About Gynecomastia
Some men can experience enlarged breast tissue, a condition known as gynecomastia. For those living in the greater Boca Raton, Florida area, the services of Steven H. Schuster, MD, FACS, and Daniel S. Kovacs, MD, FACS, of Schuster Plastic Surgery can help. Surgical correction of gynecomastia is a relatively simple procedure, so don’t live with the embarrassment of this condition any longer than necessary. Call or schedule your consultation online today.
What is Gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia is a condition that causes breast tissue to swell in men and boys. Everyone is born with breast tissue, but females go through hormonal changes that cause that tissue to grow during and beyond puberty.
Males can grow breast tissue when their hormones fall out of balance. Gynecomastia tends to occur during puberty when hormone production increases and after the age of 50 when hormone levels tend to shift.
What Causes Gynecomastia to Develop?
Anything that alters your hormonal balance can trigger gynecomastia. Some examples include:
- Certain cancers
- Injury or disease of the testicles
- Certain medications
- Thyroid problems
- Obesity
- Illegal drugs, including anabolic steroids
- Liver disease
- Kidney failure
In some cases, it isn’t possible to determine the exact cause of gynecomastia.
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How can surgery correct gynecomastia?
If you’ve tried more conservative measures to address gynecomastia or if your breast tissue is significantly swollen, you may want to consider surgery. Dr. Schuster assesses your chest to determine the best approach.
In some cases, liposuction can help remove excess fat from the area. A male breast reduction involves a small incision to gain access to the underlying tissue.
Dr. Schuster or Dr. Kovacs removes excess tissue to create a new chest contour that aligns with the rest of your chest and body. This procedure can be performed under local anesthesia and sedatives or general anesthesia, depending on how much tissue needs to be removed.
Your nipples may need to be repositioned depending on how much tissue was removed. Once he’s pleased with the results, Dr. Schuster or Dr. Kovacs trims away any excess skin and closes the incision.
After a period of healing, you’ll be able to enjoy your new chest contouring with minimal scarring. Expect to spend a week taking it easy while your body heals, and several more weeks avoiding strenuous activities. It’s important to adhere to your post-operative care instructions to avoid marring the results of your surgery.
Don’t accept changes in your breast tissue as inevitable when there are surgical solutions that can help. Contact Schuster Plastic Surgery to schedule a consultation to consider your treatment options. Booking a visit takes just moments online or by phone.
Let’s Get Started Today!