testosterone levels dip, an imbalance occurs that causes glandular tissue in male breasts to grow and enlarge. Puberty is one factor that can cause gynecomastia, but aging can cause it, too, once again due to hormonal changes that can happen as we approach middle age.

Medications, including some antidepressants, anabolic steroids, and even some heart disease medications can disrupt hormonal balance, and so can medical conditions affecting your thyroid gland, your kidneys, or your liver. Substance abuse can also interfere with hormones, increasing the risk of gynecomastia.

Obesity and pseudogynecomastia

Many men who are overweight or obese have enlarged breasts, but the underlying cause may be different. While obesity can cause shifts in your hormonal balance, breast enlargement among overweight males is often due to an accumulation of fatty tissue rather than breast tissue growth. 

Doctors refer to this type of breast enlargement as adipomastia, and it can be treated medically, too. Even fatty breast enlargement should be evaluated to rule out other potential causes, including tumor growth or metabolic issues.

Gynecomastia surgery: What to expect

Gynecomastia surgery can be an ideal solution for men who feel embarrassed or self-conscious about their large or protruding breasts. In fact, it’s so effective that more than 25,000 men undergo gynecomastia surgery every year to remove excess tissue and achieve more masculine body contours.

Liposuction

Dr. Jindal uses different techniques depending on the type of tissue that’s causing breast enlargement. For instance, because adipomastia involves the accumulation of fat, liposuction can be a great choice for removing fatty tissue and restoring a flatter, firmer appearance of your chest. 

Liposuction uses small incisions and a special device called a cannula to break up and suction out unwanted fat. This approach involves minimal scarring and a relatively quick recovery time. You need to avoid strenuous activity during the initial stages of healing. A compression garment helps reduce swelling and promote healing.

Gynecomastia surgery

When breast enlargement involves glandular tissue or a combination of glandular and fatty tissue, breast reduction surgery is a better choice. This approach typically uses a minimally invasive approach for smaller scars and quicker recovery.

Surgery begins with an incision around the areola or the fold of the breast, making it easier to camouflage scars that may occur. Dr. Jindal uses special techniques to remove excess breast tissue, combined with liposuction when needed to remove fat. Most surgeries are performed on an outpatient basis and take about 1-2 hours.

Afterward, you wear a compression garment for a few weeks and need to avoid strenuous activity for about 4-6 weeks. Dr. Jindal provides comprehensive instructions to help guide you through recovery and follow-up visits to monitor your progress so you can feel confident about your results.

Feel more confident

Gynecomastia procedures restore a more masculine appearance that helps you feel more confident about your contours in clothes and out. To learn more about these procedures, request an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. Jindal and the team at Rejuvenate Plastic Surgery in San Diego, California, today.