GYNAECOMASTIA FAQ
For men, gynaecomastia, or the development of male breasts, can be an embarrassing matter and can affect one’s self-esteem. About 50% of men experience this condition at some point in their lives, though some male breasts return to normal size with time.
Gynaecomastia can affect males of all age groups, but is more common in teenagers undergoing puberty and older males between ages 50 to 69.
Gynaecomastia can be caused by fatty tissue or glandular breast tissue, or a mix of both. If a man develops gynaecomastia as a result of obesity and excess fat, the enlarged male breasts are caused by fatty tissues and the condition is known as pseudo-gynaecomastia.
If the gynaecomastia is caused by glandular breast tissue, prominent breast discs that are firm and fibrous can be felt around the areolar and this is known as true gynaecomastia.
Gynaecomastia may also be a side effect of medications, or, in rarer cases, a sign of underlying conditions such as testicular tumour or liver disease. If the condition is caused by a certain medication, the breast tissue may sometimes reduce after stopping that medication.
Increasing the amount of exercise or focusing on specific chest exercises does not actually help to reduce enlarged male breasts. This is because most cases of gynaecomastia are caused by hormonal imbalance and this excess in breast tissue, unlike normal fat, cannot be burnt off through diet and exercise.
For most men with gynaecomastia, treatment is not medically necessary. However, if a patient is bothered by the appearance and size of enlarged breasts, or if exercise and dieting have proven ineffective in reducing the man boobs, gynaecomastia surgery is our recommended treatment option.
Liposuction targets and removes fat tissues. However, due to its hard and fibrous nature, glandular breast tissue cannot be removed by liposuction. Gynaecomastia surgery is required to effectively break down and permanently remove the breast tissue.
In severe cases of gynaecomastia, liposuction and gynaecomastia surgery are performed simultaneously to achieve optimal results and enhanced male chest contours.
Men make up 1% of breast cancer cases, and a sudden growth in the chest area is definitely a cause for concern and should be assessed early by a specialist. However, studies have shown that excess male breast development and breast cancer are not correlated.
How long does a gynaecomastia procedure take?
Gynaecomastia surgery is a day surgery that takes about 1.5 hours.
Is gynaecomastia surgery painful?
What are the risks of gynaecomastia surgery?
What is the recovery like?
When can I expect the final outcome of my surgery?
Will male breasts recur after a gynaecomastia surgery?
