What is gynecomastia

The male breast consists of the nipple and glandular tissue found behind it. Glad tissue in men tends to be small and underdeveloped, remaining atrophic, while for women, it further develops. If gynecomastia develops in men, it means that estrogen—the female hormone responsible for making breasts grow—is dominant.

This is how gynecomastia occurs. Men may also develop pseudogynecomastia-lipomastia when there is an accumulation of fat without necessarily having a hypertrophic gland. This is usually present in overweight individuals. Therefore, lipomastia and gynecomastia can safely be corrected by a plastic surgeon.

Gynecomastia usually affects both breasts, and it’s rarely seen in just one. Although the symptoms do not influence the health of the individuals, they can impact the quality of life. Men tend to be more concerned about their appearance during summer because they may feel embarrassed and self-conscious. The breasts may be painful.

Causes of gynecomastia

Hormones

The leading cause of gynecomastia is hormones. Hormone imbalances of estrogen and testosterone can occur at any age. The dominance of estrogen in some men is a major cause of overdeveloped breasts.
Depending on the age, gynecomastia can be classified into neonatal, adolescent, and mature gynecomastia.

Newborns often have swollen breasts due to exposure to the female hormones their mothers produce during pregnancy. This subsides shortly after birth.

At around 14, breast enlargement is usually due to increased levels of a hormone called estradiol instead of testosterone—which should typically predominate. For a doctor to diagnose gynecomastia, the patient’s breasts should be enlarged for at least two years. The only possible treatment, in this case, is through surgery.

When adult males develop gynecomastia, it is crucial to investigate any associated pathology (hypogonadism, etc.).

Substances

Another possible cause of gynecomastia is the heavy consumption of alcohol or drugs like heroin. Medication against prostate cancer can also cause gynecomastia. In addition, fat is also responsible for the concentration of many estrogens in the blood.

Finally, there is also idiopathic gynecomastia, for which no cause has been found.

Operation

For the treatment of gynecomastia, the plastic surgeon may recommend the standard surgical method or liposuction. A technique is chosen after a clinical examination and analysis of the patient’s medical history.

In most cases, surgeons make a circular incision under the nipple in order to remove the entire enlarged tissue gland. If the sagging in the breast is extensive, the plastic surgeon may simultaneously perform a breast lift.

The advantage of the classical surgical method through subcutaneous mastectomy is that the surgeon can remove the entire enlarged gland, offering a definitive solution to gynecomastia. General anesthesia is used.
Fine cannula liposuction is reserved exclusively for the treatment of lipomastia. This method has many advantages, as with light anesthesia, it provides painless and safe relief from the physical disfigurement of gynecomastia. The average duration of breast liposuction is about one hour.

In his many years of experience, plastic surgeon Dr. Georgios Aravanis has performed many procedures and has managed, without complications, to offer perfect results for his male patients. The breasts are symmetrical, without dents. The success of gynecomastia surgery lies in the surgeon’s ability to tailor each operation to the patient’s unique needs and propose combined methods to achieve the most harmonious result.

Before and after the operation

Before surgery, the doctor will order blood tests, a chest X-ray, and an assessment of your cardiac health.

The incisions are almost invisible and are concealed due to their position on the body.

The patient can often be discharged on the day of surgery or the following morning. The bandages stay on the chest for about ten days. After this time, the stitches are also removed.

It is perfectly normal for the breast area to show bruising and swelling after surgery, which will go away within ten days of your operation.
After the operation, the patient will have to wear a special elastic vest for one month.

Before & After

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