Gynecomastia develops mainly due to an imbalance in the hormones and underlying medical conditions. The male breasts start to grow during adolescence, but the condition can go away as the man matures and his body chemistry changes. It can remain enlarged later in life, however, due to other medical reasons. A breast reduction surgery may be needed to correct this.

Pseudogynecomastia, on the other hand, exists because of one reason; it’s when a man chooses to have a sedentary lifestyle, and does no exercise to keep his body fit and healthy. Unlike gynecomastia, however,  there are fewer risk factors involved with pseudogynecomastia. In simple terms, the condition is largely due to fatty deposits in the breast area and may be corrected by diet changes and exercise.

Examining The Body

Many people actually get confused between the two conditions and sometimes go ahead with taking treatments even without proper advise, exams, and consultation. There are several ways to tell if a man has gynecomastia or pseudogynecomastia and he can either do the tests himself, or better yet, consult a professional for a more accurate testing.

Doing a Breast Examination:

1. Lie down flat on your back.
2. With your forefinger and thumb, try pressing the areola, which is the area around the nipple.
3. If your fingers touch, and the areola feels soft and tender, the condition is more likely pseudogynecomastia.
4. If your fingers feel a firm and rubbery surface, it may indicate gynecomastia.
5. If your nipples have discharge or bleeding, or is painful when touched, it may also indicate gynecomastia.

You can also examine your testicles carefully. Any enlargement or lumps you feel as you touch it may mean that a nodule is present, which could indicate gynecomastia, rather than pseudogynecomastia. But it may also be a symptom of other conditions, so it’s better to have a doctor examine this further.

At a doctor’s clinic, you will be required to undergo a mammogram test, a blood test and a biopsy. In some cases, a testicular ultrasound may also be asked. The doctor may also ask about your family’s medical history to rule out any genetic condition, as well as your own medical history, to determine whether you have taken medication that may induce the development of gynecomastia.

Treating Pseudogynecomastia

Since pseudogynecomastia is due to fat, treatment requires picking a more active lifestyle, such as having regular exercises and a fitness regimen, and changing eating habits. The idea is to turn the fatty tissues around the breasts into muscle tissues.

• Some exercises that can be done to reduce breast enlargement include push-ups, cardio exercises, weights, chest exercises, cycling and jogging.
• Limit the activities that may leave a man confined to just sitting or lying down and encourage a more active lifestyle. A simple walk around the neighborhood with the dog can be exercise.
• Doing away with foods rich in saturated fats and preservatives must be eliminated from the diet.
• Fruit, vegetables and alkaline rich foods must also be incorporated in the daily meal.

Reducing fat deposits in the chest takes time, hard work and determination. It also requires the support of family members or close friends for motivation, thus involving them in the quest to reduce weight can help.

• obesity
• certain disease or disorders
• the use of steroids and drugs
• hormonal imbalance

Development of gynecomastia can begin with puberty. But over time, the condition can disappear.  A significant percentage of men, however, have their breasts remain enlarged, which may eventually cause a backlash.

The physical conditions of gynecomastia may be corrected or improved by different treatment options, including surgery. Most of these treatments are very effective in reducing the size of the chest. But the psychological effects may require long-term solutions, especially for some men who develop serious self-esteem issues, as a result of having a condition that others call as “man boobs”.

Manifestations of the Psychological Effects

• EMBARRASSMENT. Feelings of embarrassment may develop as men are aware that enlarged breasts are supposed to be only attributed to the female anatomy. Thus, having “man boobs” may make a man feel a bit self-conscious and ashamed of his physical appearance.
• DEPRESSION. Ashamed and embarrassed by the way his body looks, depression can develop next, as self-awareness and body image at this point is so magnified. The message a man gets from this is that his body looks and feels wrong, even as sometimes, the condition did not develop because of his own doing.
• SELF-PITY. Men can grow to hate their body and may start to feel sorry for the way they look or feel less masculine about it.
• SENSITIVITY. As the negative feelings grow, they may tend to take rejection hard. And with their body image at  the lowest point, they will easily believe that the rest of society is mocking them.
• WITHDRAWAL. The most obvious manifestation of a man who is going through deep-seated psychological impact because of gynecomastia is withdrawal or isolation. He will shy away from social gatherings, like beach parties for example, for fear that he will be mocked by his friends as soon as he plunges into the water without his shirt on.  Additionally, an intimate relationship for him may be hard to maintain, as he fears being rejected by a potential partner. His self-confidence is so shot down, so he will try the best he can to withdraw contact with people.

