In Houston
Has the look of your chest become a major source of embarrassment for you? It’s easy to feel disheartened when your chest doesn’t portray the manly contours you desire and takes on the appearance of breasts. For many men, this can prevent them from fully enjoying themselves at the beach, in a pool, or even at the gym.
Having enlarged breasts, a condition known as gynecomastia, affects a large portion of men around the world. If you suffer from this condition, you’re not alone. There are resources available to you to help you understand more about gynecomastia and how to treat it.
Gynecomastia is a common endocrine system disorder in which male breast tissue increases. It may be caused either by natural hormone changes, such as a decrease in testosterone production compared to estrogen, certain medications, drugs and alcohol, and a number of different health conditions.
It commonly arises in young men during puberty, when the body is going through a lot of hormonal changes and may be transient. More commonly, it occurs in overweight men of any age. It is important to see your doctor to undergo a thorough workup for the cause of the gynecomastia as the treatment may be as simple as stopping certain medications or may be more serious and even life threatening such as a testicular tumor.
The increase in size of the male breast may be secondary to an actual increase in breast tissue, an increase in fat distribution in the chest as part of being overweight or a combination of both. Diet and exercise will not lead to the desired effect in some men as weight loss will lead to a decrease in the excess fat but does not affect breast tissue size. For these men, an ideal solution for treatment is male breast reduction surgery also known as gynecomastia surgery.
Male breast reduction surgery is an effective and long-lasting solution for men who want to get rid of the excess glandular tissue responsible for the development of male breast. During the procedure, your doctor will remove extra fat and glandular tissue from the chest area to restore masculine contours to your chest.
The procedure varies depending on the severity of the gynecomastia but routinely includes liposuction and tissue excision and is performed as an outpatient procedure using a local anesthetic and IV sedation. Incisions are strategically placed to limit the appearance of post-surgical marks as they heal. The treatment will be customized to fit your individual needs and deliver the best results possible.
After the breast reduction surgery is completed, it’s rather common to experience some initial discomfort such as swelling, bruising, and some tightness around the chest. This is expected to subside quickly, and your doctor will prescribe medications to help make you feel more comfortable if you need it.
During the recovery process, you will be asked to wear a compression vest for a few weeks to help reduce swelling. You should be able to get back on your feet and return to your regular daily activities within a week. You can perform light physical activity, but strenuous exercise should be avoided for four weeks until the incisions are fully healed.
The manly chest you deserve is just one simple procedure away. Contact us to schedule an informational consultation with Dr. Erika Sato, a board-certified plastic surgeon, to learn more about the treatment and the benefits it can provide you.