Often a man considers his chest to symbolise manliness, and therefore, every man dreams of having a firm chest. However, when he develops gynecomastia, the dream of having the perfect chest turns into a nightmare. So what to do about these man boobs?
Men start feeling cautious while wearing fitting t-shirts because of gynecomastia. They also feel a sense of awkwardness while going shirtless on a beach or in a pool. The insecurities about their chest hold them back. The doctors often notice that the patients do not freely talk about the condition even with the doctor because of embarrassment. Experienced and talented doctors such as Dr. Sagar Gundewar has treated numerous men with gynecomastia and believe that people have a lot of misunderstandings about gynecomastia and its treatment.
Here are some gynecomastia facts, how the surgery is performed, how much it costs and even the associated risks.
Gynecomastia
In simple words, gynecomastia is referred to as man boobs and is an ordinary condition men face. A man with gynecomastia experiences an enlarged chest which is similar to a woman’s breast. The cause can either be an enlarged breast gland tissue or fat tissue accumulation (pseudo gynecomastia). Most of the time, gynecomastia is seen in both breasts. However, sometimes it might affect only one.
Gynecomastia Causes
Following are some of the causes of gynecomastia-
- Physiological/Primary Gynecomastia
Primary gynecomastia is usually seen in boys during puberty. Thus, the most affected age group by physiological gynecomastia is from 13-17. The main reason might be hormonal imbalance. Men have secretion of estrogen (female hormone) in small quantities, which might increase during puberty. Eventually, it leads to gynecomastia in teenagers. - Pathological/Secondary Gynecomastia
Secondary gynecomastia is observed in men in their middle ages. As the man gets old, the secretion of testosterone decreases, and thus, estrogen in the body increases. Therefore, it creates a hormonal imbalance. In addition, if the patient has conditions like liver cirrhosis, kidney issues, thyroid, cardiovascular issues, excessive use of bodybuilding medicines, he becomes more vulnerable to gynecomastia.
As mentioned previously, primary gynecomastia is seen in boys, but it might be seen in infants who have their mother’s estrogen in their bodies. But it will be temporary and fade away within a couple of weeks. However, consuming drugs and alcohol like marijuana, opium, etc., in excess might cause gynecomastia.
Obesity can also lead to an enlarged chest. The fat accumulates in the chest area and affects how the chest appears. Thus, it is known as pseudo gynecomastia.
How to identify gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia might feel like a rubbery portion below the nipple area. Generic swelling is usually bilateral, but in some cases, it can be unilateral. However, the swelling is entirely painless. You might feel tenderness or sensitivity in the area. On the occurrence of any of these symptoms, you should plan a doctor’s visit at the earliest. You might need to get some tests and a mammogram to rule out male breast cancer during the consultation.
Gynecomastia Treatment
The surgery is used to treat both primary and secondary gynecomastia. It involves the extraction of the extra glandular tissue and fat. A cosmetic surgeon might as well contour the chest to retain the physique proportion.
Who can undergo gynecomastia surgery?
Following are the criteria to be an ideal candidate for gynecomastia surgery-
- The patient must be a male over 18 years suffering from gynecomastia.
- Overall physical health must be good.
- The patient has psychological stress due to their appearance.
- Must be a non-smoker or quit smoking sometime before the surgery.
Another critical factor is that the patient should maintain a practical approach towards the outcomes. If you have unrealistic desires from the surgery, it might cause disappointment in the end. Gynecomastia is not a fatal condition, but it can affect mental health tremendously because it impacts the definition of being physically perfect.
Who performs gynecomastia surgery?
Gynecomastia surgery is not just cosmetic surgery. It is, in fact, a procedure that corrects a medical condition that affects both the physical and mental health of the patient. Thus, choose your surgeon carefully. You can consider the following tips while making a decision-
- According to the Indian Medical Association, the doctor must be M.Ch in Plastic Surgery to perform gynecomastia surgery.
- While choosing a surgeon, the experience affects the most. The higher the experience in performing the surgery, the easier it will be to trust them.
- Checking the technology available at the doctor’s clinic is necessary. With the latest tech available, they can achieve better outcomes, and you can get more natural-looking results.
- Try to get reviews from previous patients. You can find reviews on social media or Google. Sometimes testimonials are available on the doctor’s website. You can get an insight into their work and achieved outcomes.
Another major factor while choosing the right surgeon is the cost of gynecomastia surgery the doctor charges. According to the budget you have set, you should select a doctor in that range.
What should you ask during a consultation?
Consultation is essential for the doctor and the patient. In the meeting, the doctor will examine you thoroughly, understand your issues, tell you the gynecomastia facts that are often missed, and give you a practical insight into the course of treatment. Therefore, it is the best suitable time to get every detail you seek and avoid any misunderstanding.
You can ask some questions like-
- Am I eligible for the surgery?
- What will be the outcome?
- Are there any risks of undergoing the procedure?
- Are there any measures to avoid risks during the operation?
- How long does the surgery take?
- How long will the hospital stay be?
- What are the precautions before and after the surgery?
You can also ask whether the solution is permanent. Finally, you should know if any measures can help preserve the surgery results.
Before the Surgery
Before the surgery, you need to get some routine blood work and urine tests done. It is to ensure that there are no other underlying issues. For example, if you are on any medication that interferes with the surgery, you might be asked to stop it a few days before the surgery. In addition, you must avoid the consumption of any nicotine products to reduce the risk of complications.
During the Surgery
The surgery is started after administering local or general anaesthesia with sedation. If the glandular tissue is to be extracted, then a tiny incision is made on the nipple-areolar complex margin. The areola is the pigmented area around the nipple. Once healing starts, the incision blends in with the areolar complex and makes the scar invisible. Once the extraction is done, the surgeon will carefully sculpt the contour line to appear natural on the chest.
Recovery
The recovery after gynecomastia surgery is easy. You will be asked to wear a compression garment to keep the swelling down and encourage healing of the tissues. Wearing the garment will make recovery faster and maintain the shape of your chest. You will experience little pain and discomfort after the surgery. Your surgeon will prescribe some medicines for pain. After a couple of weeks of recovery, you can resume your daily routine. The results are long-lasting, and the visible difference is seen within two weeks.
Risks of Gynecomastia
Gynecomastia is a safe and trusted surgery. However, in some cases, complications can occur even if the utmost precautions are taken. The risks associated include excess bleeding from the incision, swelling, numbness, loss of sensation in the nipples or areola and chest contour misalignment.
If you wish to know the gynecomastia facts and the treatment options, you can always consider contacting Artius Clinic and booking an appointment with Dr. Sagar Gundewar.