Managing The Psychological Effects

Many men have difficulty addressing the psychological effects because they generally do not like talking about their feelings. But it should be important for a man to find someone to be able to discuss this and re-assess his concept of self-awareness and acceptance. Talking to a psychologist will definitely help.

A study on the distressing effects of gynecomastia to a man’s emotional health has been done by medical experts, in the hopes of coming up with good solutions to managing this. One of the suggestions include joining group activities or sports activities that not only promote physical well-being, but also help with their self-confidence and feelings of shame.

When the psychological impact is addressed, the study goes on to say that it may be easier for a man to become motivated with improving his physical appearance for the better. In fact, if he is better psychologically, a physical treatment may no longer be necessary in some cases.

Listed below are the types of drugs or medications that may trigger the development of gynecomastia:

A.) Anabolic-androgenic Steroids

Used by bodybuilders and athletes for muscle building, or performance enhancement during competitions, anabolic steroids produce an excessive level of testosterone, which converts to estrogen hormones that then induces growth of the breast tissue. This occurrence is widely known as the purest form of gynecomastia, whereby surgery is recommended to remove it, if reducing or totally doing away with intake bears no effects. Examples of anabolic steroids include dromostanolone, fluoxymesterone, methyltestosterone and oxandrolone. Different sports commissions have banned some of these drugs.

B.) Antiandrogen Medication

Certain medications used or treating prostrate cancer, which contains antiandrogen, work to block testosterone and other sex hormones associated with the male body chemistry to prevent the development of cancer cells. But in taking this medication, the antiandrogen also induces the rise of estrogen, otherwise known as the female hormone, which can lead to gynecomastia. Examples of antiandrogen medications incude flutamide, finastride, spironolactone and cyprotone.

C.) Mood Stabilizers

Mood stabilizers, such as antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications, are prescribed to patients so that they are able to cope with certain psychological disorders and continue to function normally in society. In men, one of the side effects of taking this medication is breast enlargement, as mood stabilizers tend to tip the balance of the hormones produced by the body, or increase the development of breast tissues. Examples of mood stabilizers include Valium or diazepan,  phenothiazines, phenytoin  and haloperidol.

D.) AIDS Treatment

Men who are undergoing treatment for AIDS are at risk of developing gynecomastia, as this requires a rigid system called the HAART, a kind of antiretroviral therapy that makes use of medicines with strong chemical content. The chemicals can bring about endocrine and metabolic changes, as well as disrupt the body’s sex hormones, which develops in gynecomastia.

E.) Street or Illegal Drugs

Use of illegal drugs like marijuana has been linked to gynecomastia, presumably because it contains elements that work as an estrogen receptor, which may bring about development of female-related tissues. A controlled study has been done in the early 70′s to study marijuana and its effects on the body. But some of the conclusions in relation to gynecomastia have yet to be supported with stronger facts.  At any rate, the National Institute on Drug Abuse has also listed all of the possible side effects of illegal drugs, which includes gynecomastia.

Additionally, certain medications for the heart, ulcer and cancer (chemotherapy) have been linked to gynecomastia development.

The Bottomline

It would be prudent to completely stop taking drugs that bring no health benefit to the body, as in the case of illegal drugs.

It would be unwise, however, to stop taking prescription medication without consulting the doctor first, especially if it’s something that is needed to treat grave conditions. If this is the case, ask your doctors for alternatives, as there are other medicines that deliver the same results without side effects that may lead to breast enlargement.

