Gynecomastia Basics

Article Links:

1. Why Do I Have Gynecomastia?
2. Types of Gynecomastia
3. Surgical Treatment for Gynecomastia

All human males have glandular breast tissue. In some adolescent boys and some men, the breast tissue that is always present behind every human male nipple may begin to grow and gradually become noticeable as a fullness behind the nipple-areola complex. In some individuals this breast tissue proliferation continues to involve the entire breast/chest area. This phenomenon of male breast enlargement is called gynecomastia, and it is an extremely common medical condition that appears to be increasing in incidence..

Gynecomastia comes in all shapes and sizes. It can occur on one side of the chest or on both, and may present as early as around the time of puberty or as late as one’s retirement years. The minimal presentation is that of a protruding nipple/areola complex, sometimes referred to as ‘puffy nipples,’ which is very common in adolescent boys and post-adolescent men. In some cases, the condition will progress no further than this, while in others the breast tissue will continue to grow and gradually lead to a feminized breast appearance. Hence, the condition is sometimes referred to by the rather callous terms ‘man boobs’ or ‘moobs.’ In some males with gynecomastia the enlarged breast is primarily composed of dense, glandular breast tissue; in others, it is primarily adipose (fatty) tissue. Sometimes there in not a significant amount of excess skin, while in other cases redundant skin must be excised (surgically removed). .

There is currently no recommended, FDA-approved medical (i.e., non-surgical) treatment for gynecomastia. While in a few instances gynecomastia may spontaneously regress, in most the breast tissue proliferation is a permanent change that must be treated surgically.  Because gynecomastia has a different effect on each person’s appearance, it is absolutely critical that the surgical approach to this problem be carefully individualized.

So many gynecomastia patients have shared with me the self-consciousness, embarrassment, frustration and psychological stress that they have endured because of breast enlargement. Most never feel comfortable taking off their shirt at the beach or at the pool or wearing a snug-fitting shirt. Many use compression vests in an attempt to reduce the unsightly appearance of gynecomastia. Every patient I see feels that it has adversely affected his comfort and confidence in social situations. And many describe a feeling of discomfort and embarrassment with regard to sexual intimacy. If you have experienced any or all of these issues personally, I want to assure you that (1) you are not alone and (2) essentially every case of gynecomastia can be significantly improved, and most can be corrected completely.

It is important to know that patient evaluation, treatment planning and surgical management are totally discreet in this practice. Some gynecomastia patients have related that prior to scheduling an appointment, they were concerned about ‘feeling awkward’ entering and exiting a plastic surgeon’s office for their consultation. Because we are also a medical spa offering a variety of services, including laser treatments and massage, no client in our office can ever be presumed to be a surgical patient. And while no physician’s office can avoid an occasional delay in the daily appointment schedule, we set our schedule so that almost every consultation appointment starts on time; thus, the time spent in the waiting area is kept to a minimum. We strongly believe that your time is just as valuable as ours.