Don’t feel anxious about your enlarged breasts anymore! For a permanent solution to gynecomastia, you must undergo male breast reduction surgery. An effective method for permanently removing breast tissue, gynecomastia surgery takes about 30 minutes; it is painless and scarless. Read this article to get detailed insights around gynecomastia and its cure.
What is Gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia is the unusual enlargement of the breast in adolescent boys and men due to hormonal imbalances in the body. This hormonal balance is due to the increased level of estrogen or decreased level of testosterone. Gynecomastia looks physically displeasing and usually becomes uncomfortable and inconvenient, especially in the summer months.
Types of Gynecomastia
Pseudogynecomastia: Also known as fatty gynecomastia, this condition is sometimes caused due to excess weight gain when the excess fat cells accumulate in the breast area. Unlike glandular gynecomastia, pseudo-gynecomastia causes the pectoral fat cells to enlarge. It’s a common and uncomfortable condition. The problem of fatty gynecomastia commonly occurs in overweight and obese men and boys. With diet and exercise, fatty gynecomastia can sometimes be reduced. However, the process is time-consuming and challenging. The chest, core, and shoulders will need to be worked. Changing to a diet that is low in carbohydrates, sugars, and dairy can be helpful as well. However, diet and exercise alone may not do the trick, so you may want to consider breast reduction surgery. With liposuction in the breast area, breast tissue can be significantly decreased without causing weight loss.
True Gynecomastia: Also known as glandular gynecomastia, is the result of an increased level of estrogen in the male body. Increasing estrogen dominance is being caused by environmental factors such as plastic, pesticide-laden foods, and medications. As a result, the glandular breast tissue can become enlarged. A man’s testosterone production decreases as his estrogen production increases. As estrogen levels increase and testosterone levels decrease, the body automatically creates more fat in the chest region, which increases estrogen levels further, causing breast tissue to grow. There’s no way to get rid of gynecomastia, no matter how much you diet or exercise. Fortunately, you can get this condition permanently once and for all by removing excess fatty tissue and glands in the breast area. When you become older and your testosterone levels naturally start to fall, you can develop this form of gynecomastia. It is because of this that despite being active and of a healthy weight, a lot of younger boys develop large chests.
Grades of Gynecomastia
Grade 1: Enlargement of breasts is minor in this grade. Around the areola, a localized button-like structure grows. You will have a slight swelling of the chest, which is mostly unnoticeable when you wear clothes.
Grade 2: Male breasts expand to the width of the chest at this grade. Breast tissues almost completely cover the pectoral muscles, although edges remain less prominent.
Grade 3: The breast tissues are completely visible through clothes at this stage of breast development. Additionally, excessive skin continues to grow and becomes more prominent. Additionally, the breasts are firmer at this stage.
Grade 4: Breast development is almost complete at this grade. As there is a large amount of excess skin, it causes problems in a person’s daily life. This is the most severe stage. It is possible for males to develop back pain and slouch in an effort to hide the excess breast fat. A long-term untreated case of grade 4 gynecomastia may lead to spinal deformity in males.
Causes of Gynecomastia
- 1. Hormonal changes
- 2. Overconsumption of antibiotics
- 3. Intake of anxiety pills
- 4. Excessive consumption of alcohol & drug abuse
- 5. Renal/ Kidney failure
Symptoms of Gynecomastia
- 1. Lump of fatty tissue
- 2. Uneven breast swelling
- 3. Tenderness or pain in breast
- 4. Discharge from the nipples
- 5. Increase in areola diameter
Diagnosis of Gynecomastia
Self-diagnosis: Gynecomastia can be self-diagnosed by recognizing its symptoms. By taking into account the normal size and shape of your chest, it becomes obvious what type of changes are occurring in your chest region. In gynecomastia, glandular tissues develop instead of chest fat. There is an increase in nipple size as well as a hard lump under them. It is common to feel a flower-shaped growth under the skin when your breast glandular tissues are enlarged. The glandular tissues are the part of the breast that produces milk. Consequently, males suffering from gynecomastia often experience discharge from their nipples. If you have chest fat, you won’t feel firmness under your nips. In addition, it will appear as if the skin has sagged as the chest fat has no shape.
Doctor-diagnosis: To find out whether you have gynecomastia, you will need to visit a plastic or cosmetic surgeon. Gynecomastia, or pseudogynecomastia, is diagnosed accurately by a physical examination.
During the physical examination, the patient lies on his back. The physical examination includes:
- 1. The doctor will examine the breasts’ shape, size, and firmness.
- 2. The doctor will pinch the breast around the nipple or areola.
- 3. The presence of a disk-shaped mound of tissues around the nipples indicates true gynecomastia.
- 4. Additionally, the doctor will check the armpits and breasts for enlarged lymph nodes.
A doctor may recommend a few tests in addition to the physical exam. These tests will assist the doctor in gathering information regarding your overall health and narrow down the most appropriate treatment options.
- Blood Test: The test involves taking a blood sample to determine the levels of hormones in the body.
- Urine Test: It can also help determine the body’s hormone levels.
- Imaging Tests: Images of the enlarged breasts can be captured using imaging tests such as ultrasounds, X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, etc. These tests also allow the doctor to determine the composition of the tissues.
- Mammogram: This test is used to screen for breast cancer, i.e., to detect the early signs of the disease. It evaluates the breasts for hard masses or microcalcifications.
- Biopsy: The procedure involves removing a small amount of tissue from the breasts to be examined for cancer. The scan is not necessarily intended for cancer screening, but rather to determine whether abnormalities in the tissues are the result of cancerous growth or not.