Gynecomastia Causes

The gynecomastia causes generally boil down to three possibilities. The causes of gynecomastia comes down to hormones, other medical conditions or side effects from medications. Let’s talk about the hormone issue first.

Hormones Imbalance. Gynecomastia can be caused by an imbalance in a man’s hormone levels, in which the levels of estrogen, which are female hormones, are raised relative to the quantities of the male hormone called androgen. Every man or woman has a body that features both male and female hormones. In puberty, the degree of either hormone can go up and down wildly, which equals a temporary condition where the amount of estrogen is relatively raised. In adolescent males, studies have been performed to determine an average of how many develop gynecomastia, and the results have been wildly inconsistent with some studies showing prevalence as little as 4 percent and as extreme as 69 percent, according to the Medicine Net website. Gynecomastia that is the outcome of transient alterations in hormone levels usually goes away on its own after six months to two years.

Medical Problems. Some medical problems can be the cause of gynecomastia. One is both malnutrition as well as re-feeding, which is the process of recovering from said malnutrition. Another is certain disorders of a man’s sex organ, the testes, which can incur a simultaneous increase in estrogen levels and a lowering of testosterone generation. Finally, both hypothyroidism and chronic renal failure have been known to be linked to cases of gynecomastia.

Medications Side Effects. At the same time, some males are just unlucky in that some medications that they have been taking have caused their episode of gynecomastia. There are actually quite a high number of drugs that have been linked to gynecomastia. They are spironolactone, calcium channel blockers, specific antibiotics, ACE inhibitor drugs, anti-ulcer drugs, methyldopa, digitoxin, diazepam, psychoactive drugs, extremely active anti-retroviral therapy and anti-estrogen or -androgen therapies.

Gynecomastia Symptoms

Now that the causes of gynecomastia have been fully explained and explored, we have to turn our attention to the symptoms. In essence, if some or all of these are present in or on your body, you can be reasonably sure that gynecomastia is something that you have.

It goes without saying at this point that the main symptom of gynecomastia is an unnatural enlargement of the male breasts, which is a pretty obvious thing to notice. This means that the glandular tissue and not the fatty tissue is enlarged. Male breasts that are enlarged normally have either a firm or rubbery feel.

This condition normally takes place on both male breasts at the same time, but it might also be unilateral in some instances. Even if both male breasts are enlarged, the enlargement might be more on one side than the other side. In the vast majority of cases of gynecomastia, there is no severe pain that is present, though the enlarged male breasts might cause a man sensitivity as well as tenderness.

Medical and surgical issues

Excessive bleeding: Although excessive bleeding post surgery is rare, this is the most likely risk that patients encounter when undergoing any procedure that involves an incision including one that is made for laproscopic procedures. Heavy blood loss during the procedure may create a need for blood transfusion. The risk of hematoma is also high post surgery. In case of blood transfusion, there are chances of infection, including HIV and hepatitis.

Infection: Wound infection is a risk that most patients have to contend with even in case of relatively small surgical procedures. If an infection does occur, additional administration of antibiotics, hospitalization and additional surgery may be required to treat the condition.

Seroma: This is the accumulation of fluids between the skin and the underlying tissue; should a seroma occur, it can be treated by draining the fluids.

Sensitivity and discomfort

Change in sensitivity of the breast skin and nipple: Patients often experience partial or even complete loss of sensitivity in the breast area and around the incision. Complete loss of sensation in both nipples is also a very real risk after gynecomastia surgery.

Hypersensitivity: Some patients may experience hypersensitivity and exaggerated response to temperature changes after the procedure. This can often be corrected by massage in the recuperation phase; however, in some cases the issue may persist and even take on a chronic form.

Post surgery pain and discomfort

Some amount of pain, skin irritability and a burning sensation are common after a surgical procedure; however, these are usually resolved within a few days. In some cases, the pain may persist even after the wound has healed completely if a nerve is trapped in the scar tissue. Chronic pain is rarely experienced post recuperation.

