Gynecomastia

WHAT IS GYNECOMASTIA?

Gynecomastia is a condition in which an imbalance in hormones (estrogen and testosterone) causes your breast tissue to swell, essentially giving you breasts. This condition can strike at any age, from newborns and teenagers on up to middle-aged and older men. When it happens in younger men, it’s usually because of a surge in hormones, which means the condition typically rectifies itself once hormonal balance is restored.

The problem lies when the swelling doesn’t resolve itself, leaving you with breasts more befitting a woman than a man. To complicate matters further, gynecomastia can occur in just one breast or both.

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WHAT IS PSEUDOGYNECOMASTIA?

While gynecomastia can be traced back to an imbalance in your hormones, there are other conditions that can give you man boobs. These fall under pseudogynecomastia and are largely caused by excess fat in your breasts.

It’s important to make the distinction between gynecomastia and pseudogynecomastia since Dr. Davila performs a different surgical procedure for each of the conditions.

WHAT IS GYNECOMASTIA SURGERY?

Once Dr. Davila determines whether you have gynecomastia or pseudogynecomastia, he decides which surgical option is right for you.

If you have a case of gynecomastia, Dr. Davila needs to make an incision around your areola to remove the glandular tissue. If you have a severe case of gynecomastia, Dr. Davila may have to perform some reconstruction to your breast to remove excess skin and ensure that your nipple is centered. He may also reduce the size of your nipple and areola if they’re enlarged.

If it’s simply a matter of excess fat, Dr. Davila usually turns to liposuction as the preferred breast reduction technique. Depending upon the extent of the problem, however, he may have to use liposuction in conjunction with a surgery to remove tissue and skin and relocate your nipple.

WHEN WILL I SEE RESULTS?

The answer to this depends upon the extent of your gynecomastia surgery or liposuction. In either case, you should set aside a few days after the procedure when you can take it easy and allow time for the post-surgical swelling to go down.

Gradually, as your body heals and your skin settles into place, you’ll begin to notice the effects of the surgery. Within a month or two, you should realize the full benefits of Dr. Davila’s work.

If you’re a man dealing with unwanted breasts, call Houston Cosmetic Surgery Center to learn about your options.