Am I the only man with increased breast volume?
The increase in the volume of male breast, known as gynaecomastia, is a relatively common clinical situation among the male population, in any age group.
The gynaecomastia is characterised by an increase in breast volume, It can be bilateral or unilateral, at the expense of glandular tissue and/or adipose tissue.
It's an embarrassing topic and condition for many, causing anxiety and embarrassment, with implications for their daily lives. However, this subject is little discussed among them.
The causes are varied, based on an imbalance in the hormones that act on breast tissue (with a relative increase in oestrogen). Its aetiology can be physiological in most cases, following men's hormonal variations throughout their development, or it can be iatrogenic (drugs), endocrine or even neoplastic, and aetiological investigation and targeted treatment should always be carried out.
Can I have corrective surgery for gynaecomastia?
Surgery is one of the pillars for treating gynaecomastia, It is mostly used since the spontaneous resolution of this increase in volume of the male breast is infrequent after 12 months of evolution and the search for a doctor and its diagnosis is usually later than this period.
However, once the aetiological diagnosis has been made, treatment should primarily be directed at the cause, removing the responsible factor (drugs, illicit drugs, endocrine pathology, neoplasia).
Patients undergoing male breast reduction surgery should have their medical problems as under control as possible, be in good physical condition, with breast development stabilised, not consuming drugs, supplements or drugs that influence the hormonal imbalance responsible for breast development. gynaecomastia.
The Plastic Surgeon, In addition to the clinical history and complementary diagnostic tests, he should examine the patient's breasts and take detailed measurements of their size and shape, check the quality of the skin, the position of the nipples and areolas, and then discuss the possible approach depending on the changes found.
Patients should talk to their surgeon about the reason why they want to undergo surgery, their expectations and the desired result, bearing in mind the possible complications associated with it and being truly aware of their expectations and the results that can be achieved.
What is the surgical treatment for gynaecomastia? And how is it performed?
Surgical treatment of gynaecomastia will depend on the composition of the male breast tissue, as it can be made up of adipose tissue and glandular tissue, and in practice there are two techniques: liposuction and mammoplasty.
When breast volume is caused by an increase in adipose tissue (fat), liposuction is ideally performed as it allows the unwanted volume to be removed through a practically invisible incision. This technique requires the insertion of a cannula, a thin, hollow tube, through a small incision, loosening the excess fat which is removed using vacuum suction.
In other situations, where the glandular tissue is hypertrophied, liposuction is not possible. The excess breast tissue is removed through a semicircular incision along the edge of the areola, and the associated excess skin is corrected, which is called reduction mammoplasty. The scar becomes practically invisible over time.
Post-operative oedema lasts around 7 to 10 days and the decrease in local sensitivity is generally transient, lasting around a year in most cases.
The main complications associated with the surgical treatment of gynaecomastia are irregularities in the surface of the breast and changes in the shape or position of the nipple. Less frequently, unfavourable scars, haematoma and infection can also occur.
If liposuction is used, additional risks include irregular contours, residual sagging of the skin, irregular pigmentation, accumulation of fluid (seroma).
More rarely, damage to deeper structures such as nerves, blood vessels, muscles and lungs can occur. This can be temporary or permanent, so you should seek out a plastic surgeon with specific training and accreditation to carry out this type of surgery.
The possibility of asymmetries and the need for further intervention should be known to the patient.
The choice of local or general anaesthesia is up to personal preference and depends partly on the size of the breast and the technique used, but in general treatment is carried out under local anaesthesia, with sedation and without hospitalisation.