Aesthetic issues

Irregularities in skin contour: There may be palpable differences in the skin contour, including dimpling and wrinkling. While massage after the surgery can resolve this over time, some aesthetic concerns may prevail, requiring additional intervention.

Asymmetry: It is also common for some irregularity in breast size to come into the picture after gynecomastia surgery, as the untreated breast treated will usually be smaller than the one on which the procedure has been performed.

Skin discoloration: Swelling and bruising also occur commonly after a surgery and the skin surrounding the incision may seem darker or lighter. However, it is uncommon for the skin discoloration and even the swelling to persist.

Scarring: All procedures involving an incision will leave a scar; however, the smaller the incision, the less visible the scar will be. Sutures may also cause visible marks; in both cases, if the scars are unusually large or asymmetrical, additional surgical treatment may be recommended.

Fat necrosis: The surgery may cause the fatty tissue inside the deeper layers of the skin to die leading to unusual firmness or dimpling. This can in turn cause visible contour differences and a second surgical procedure may have to be conducted to remove the fat necrosis.

Like all surgical interventions, patients do run the risk of deeper vessel damage during the surgery and there are no guarantees that the condition will not recur after the procedure. In other words, the growth in the adipose tissue may persist even after breast reduction, depending on the hormonal levels of the patient.

Finally, it is imperative to understand that the aim of the surgery is reduce the size of the breast and to not give you a chiseled upper torso. However, it is possible to work on the chest muscles post surgery to get a better muscular definition.

The day after the surgery

Patients are seldom asked to stay in the hospital for more than 24 hours after the surgery. However, correct treatment through the few weeks following the procedure is crucial to eliminate the risk of side effects like infection, discoloration and excess skin. Also, preventative measures will lower the chances of hematoma formation.

What to expect?

Patients are sent home with some form of compression dressing on the wound apart from regular surgical bandaging. Movement will have to be restricted for a while and the surgeon will recommend some exercises that will have to be performed 5 or so days after the procedure.

Patients who are on certain prescription drugs to control hypertension or other chronic conditions will usually be allowed to continue their medication. People who experience excessive bleeding during the surgery may have to go through a few drains to prevent seratoma. The compression dressing will be kept on for 3 to 5 days even after the wound is drained or a hematoma is removed.

The compression dressing

The duration for which the patient has to wear the compression dressing will vary from one surgeon to another and will largely depend on the severity of the gynecomastia. Generally, compression garments will be recommended for at least 10 days after the procedure; however, depending on the patient’s specific circumstances, this period may very well go up to a few months.

The kind of dressing used will usually include foam, ace or elastic bandage for the first 2 to 5 days after the surgery and a compression vest thereon. The dressing will be kept for 5 days following the procedure at which time the surgeon will take a call on whether to remove the sutures depending on the condition of the wound. The dressing will also be changed at this point. The patient can continue to wear the surgical compression vest or change to a tight fitting spandex t-shirt etc.

Post surgery pain

Post surgery is a distressing time for most patients; as the pain, the healing process and the apprehensions about the recovery phase and results weigh down heavily on most people. Fortunately, given the nature of gynecomastia surgery, pain is moderate at best

When a liposuction is performed, soreness lasts only for day and can be described as the pain felt after a day of grueling exercise. Doctors will prescribe hydrocone to alleviate discomfort and most people rarely need anything stronger than Tylenol to control it. However, if the pain is intense, stronger drugs will be given.

