Gynecomastia (Male Breast reduction)
The topic of male breasts (man boobs) can sometimes be an embarrassing one. It is sometimes comforting to know that this is a common problem for many men in Las Vegas. The medical term for this is called gynecomastia. The problem can be minor to very severe, to the point one may look into Male Breast Reduction surgery. When the problem is severe the breasts can be as large as a well-developed woman’s. Gynecomastia is most often not medically harmful, but it can be extremely embarrassing.
Causes of Gynecomastia
There are many causes of Gynecomastia. Gynecomastia is very common during puberty and adolescence. Most often it is a temporary problem and will go away as the young man develops. Gynecomastia in very old men is also not uncommon and is caused by increased estrogen levels as men age.
There are many other causes of gynecomastia. One of the most common today is Steroid use among body-builders. The excess steroid is converted into estrogen and estrogen-like compounds that cause breast development. Large weight gains can also cause gynecomastia. Other common causes of gynecomastia include alcohol, certain medications, and marijuana. Often discontinuing the use of these substances will lead to improvement or resolution of the gynecomastia.
Rarely, a male may get breast cancer and this can cause unilateral enlargement of the male breast.
Surgical Treatment of Gynecomastia
When the gynecomastia is severe or embarrassing it can be surgically treated. Dr. Lane Smith has many options for treatment. The most common is using liposuction to reduce the size of the male breast. This is usually tried first, even if it does not completely cure the problem, it will often lead to a large reduction in the size of the breast. Sometimes a small incision is made in the male areola and the breast tissue is directly removed by cutting it out. This is done if the breast tissue is very hard and will not respond to liposuction. Often both liposuction and direct excision are combined. If a very large amount of breast tissue exists it may be necessary to remove some skin. This is done as a last option because it will leave scars on the chest wall of the male.