Types of Gynecomastia Surgery
The breasts, if in the case of younger teens and children, disappear as soon as hormone levels stabilize. However, for adults, this condition does not resolve on its own. Gynecomastia is best treated with surgery. This surgical procedure is known as male breast reduction surgery. Prior to the advent of advanced technology, breast tissue was excised through open surgery, which was invasive in nature. Thanks to modern technology, now there are two ways to perform male breast reduction surgery:
- Liposuction: It is a procedure used when excess fat tissues are present in the breasts. The removal of fat tissues can be done through various liposuction techniques, including laser, VASER, etc. During the procedure, a power-operated cannula is inserted into the targeted area through a tiny incision to break down the fat cells, after which the liquified fat is removed through suction.
- Gland Excision: This technique is used to remove glandular tissues because they can’t be broken down like fat tissues. Care must be taken when removing glands. The areola is excised with a scalpel through a small incision. After removing the tissues, the incisions are closed and allowed to heal.
Generally, gynecomastia includes both glandular and fat tissues. In order to treat gynecomastia permanently, these two techniques are combined together.
Risks and Complications
During the surgery: Gynecomastia surgery is typically a safe procedure with minimal risks. As the surgery is being performed, the doctor will carefully monitor the patient to ensure that his or her health is not endangered. Nevertheless, a patient should be aware of some risks before having surgery. They include:
- 1. Bleeding
- 2. Damage to the deeper structures like blood vessels, nerves, muscles, etc.
- 3. Tissue death
With a well-trained and experienced surgeon beside you, you will rarely face these complications. A consent form will have to be signed by the patient after the doctor discusses all the possible risks and complications.
If left untreated: Untreated gynecomastia condition can have physical as well as psychological consequences for the individual.
– Physical Impact
- 1. A person might slouch to cover up their breast tissue, which can affect their posture.
- 2. Back pain may occur as a result of the weight of the breasts.
- 3. The patient may develop spinal deformity over time.
– Psychological Impact
- 1. Individuals may feel self-conscious among their peers and may be teased.
- 2. A person who undergoes physical changes may lose his confidence and become self-conscious.
- 3. Teasing and taunting can lead to depression and other emotional problems for an individual.
Foods That Can Reduce Gynecomastia
Zinc-rich foods: Zinc contributes to testosterone production in the body. Weight lifting and cardio exercises tend to lower zinc levels when you are performing a high-intensity fitness routine. Hence, zinc-rich foods can be incorporated into a diet to help stabilize the levels of testosterone and prevent testosterone loss. Foods that are rich in zinc include raw milk, yoghurt, toasted wheat germ, dark chocolate, nuts, seeds, cashew, eggs, oysters, veal liver, lean beef, salmon, cheese, etc.
Vitamin-D rich foods: Sperm count and testosterone production are both increased by vitamin D. This vitamin supports bone health, boosts immunity, and aids in the synthesis of steroid hormones. According to a study, men who consume Vitamin D-rich foods on a daily basis benefit a lot. Some of the foods that are rich in Vitamin D are mushrooms, caviar, cereals, trout, eggs, pork, dairy products, etc.
Fresh juices: Freshly squeezed juice is lower in calories than other juices. Thus, many people include drinking freshly squeezed juice in their weight loss programs. In addition, juice is helpful for detoxifying the body. It also helps to maintain hydration and aids in shedding unwanted pounds. Some of the common juices to drink are amla juice, orange juice, pomegranate juice, carrot juice, cucumber juice, pineapple juice, bottle gourd juice, etc.
Anti-inflammatory foods: Anti-inflammatory properties are found in some foods, including tuna and salmon. Additionally, a few of the foods including, leafy green veggies, berries, sweet potatoes, citrus fruits, and beans are packed with antioxidants. By consuming both anti-inflammatory foods and antioxidants on a daily basis, you can relieve the tenderness and swelling caused due to gynecomastia.
Fat rich food: It may sound surprising, but you saw that right! You can lose stubborn fat around the breast by consuming fat. Ironic, isn’t it? If you are treating gynecomastia, make sure that you consume healthy fats. Saturated and polyunsaturated fats are both healthy fats that actually increase testosterone levels in the bloodstream.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does gynecomastia go away?
Gynecomastia that usually occurs during puberty resolves without treatment within six to two years. However, if the condition develops in adult or adolescent men, the only way to get rid of male breast is to get surgery done.
How can I cure gynecomastia?
The fastest, permanent and effective cure against gynecomastia is liposuction. During the procedure, a microincision is made through while a powered cannula is inserted to melt down the fat cells and are then suctioned out using a suction device.
What causes gynaecomastia in males?
Gynecomastia in males is caused due to hormonal imbalance. This hormonal imbalance corresponds to the increased level of estrogen and decreased level of testosterone in the body.
How do you know if a guy has gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia is seen as a growth under the nipple that is about the size of a button. You may see a lump on your breast or feel it when you touch it. You may find that the breast lump is easily moved within the breast tissue and is tender to the touch. It is possible to develop breast lumps or breast enlargements in both breasts.
How can I fix my gynecomastia naturally?
Although it is very difficult to fix gynecomastia naturally. However, one can try reducing weight by proper diet and exercise and reduce the intake of alcohol to get rid of gynecomastia.
Is gynecomastia serious?
Gynecomastia is although not a very serious problem, however, if left untreated, it can cause chronic back pain. In case the breast size increases to a very large extent and the body does not have proper support to handle the pressure created by the large breasts on the supporting bones, it can even bend the spine, leading to spinal deformity.
Does gynecomastia surgery make you tall?
No, gynecomastia surgery does not affect height. It only concerns the chest area by making it sculpted and chiselled.
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