Precautionary measures

• Patients have to take complete rest for 3 days after the procedure; while they don’t have to stay in bed all day long, going out for a few hours is not permissible. Movements that are limited to below the waist and elbow should not pose problems; however, anything that exerts the pectoral muscles and the shoulder joint should be avoided. Lateral movement of the arm is also forbidden during this period.
• Tanning and direct exposure to the sun should also be given a miss for about 6 weeks after the surgery. The heat and sun rays can prolong the swelling and may lead to discoloration.
• It is possible to go out on prolonged walks and jogs after a period of two weeks. However, weight lifting and intensive abdominal and back routines should only be done a good 5 weeks or more after the surgery.
• Sex is also restricted for the first 7 to 10 days after the procedure.
• Certain medication will have to be avoided along with alcohol and smoking post surgery. Nutritional supplements should only be taken after getting them cleared from the surgeon. The intake of steroids will have to be stopped pre surgery and this restriction will likely continue for a few weeks after the procedure.
• Patients will usually be kept in the hospital till they are completely stable and have recovered from the effects of the general anesthesia used. It will be recommended that they bring along a relative/friend who can drive them home post procedure.
• Driving will be restricted for a few days and traveling should not be undertaken for at least two weeks; particularly if it entails carrying luggage around.

Recuperative measures

Massage will usually be recommended post surgery to break and reduce the formation of scar tissue. Gentle massage should be undertaken a week or two after the procedure. Kenelog injections may also be administered to help reduce scarring and a topical application will be prescribed; something along the lines of Mederma or other such preparations.

It is imperative to understand that the ultimate payoff to be expected post gynecomastia surgery is the ability to live life free of the condition and its psychological and physical ramifications. It would be disheartening to expect to come out of post op with an athlete like chest. Also, thorough understanding of what to expect in the recovery phase will help you to successfully get through this critical period that can have a bearing on the results of the procedure.

This can be caused by a hormonal imbalance. Puberty and use of steroids can be a factor with gynecomastia. However, the majority of cases of gynecomastia non-surgical treatments are from males that are severely overweight. Often only one side of the chest is affected causing an even lower sense of self-esteem. Having the money to have the surgical procedure to have this problem fixed can be impossible for some men. There are some ways to correct this problem on your own by trying gynecomastia non-surgical treatments.

Treatments for Gynecomastia

Physical Exercise. Gynecomastia is the build up of chest fat. This is typically caused by ingesting high calories and not getting enough exercise. Fat build up on men is usually noticed in the belly and chest area. Physical exercise is a gynecomastia non-surgical treatment that will reduce the amount of body fat being stored, which will lower the estrogen level. Estrogen is found in males, but is more dominant in women. This is what makes the female look different in the chest area. The amount of estrogen build up in a man will change the way his chest looks, making it similar to a woman’s without gynecomastia non-surgical treatments.

Hormonal Level Control. Age can change a man’s hormonal level causing the physique to change dramatically. The emotional toll on a man’s sense of self can cause other underlying problems like depression and anxiety. A man may feel embarrassed to work out in a gym or participate in gym classes due to the way his body looks without gynecomastia non-surgical treatments. Dating and relationships can become an issue as a man may be too shy to expose his body and emotions to a women for fear of rejection. As a result many men resort to isolating themselves causing them to have no one to relate their problems to.

It is important to have support systems and gynecomastia non-surgical treatments to cope with this condition. There are support groups that can be beneficial to this sort of issue. The sharing of ideas, concerns and results of different methods can be an encouragement that can keep men motivated to stay on track. Keeping up to date with the latest information on the Internet is also a wise idea for those who find themselves with this condition. There may be websites that have useful information and advice about gynecomastia non-surgical treatments.

Danger of Gynecomastia

For someone who has a large amount of body fat or is considered to be obese, it is important that you start with light exercise and monitor your heart rate while doing so. If you have excess body fat in the chest area, it is already putting strain on your heart. This can cause serious damage to the heart muscles and can lead to a lot of health issues such as heart attacks without gynecomastia non-surgical treatments. Jogging and walking can be a good way to start your exercise with gynecomastia non-surgical treatments. Rowing a boat and riding a bike are also good ways to lose the excess body fat.

