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• Gynecomastia

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Gynecomastia

Gynecomastia is a condition encountered in men in which their breasts are larger than normal. Many times, this condition occurs in young boys reaching puberty, but once puberty is completed the condition reverses. In a certain percentage of individuals condition remains permanent when surgically corrected. Late middle aged men may also become affected. While the exact cause of this condition is not known, it may be linked to hormone levels and hypertrophy of tissues in the male breast region. When found in adolescents who have past puberty, it is sometimes necessary to check hormone levels that may be causing this condition. Most of the time surgery is the appropriate treatment.

The surgery consists of removing extraneous breast and fatty tissue from the chest region. In many cases, the gynecomastia can be treated with a combination of ultrasonic liposuction and traditional liposuction. This is done through small incisions in and around the arm pit and below the breasts. The scars are small and well hidden. In these cases, the skin shrinks back once the extraneous breast and fatty tissue is removed and no further treatment is necessary. Sometimes small revisions are required to remove excess skin and obtain an optimal result. In same cases, it is necessary to make a small incision below the nipple and actually remove the breast tissue surgically. This is usually combined with liposuction to smooth and refine the results. In either case, the operation can be done under local anesthesia with sedation or under general anesthesia on an ambulatory basis. An elastic garment is worn two to four weeks after, but return to normal daily activities in 3-5 days.

While this condition is more common in younger boys, it can be seen in men of middle and older age groups. The treatment is similar, although more often, with significant enlargement of the breasts it is necessary to remove some skin. The scars are placed around and below the nipples. The operation has a high rate of satisfaction and in some cases is covered by health insurance. A high satisfaction rate is achieved in young boys who, due to peer ridicule, are unable or unwilling to participate in gym classes because of this condition.

 

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