Gynecomastia means having Manboobs or breasts like females. It is also known as breast hypertrophy. Gynecomastia in very simple terms is enlargement of the male chest and is caused by excessive growth of breast tissue or glandular tissue. Around 8 million men have some form of Gynecomastia in India. The word Gynecomastia is derived from Greek. Gyne means women & masto means breast. The most widely used & medically accepted definition of Gynecomastia is “a benign enlargement of the male breast.”
Gynaecomastia or overdevelopment of the male breast was a term first used by Galen in the 2nd century AD. Thirty percent of the middle aged and 60% of the adolescent boys have significant breast hypertrophy. It is a very common condition & thought to be present in at least a third of the male population at some point of time in their complete life cycle.
Gynecomastia usually occurs bilaterally and can be broadly classified into 2 types:-
- Pseudogynecomastia
- True Gynecomastia
Pseudogynecomastia – Enlargement of breast due to deposition of fat in the breast area is known as Pseudogynecomastia. This fat manifests itself in the regions around & underneath the nipples. This form of Gynecomastia can be easily cured by Liposuction. In this the fat is removed via a suction technique & after that the area is sculpted to give a toned & chiseled finish to the chest.
True Gynecomastia – It is caused by the accumulation of an excess of glandular tissue. This build up normally starts during puberty when the individual is going through hormonal changes. When the phase of hormonal changes elapses this condition may resolve on its own in some cases. If situation does not go back to normal, then direct removal of the excess glandular tissue via surgery is the most precise & the preferred remedy.
What causes Gynecomastia?
The major cause of Gynecomastia is an imbalance between Estrogen and Androgen hormones within the male body. There could be an absolute increase in Estrogen production, relative decrease in Androgen production or a combination of both. In addition, increased use of anabolic steroids and environmental contamination with xenoestrogens or estrogen-like substances may stimulate glandular proliferation in male breast tissue
Categories of Gynecomastia:- Depending on the state during diagnosis, it is classified into various categories. Following is a brief description of the grades of Gynecomastia depending on the severity. The condition gets catalogued into grades on account of the amount of excess glandular breast tissues that are present in the chest region.
Grade 1:- In this the man’s nipples look puffy. They appear pointed & protrude outwards almost perpendicularly.
Grade 2:- There is presence of some glandular tissue & fat. This unwanted glandular tissue makes the nipples firm & the region around the nipples soft.
Grade 3:- There is sagging of chest skin with the nipples starting to droop.
Grade 4:- There is sagging of chest skin. The amplified state of the chest requires a mandatory surgery to remove the glands along with fat aspiration.
Grade 5:- The chest starts resembling a woman’s breast. Along with the breast sagging there are folds of skin visible.
Grade 6:- The degree of sag increases. The folds of the skin become more prominent and extend up to the armpits.
Grade 7:- It involves alarming levels of sagging though the condition is not generally perilous but it may cause lot of physical discomfort, self-consciousness. The condition is compounded by swaying breasts due to the excess amount of sagging breast tissues.
What are the social, mental, psychological, emotional impacts of Gynecomastia on the sufferer?
The effects of Gynecomastia :-Males are distressed by Gynecomastia and need psychological support. Shame, perceived stigma, vulnerability, sadness, anxiety, sense of unfairness, loneliness and fear of being marginalized or subordinated within gender hierarchies are the sentiments associated with the male breast problems. The chronic inhibition of emotions is felt to be a male characteristic that can negatively impact health outcomes.
Under extreme circumstances, the hypothalamic- pituitary-adrenal axis can be disturbed, leading to emotional and endocrine dysfunction with development of Psychosomatic illness. Headache, chronic fatigue, obesity, hypertensions are consequences of prolonged emotional suppressions which are a consequence of breast hypertrophy. These individuals universally avoid exposure of their chest. Depressive and even suicidal ideation is common in people suffering from acute &having a severely aggravated Gynecomastia.
How to get rid of Gynecomastia?
Non-surgical alternatives like diet, exercise and pills are not effective treatments. Surgery seems to be the most strongly recommended & increasingly opted remedial procedure.
How does Dezire Clinic correct Gynecomastia?
We, at Dezire Clinic, use the world’s latest technique with the most advanced surgical equipments that are available globally, to perform the surgery. Vaser Liposuction & Gland Excision is used at Dezire Clinic to treat Gynecomastia. With VASER liposuction the fat is liquefied and removed by negative suction pressure. The breast gland is removed carefully without disturbing the delicate organs which surround it.As tis procedure treats the root cause directly i.e the gland where the fat deposition in the chest region has been taking place is completely removed, hence the possibility of a recurrence of Gynecomastia is completely ruled out.
Who can be a candidate for Gynecomastia surgery? What should be the age group of the person opting for this surgery?
The surgery can be done at any age. Any person who is medically fit can undergo the surgery. There is no age limit.
What are the potential risks/side effects one faces during/after the Gynecomastia surgery? What care needs to be taken after the surgery?
There are no permanent side effects. Temporary side effects are pain, redness, discomfort, swelling and bruises which reduce gradually within a week. Compression garment is provided. This can be easily worn in the clothes. This assists the chest muscles to adapt to the new environment after the surgery.
What are the steps of a Gynecomastia procedure? What type of anesthesia is used for the procedure?What are the pros of this procedure?
The procedure involves removal of extra fat in the chest region and removal of breast gland tissue. The Surgery is done under local or general anesthesia. After administering anesthesia & tumescent liquid a thin metal tube(cannula) is inserted through an incision. Cannula is connected to drain pipes which collect emulsified fat. The glandular tissue is taken out & the incision is closed.
- It does not have the side effects of the traditional liposuction
- The procedure is absolutely safe and without any risks
- The procedure time is around 2 hours and its only a one time treatment
- It’s a day care procedure and no overnight stay or hospital admission is required
- The stay in the clinic after the procedure is 3-4 hrs and after that you can go back or can travel safely.
Does this surgery provide a permanent solution for breast hypertrophy or ‘Man-Boobs’ condition?
Yes. As the fat and the glandular tissue are completely removed hence there are no chances of recurrence.
Will Gynecomastia surgery leave post-surgery scars?
The surgery scar is very small surrounding the nipple(areolar region). After complete healing the scar is not much visible.
What is the cost of Gynecomastia surgery?
The exact cost for Gynecomastia surgery varies from patient to patient. The cost of Gynecomastia is according to the grade and the type of Gynecomastia.
How should one prepare for Gynecomastia surgery?
One needs to get some tests done before the surgery. Complete guidance in this regard is provided at the time of consultation. It is advisable to quit smoking 2-3 weeks before & after the surgery as it quickens the healing process.
How soon can we get back to work after Gynecomastia surgery?
1 or 2 days rest is sufficient for recovery. One can resume normal office work after 2 days. You can start exercise or gym within 2-3 weeks gap after surgery. One should avoid physically strenuous activities for 2-3 weeks after the surgery.
What is the total duration required for the procedure?
Surgery duration is 1 to 2 hours. Observation period is 2 to 3 hours. Individual gets discharged on the same day. No admission or hospital stay is required.