As you strengthen your muscles slowly, you can increase your exercise to weight lifting. This can not only reduce your body fat, it can also turn some of your fat into muscle.There are many over the counter medications that are designed to reduce body fat. Fat burners, caffeine and green tea, which are natural supplements. These can help when attempting a gynecomastia non-surgical treatment.

Gynecomastia can be treated with excision. Excision is one of the gynecomastia surgical options when a surgeon cuts out the excess tissue. This is generally done by making a small incision around the areola. Excision works the best when the fat tissues are contained to the breast area. It is not a good idea to have excision if the fat tissues have spread to the entire chest area. Excision is the only treatment that can remove glandular gynecomastia tissue.

Side Effects. Excision can have side effects. While most patients do not have any side effects, it is still possible for one to have severe complications. Most side effects are mild. However, some side effects have severe complications. A patient from an excision surgery can have an infection or bleeding at the site where the surgery was performed. Also, most patients have some sort of scarring following their surgery. Most surgeons take precautions against scarring when considering gynecomastia surgical options. Unfortunately, not all scars can be prevented. Severe scarring can usually be treated by a plastic surgeon.

Surgical Option #2: Liposuction

Liposuction is another one of the gynecomastia surgical options. Liposuction is a way that gynecomastia can be treated. A liposuction is performed by a surgeon. The surgeon will remove the fat with a liposuction instrument. The instrument will remove the fatty tissue buildup though a sucking technique.

Side Effects. There are side effects due to having liposuction as one of the gynecomastia surgical options. These side effects are rare for most patients to experience. Some patients experience irregularities in their skin. This happens most often when the patient has had a lot of liposuction done. Other side effects can include dizziness, nausea and depression. It is always important for a patient to discuss the possible side effects of having liposuction with their surgeon.

This is REAL Surgery

Whether a patient has liposuction or excision as one of the gynecomastia surgical options, they will be placed under anesthesia. In order to be placed under anesthesia, a patient must sign a consent waiver prior to having their surgery. This protects the anesthesiologist and the hospital should any complications arise due to the anesthesia. Most anesthesia side effects are rare but there are a few cases of permanent damage due to having anesthesia. There are a couple different choices for patients having anesthesia. The surgeon will choose between a general anesthesia option, an IV sedation anesthesia option or a local anesthesia option. Most surgeons either opt for an IV sedation anesthesia option or a general anesthesia option. Only cases of slight gynecomastia are eligible for a local anesthesia option. A person can discuss their anesthesia options with their surgeons before having their surgery. It is important that they understand all of the risks involved with the anesthesia for their gynecomastia surgical options.

Recurring Gynecomastia

Most of the time, having the gynecomastia surgical options solves the problem of gynecomastia. There are some cases that have been reported where patients have faced recurring gynecomastia. When this happens, there is usually an underlying cause that is more serious. A surgeon will look over the main underlying causes to determine why a patient is suffering from recurring gynecomastia after having one of the gynecomastia surgical options.

Gynecomastia surgery cost covered by insurance?

Most health insurance plans do not cover the cost of treating gynecomastia through one of the gynecomastia surgical options. Their grounds for denying coverage for gynecomastia are that it is technically a cosmetic treatment. Most gynecomastia is harmless to men and the only benefit to removing it is cosmetic reasoning and mental state of mind. It is very rare that the insurance companies to cover any of the cost. There are instances that they do cover some of the cost of the gynecomastia surgical options. In the rare cases that the insurance companies cover a portion of the cost, the patient will have to provide written documentation from their surgeon that their gynecomastia is harmful to their health. The insurance companies usually only cover a small portion of the final expense, not the total amount of the bill. A patient should discuss all of their payment options with their doctor when considering between the gynecomastia surgical options.

As a result of this increased size of the mammary glands, the breasts of a man will be noticeably enlarged. This medical condition might happen, in neonates, physiologically, in adolescence and also in the elderly population of men. If gynecomastia should occur in males who are in adolescence or in their old age, then it is most definitely an abnormal situation that is connected to metabolic disorder or even disease.

