Gynecomastia Surgery: What Men Should Know

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, large breasts in men make up over 65% of breast disorders among all men. One of the treatments that may be used for this condition is surgery. Normally gynecomastia is not a serious condition, but some men to find their enlarged boobs to be painful at times. This condition is especially embarrassing in teenage boys who are often ridiculed because of their condition. Gynecomastia occurs in newborns, adolescent boys and older men. This is because these are the periods where there are changes in sex hormones. Boys who are going through puberty normally find that their enlarged breasts will go away without any type of treatment in about 2 to 3 years. A lot of times, it is unknown as to why men develop enlarged breasts. In older men, gynecomastia may result from lower levels of testosterone, which is a male sex hormone. Also, as men get older they tend to see more body fat on themselves and some men may experience an increase in estrogen production, which is a hormone associated with the female sex. There are several medications that can also contribute to enlarged breasts in men. These medications include antibiotics, street drugs such as amphetamines, heroin and marijuana, cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, ulcer and heart medications, antianxiety and depression medications. Men that take these medications are normally not good candidates for breast reduction surgery. Their doctor will most likely have them stop using these medications or switch them to something else that will not cause this condition. Some medical conditions can also result in men having large breasts. These conditions may include liver and kidney failure, malnutrition, tumors of the testes, pituitary gland or adrenal glands and hyperthyroidism. In order to have male breast reduction surgery, you must be a good candidate. This means that you have to be healthy, be in the normal weight range and be overwhelmed by your enlarged breasts. The men who are best for this surgery have firm skin. Once you have been classified as a good candidate for the procedure, you will have a consultation with a cosmetic surgeon. He will go through your medical history as well as perform an exam to measure how much excess fat and tissue glands you have in your chest area. After your consultation, the surgeon will give you a list of things you need to do to prepare for the procedure. This may include having some blood work done, cease in taking specific medications such as blood thinners, aspirin and anti-inflammatory medications. He may also have you stop taking some herbal medications since they can cause an increase in bleeding. These remedies include green tea and vitamin E. The breast reduction procedure is an outpatient procedure, which means that after a few hours in the recovery room, you are able to go home. It is important that you take someone with you so they can drive you home and stay with you that first day. The procedure itself normally takes about 90 minutes and can be done under either general or local anesthesia.