Gynecomastia In Tarzana

Some older men are shocked when bulges of tissue begin to appear under the nipple of one or both of their breasts — a condition called gynecomastia. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be permanent. Instead, surgery is the best long-term solution when the condition persists beyond the typical periods of male hormone changes, causing emotional distress. Arezou Yaghoubian, MD, at AESTHETICA LA in Tarzana, California, treats many men with this condition. Call her office or book an appointment online today. With treatment, you can have a beach-ready chest again.

What Is Gynecomastia?

Gynecomastia is enlarged breast tissue in men which may be due to excess fat, tissue, or skin. It forms under the nipple, and the area may be tender. Sometimes there’s a fluid discharge. It’s not a dangerous condition, but it can be embarrassing. Gynecomastia is the most common reason for medical evaluation of the male breast. In most cases, both breasts are affected, although enlargement may be greater on one side. In addition to excess breast tissue, gynecomastia results in the development of excess breast fat and skin, sometimes causing sagging and areola stretching.

What Causes Gynecomastia?

Men produce estrogen, too, and variations in production of this hormone often cause gynecomastia in older men and teens. About 70% of teenage boys experience gynecomastia during puberty as their hormones change. Even though this condition is considered normal and poses no health threats, it is a source of embarrassment for many males and undermines self-esteem.

Specifically, gynecomastia develops when a man’s testosterone levels decrease compared to their estrogen levels, resulting in weight gain and enlarged breasts. In addition, since fat cells are estrogenic, excess breast fat may disrupt testosterone and estrogen levels further, worsening the condition. For some, hormone replacement therapy may correct the condition but surgery is necessary if rebalancing hormones is ineffective.

Though gynecomastia cases in Tarzana are linked to hormonal changes, other health concerns may be the cause of breast enlargement. For example, the condition may result from the use of specific medications, including antibiotics and antidepressants. Additionally, gynecomastia may be a side effect of more severe medical conditions, such as lung cancer, liver disease, thyroid disorders, and obesity.

What Are The Best Treatments For Gynecomastia?

For some boys, gynecomastia is a temporary condition during puberty that resolves in a couple of years. In older men, it is best to have a medical assessment to determine if another condition is the cause of gynecomastia. If no other medical conditions are diagnosed, and exercise does not help flatten the chest, gynecomastia surgery in Tarzana is the best solution.

However, for those whom it doesn’t surgery is available, safe, and effective. Two decades ago, gynecomastia surgery was rare. However, these days it’s the most popular plastic surgery procedures for men. In fact, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, in 2016 an estimated 27,760 gynecomastia procedures were performed, which is a 36% increase since 2010. Dr. Yaghoubian has performed this procedure on countless satisfied patients.

What Does Gynecomastia Surgery Entail?

The procedure involves making small incisions and removing the extra tissue from your breasts. These incisions are strategically placed so that scars are not readily visible.

Gynecomastia surgery in Tarzana is primarily for reducing enlarged male breasts by removing excess tissue, fat, and skin. However, the procedure could correct several additional physical changes caused by the condition. For example, the weight of excess breast tissue may cause breast sagging and areola stretching, but surgery may correct these concerns.

For gynecomastia surgery, patients undergo general anesthesia before the surgeon makes incisions around the areola and in areas with excess tissue. If a patient has significant amounts of extra breast fat, liposuction can liquefy and remove a substantial amount of fat cells. Afterward, the surgeon continues to remove excess tissue, fat, and skin while reducing the areola if necessary.

After removing excess tissue, the remaining breast tissue, fat, and skin undergoes repositioning for more natural-looking chest contours after surgery. Typically, sutures close the incisions and come out after seven to ten days of recovery. Most gynecomastia patients return to work and light-impact activities after one to two weeks of recovery.

Afterward, bandages are applied to the incisions and an elastic bandage or support garment may be recommended to minimize swelling and support your new chest contour as it heals. Sometimes, a small, thin tube may be temporarily placed under the skin to drain excess blood or fluid that collects. Final results of the surgery can take 3-6 months to become fully evident.

Learn More About Gynecomastia Surgery In Tarzana

Enlarged male breasts are not a health risk, but many men struggle with emotional distress and cosmetic concerns as a result. In that case, patients with gynecomastia in Tarzana may want to undergo surgery to flatten and contour the chest if other treatments, exercises, and diets are not successful. Though the surgery results in scarring and requires a few weeks of recovery, many patients feel more confident in their appearance afterward.

If you have enlarged breasts that bother you and you are not suffering from another medical ailment, you may have gynecomastia and are an ideal surgical patient. Schedule a consultation for an assessment of the condition’s cause and whether surgery from AESTHETICA LA is the best choice for your case.