Gynecomastia Treatments

Gynecomastia, it goes without saying, is oftentimes very embarrassing for any man to have to endure, especially since an enlargement of the breasts is normally associated exclusively with females. As a result, men who suffer from gynecomastia might begin to consider all the options available to them to rid themselves of this humiliating medical condition. There are, of course, alternatives, to just regular surgery, but surgery is probably the most direct as well as surefire way of handling a case of gynecomastia. Men who want to use the surgical option to deal with gynecomastia have to expect to pay a certain amount of money for the procedure. While the surgery is quite expensive, it has actually come down in recent years because of the fact that it is becoming more and more popular for men to undergo. [also see: Gynecomastia Alternative Treatment]

Gynecomastia Surgery Cost $$$$

The most important question on the minds of those men who suffer from gynecomastia and absolutely want to do something about it is how much the gynecomastia surgery cost will end up being. Men in this position have been bothered so much by this medical condition—it likely has caused them a great deal of embarrassment in public and with other people—that they are willing to spend a lot of money in order to reduce the enlarged size of their mammary glands. The cost of this type of surgery is not going to be cheap at all. In fact, current estimates put the price tag of this surgery between $3000 and $5000. While that does sound a lot and is a lot, do remember that this is actually a reduction from previous costs when this surgery was still not as popular as it is today. Of course, the more men who elect to get this surgery in the future, the more that the price tag will also come down even further.

Will Insurance Cover Gynecomastia Surgery? For any man who is considering a gynecomastia surgery, the question of the insurance company covering the procedure will undoubtedly come up. Gynecomastia surgery is regarded as an elective type of surgery. An elective surgery is surgery that is not a medical emergency, which is why it is surgery that is scheduled ahead of time. As such, elective surgery is surgery that is chosen by the patient on his own freewill. As such, the insurance company will generally not cover this kind of surgery for gynecomastia because it is not an emergency medical procedure and not necessary to preserve the life of the patient. Therefore, the cost of this surgery will fall upon the man with gynecomastia. This is one, big reason why a man should carefully weigh the embarrassment of this medical condition with the great amount of money he will have to pay for it before he goes through with it.

What to expect during gynecomastia surgery / surgery procedures. If a man has decided that he is willing to shoulder the hefty price tag for the gynecomastia surgery cost, he will have to ready himself for the looming surgery. The procedure starts off with an incision either on the underarm side or on the edge of the skin that is situated near the nipple. By way of this incision, a surgeon is going to cut off the excessive glandular tissue, skin and fat from the area surrounding the areola and also from the bottom as well as the sides of the man’s breast.

Sometimes, liposuction is used to complement this procedure. If it is, the cannula is going to be put in via the previous incision. The definition of a cannula is a hollow and a slim tube that is connected to a vacuum pump. The surgeon is then going to move said cannula throughout the sections of skin underneath the skin, which causes the fat to be broken up and then sucked out through this tube.

At times, a tiny drain may have to be put in via another incision for the purpose of removing excessive fluids. After the surgical aspect of the procedure has been completed, the incisions are covered up with a dressing and an elastic bandage will wrap the man’s chest to make sure the skin stays in place.

[Watch this video of a documentary about three men who choose gynecomastia surgery]

Other Alternatives Instead of Gynecomastia Surgery

If the gynecomastia surgery cost is too high, a man can first try other options on his gynecomastia. If he is taking certain medications, he may have to revise them as this condition can sometimes be brought about through medications. A man might also try certain estrogen receptor modulator medications, though this may be hit-and-miss. He can also attempt wearing compression garments to hide this condition from prying eyes.

Overall, gynecomastia is a medical condition that is not harmful physically, but it may be harmful in a psychological sense. Still, a lot of men simply endure this condition without getting it treated. If a man’s level of embarrassment about excessively sized breasts is great enough, he will seek out the surgery option for this medical condition, even if it is very expensive to do so as he must shoulder all the costs.