Men who suffer from male gynecomastia are typically embarrassed by how they look. While this condition is generally harmless, having it can still be a cause for concern.
Male gynecomastia (also called “man breasts” or “man boobs”) is distinguished by the apparent enlargement of the breast tissues among men. This is typically present in male infants as a result of acquiring estrogen from their mother during gestation. It may also be existing among boys during puberty due to the hormonal changes in their bodies.
For male adults, man breasts often occur due to the decreased production of testosterone and an increased production of estrogen (a female hormone) that causes excessive body fat to situate in the breast tissues. It is also caused by genetic attributes or obesity.
While this ailment does not pose a threat to one’s health, it indeed causes social difficulties. Men who suffer from male gynecomastia often deal with bullying, embarrassment, and humiliation. This is particularly true in masculine professions like construction, farming, junk removal services or waste management.
The good news is that there are many ways to deal with this condition (such as the use of creams and lotions), and gynecomastia surgery is among them. Gynecomastia surgery may come in two forms depending on the severity of the case. First, the surgeon will reduce the breast size by liposuction of the breast gland itself. The second option is mastectomy, a procedure that removes the tissues underneath the breast.
Other forms of surgery include subcutaneous mastectomy, laser-assisted liposuction, laser-lipolysis without liposuction procedure and liposuction-assisted mastectomy – each one of them has its benefits and complications.
Conducting the surgery is performed in a personalized manner and can be customized by your preference. But surgeons may negate your plans and instead suggest a more natural-looking chest.
If you plan on getting a male breast reduction surgery, you need to know the facts of it. Below is a vital information you need to know before you proceed with the surgery.
Less Likely To Recur
Men who go for this surgery in the hopes of decreasing their chest size expect to avoid recurrence of the condition. Although the operation does provide immediate and instantaneous results, there is no guarantee that the breasts will enlarge again. It is less likely to occur, but there is no specific guarantee. That will depend on the patient’s genes, diet, and lifestyle.
Instant Breast Size Reduction
A smaller chest will be seen right after the procedure because the surgery is intended to remove the fat deposits in the breast directly. Even if the chest is still bandaged to prevent any infection or post-operative complications, the change in size is still apparent.
Occurrence of Scars
As some people are prone to scarring than others, this is a topic that needs to be discussed between you and your chosen surgeon. Since gynecomastia surgery can cause scarring, your trips to the beach will entail wearing a shirt every single time. Scarring is unsightly, but some men say that it is better than having large breasts.
Post-Operative Infection and Pain
Gynecomastia surgery is a major procedure which involves cutting into flesh. With such a method, there is always the risk of infection that can lead to other health problems. Pain levels also increase but can be remedied by painkillers prescribed by the surgeon.
Patients who undergo this surgery are advised to provide proper post-surgery aftercare. They are also encouraged to stay in a clean environment to prevent infection from happening.
Ultimately, deciding on getting breast reduction will depend on the patient’s willingness to brave the risks of the surgery. On top of it, the cost of the procedure might not be covered by the health insurance. There are other solutions to reducing breast size, and surgery is usually the last resort.
Before deciding on going under the knife, talk to your surgeon first and make sure to tackle every advantage and disadvantage of this procedure.