A young man with extensive gyncomastia who was treated with direct excision of the breast tissue and liposuction.
Gyncomastia
Gyncomastia is a common condition that results from excessive growth of breast tissue or fat on the male chest. Temporary gyncomastia is very common during puberty in males due the high levels of sex hormones at that time. This kind usually resolves with the passage of time.
Gyncomastia that persists or is extensive can be the result of several medical conditions including hormone imbalances, tumors of the pituitary, tumors of the testicles, or a side effect of certain drugs. While none of the above are common you should discuss this condition with your pediatrician, or primary care provider to see if you should have any additional tests.
By far the most common type of gyncomastia is call "idiopathic". This is basically medial talk that means it just happens for reasons we don't understand.
Some patients have full breast areas because of weight gain or obesity. For these patients the first treatment is weight loss.
Surgery is the most common treatment for gyncomastia. The operation usually involves a small incision at the border of the areola (dark part around the nipple) to remove the firm underlying breast tissue, and liposuction to remove any excess fat. This operation is done as an outpatient, usually under general anesthesia.
After surgery you need to wear an elastic vest under your shirt for two weeks. You will have some numbness of the nipples and skin of the chest. It takes 6-8 weeks for the skin of the chest to contract and shrink. A small minority of patients may need an additional procedure to further tighten the skin at a later date of the skin does not contract sufficiently on its own.
The procedure should last a lifetime. The breast tissue will not grow back.
