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GYNECOMASTIA – Orange County, CA

What is Gynecomastia and How is It Caused?

Gynecomastia refers to the enlargement or hypertrophy of male breast tissue, which although all males have some breast tissue, can create a more feminine appearance. This condition often leads to self-consciousness and can make individuals feel vulnerable.

Gynecomastia can be caused by a number of difference factors, including testicular tumors, thyroid imbalances, medications, drug use, hormone fluctuations, and steroid use, among others.

Who is a Good Candidate to Get Their Gynecomastia Fixed?

Gynecomastia can occur at any age, but not all patients will need treatment. In infants, it may develop due to elevated estrogen levels from the mother still circulating in the baby’s bloodstream. This typically resolves on its own within a few weeks to months as estrogen levels decrease.

Gynecomastia commonly occurs around puberty when a temporary imbalance in hormones, particularly an elevated estradiol/estrogen ratio, stimulates the growth of breast tissue. Although this may cause some anxiety, it is actually fairly common and can occur in over two-thirds of the population.

As your hormone levels stabilize, gynecomastia often resolves on its own, typically within 2 years. However, if the condition persists for more than a year, it is less likely to fully resolve without intervention, and surgery may be needed.

Gynecomastia can also commonly occur in the older adults or individuals who are overweight. As people age, they will generally accumulate more fat, which contains an enzyme called aromatase. This enzyme converts testosterone into estrogen, potentially leading to the development of breast tissue. In some cases, this breast tissue can be treated with weight loss, but it often requires surgical intervention.

Bodybuilders or athletes who use or abuse steroids can also form gynecomastia. The increased levels of testosterone supplementation in the body will be converted to estradiol and estrogen, leading to breast formation. Stopping the steroids may help resolve the issue, but the longer the breast tissue persists, the more likely surgery will be required to treat it.

Gynecomastia can also be caused by a slew of other factors including cirrhosis, kidney failure, testicular tumors, adrenal tumors, pituitary tumors, thyroid problems, hypogonadism, cancer, chemotherapy, ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, digitalis, and other drugs. Treating the underlying cause may help resolve the gynecomastia. In up to 25% of cases, no cause may be identified.

How Do I Prepare for Gynecomastia Surgery?

Patients should be healthy overall and able to tolerate general anesthesia. Depending on your history and the course of your disease you may be asked to get labs including a basic metabolic panel (BMP), complete blood cell count (CBC), coagulation factors, EKG, TSH/thyroxine levels, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), chorionic gonadotropin, luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone levels, and estradiol levels.

You may also be asked to get some imaging of your body including a testicular ultrasound to check for possible tumors. Your doctor should perform a full physical examination on you to look for any other abnormal findings.

What Does Gynecomastia Surgery Entail?

Treatment for gynecomastia usually involves getting put to sleep completely. Depending on the thickness of your breast tissue, your surgeon may opt for a few different ways to treat it.

If you have mainly fatty breast tissue, your surgeon may treat it with liposuction only. A few small incisions are made on your chest and numbing fluid is infiltrated. The fatty tissue is then sucked out to help contour your chest.

If you have mainly fibrous (thicker and harder) breast tissue, your surgeon may opt to cut it out directly with or without liposuction. An incision is usually made around the areola with a possible small extension to the side. The breast tissue is then cut out directly, leaving some tissue under the skin and nipple for padding and contouring. You may or may not have drains at the end of the procedure.

Very rarely will a larger incision need to be made across the entire lower chest to remove the breast tissue. The total procedure time usually varies between 2-3 hours.

What is the Recovery After Gynecomastia Surgery?

Recovery usually takes several weeks total. You will be given a compression garment or a compression wrap after surgery to help reduce swelling and to help your skin heal down to your chest. Drains are typically used during this surgery and are removed within 2 to 3 weeks as the healing process progresses.

We recommend taking a week off of work, but some patients will return to light duty work after only several days. Any heavy lifting or strenuous exercise can be resumed at 6 weeks. Light cardio can be resumed at 3 weeks.

Your results are immediate! The swelling and bruising will take several weeks to resolve. Some numbness of the area, including the nipples, may persist for several weeks or months.

What are the Risks of Gynecomastia Treatment?

Risks of general anesthesia will be discussed with the anesthesiologist. Bleeding and infection risks are similar to those of any surgery that involves an incision. Other risks related to Gynecomastia Surgery include:

• • • Asymmetry
    • Contour irregularities, including under-resection or over-resection of tissue
    • Persistent numbness
    • Blood or fluid collections under the skin (hematoma or seroma)
    • Poor scarring
    • Need for revisions

Always be sure to consult with a Board Eligible or a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon to determine if getting a gynecomastia surgery is right for you! Dr. David Nguyen would be happy to see you in consultation to walk you through the process and discuss your results. Call 657-900-5055 for a free consultation today!

Gynecomastia Excision Price: Starts at $9,075 $7,575 (Limited Time Special!)

$5,950 if only one side

See More Gynecomastia Before & After Photos