When you think of plastic surgery, you may focus on women’s procedures or those performed for both genders, including body contouring in Houston. More men are turning to plastic surgery to enhance their looks and correct issues. With the growth in popularity of men’s cosmetic procedures, more surgeons include surgeries just for men in their list of services. Dr. Leo Lapuerta is a leading plastic surgeon in the Houston area, and he offers men’s liposuction along with more specific surgeries, such as men’s gynecomastia surgery.
Contact us today to learn more about our cosmetic surgery procedures, or to schedule a free consultation today.
What is Gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia is a condition that affects only men. It creates excessive growth of tissue in the chest area, which generally first presents during adolescence. However, it can also occur with weight gain. The result is that the man’s chest looks more like female breasts than firm pectoral muscles.
An imbalance of hormones can cause gynecomastia as well as steroid use or other medications. This particular condition makes up the majority of male breast conditions.
Gynecomastia can be an embarrassing condition for some men, causing them to feel self-conscious about their appearance. He may not want to take his shirt off in public or wear tighter clothing. Losing weight may not cause the excess tissue to go away, especially if it is caused by factors other than weight gain.
Sometimes the condition affects one side of the body, while other times, it may impact both sides but still be uneven. Fortunately, it is not a serious health issue and has no link to other health conditions. The main problem is how it impacts boys and men mentally and socially.
How to Know if You Have Gynecomastia
Signs that you have gynecomastia include:
- Swollen tissue in one or both breasts
- Pain in the chest area, especially during adolescence
- Tenderness around the breasts
- Sensitivity of nipples, especially when rubbed against shirts
If you experience pain or discharge from the nipple with swelling, you should see your doctor. They will likely order tests, such as a mammogram, CT scan, MRI scan, ultrasound, and biopsy to rule out cancer and other conditions.
Once the doctor rules out other medical conditions, they may determine that you have gynecomastia. They will try to define the cause. If medications have led to gynecomastia, they will advise that you stop taking them.
If the condition happens during puberty, the doctor may recommend monitoring the situation every few months. Sometimes, gynecomastia will go away on its own. For adult men, the doctor may recommend medications that are also used for breast cancer, such as Arimidex, which is an aromatase inhibitor.
When to Consider Surgery
If the gynecomastia doesn’t go away on its own or with the help of medication or if it becomes painful or too embarrassing, your doctor can recommend men’s gynecomastia surgery to address the condition. Two options exist for this type of surgery. The surgeon will discuss these options with you and help you determine the right course of action.
The first option is liposuction for the chest. This procedure removes fat tissue, but it leaves the breast gland tissue intact. The second option is a mastectomy. Like with a woman, the gland tissue is removed. This is also known as gynecomastia surgery.
It’s best to wait until you’re an adult and all development has stopped before scheduling men’s gynecomastia surgery. While you can have surgery as an adolescent, there is a risk that you will need a second surgery as your chest continues to develop.
Contact Us Today for a Consultation
If you are a male with enlarged breasts, know that you don’t have to continue to live this way. You can once again have confidence in your physique and feel good without your shirt on. Gynecomastia is a procedure with minimal discomfort and a recovery time of six weeks. Dr. Lapuerta will schedule a consultation with you and discuss the best method of reducing your breasts.
With more than 20 years in plastic surgery, he has performed thousands of breast procedures, including gynecomastia in Houston, TX. Contact us today to learn more about gynecomastia and how it can help you.