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One of the surgeries that most men demand from us at Sculpture Clinic is gynecomastia in Madrid. They often come with an exaggerated breast enlargement for men and wonder how to know if I have gynecomastia or if it is just fat. It is common for them to want to reduce its size in a safe and effective way, which can be achieved thanks to current surgical techniques.
Gynecomastia is a medical condition that affects many men and is caused by an increase in breast glandular tissue. It can occur in one or both breasts.
The causes of gynecomastia are related to hormonal imbalances. That is, increased estrogen or decreased testosterone. The use of certain medications and drugs, as well as some medical conditions, may also play a role.
It is not usually a serious health problem, but it can cause discomfort and low self-esteem for men with this condition.
Gynecomastia is often confused with the accumulation of fat in the breast; however, it should be clarified that these are distinct conditions.
Breast enlargement in men due to fat accumulation is known as pseudogynecomastia. In this case there is no growth of the mammary glandular tissue.
Pseudogynecomastia is more common in overweight or obese men.
There are some key differences that can help in making a correct diagnosis as to whether it is gynecomastia or pseudogynecomastia.
In the case of gynecomastia, it is usually concentrated around the nipple and, on palpation under the nipple, a firm, rubbery tissue is noted. In addition, gynecomastia is associated with increased sensitivity in the area.
Pseudogynecomastia, on the other hand, gives the sensation of soft, fatty tissue distributed throughout the chest. In this case, the man has no pain.
Hormonal changes are the underlying cause of gynecomastia. In newborns and adolescents there may be a reduction of testosterone which, with time, tends to regularize.
More than 65% (approximately 8 out of 12) of 14-year-olds experience a buildup of tissue in their breasts during puberty, so breast growth is normal and will return to normal within a year.
Similarly, in older adults there may be a reduction of the male hormone, resulting in gynecomastia.
Men who are overweight or who have had abrupt weight changes may have an increase in the volume of the chest. In these cases it is pseudogynecomastia and the treatment applied is different.
Some drugs, such as anabolic steroids, antidepressants, among others, can alter hormone production. As a consequence, they cause gynecomastia. Likewise, the consumption of alcohol and some drugs can alter the hormonal balance.
Hypothyroidism, renal insufficiency, among other medical conditions can also give rise to gynecomastia.
Changes in hormone levels may be natural, but that doesn't mean you have to accept them. If you are no longer in your teens and have man boobs, it could mean that you are overweight or obese. This is because your body accumulates fat in various areas, including the chest.
If you are over 30 years old and have mood swings, loss of sexual appetite, general weakness and is accompanied by an increasingly oily breast, it could be due to hormonal changes.
To the naked eye, breast fat and gynecomastia appear to be one and the same.but there is a subtle difference that can be determined by self-examination.
If they are fat cells, they will feel soft to the touch and have a flaccid appearance. Pseudogynecomastia is a condition in which the breasts are enlarged, but are flaccid and not as firm as in the case of gynecomastia.
Does it sound like a self-exam women should do to check for breast cancers? Yes, it is. And it's effective for men, too. It may be a little uncomfortable to stand in front of a mirror to feel your breasts, but it's proven to be an effective method. it's a proven effective method.
Feel the breast area; if there is a small lump under the nipples, you will feel it. If there is a lump, you should see your health care provider immediately.. It may be gynecologic cancer, but it may also simply be breast cancer.
This part of the test can be scary, but it is very rare for men to have breast cancer. it is very rare for men to have breast cancer.. Most likely the lump you feel is just gynecomastia, and it's best to know anyway.
As you continue the breast self-exam, feel for any tender spots with your hand. Fat accumulations do not feel noticeably different, but the tenderness of gynecomastia does feel different. but the sensitivity of gynecomastia does feel different.
Tenderness is usually felt near the nipples. If you feel anything out of the ordinary, schedule an appointment with your doctor.
To find out if your breasts are oily or have gynecomastia you should examine them. If they are swollen, erect and tender, these are signs of a gynecomastia problem.
If you notice an erect nipple, it is more likely that you have gynecomastia. We should not purchase any medications, treatments or supplements until we verify your findings at the clinic.
Pain or tenderness and swelling are just two of the possible signs of gynecomastia. To the touch, the lump feels like a rubbery mass under the nipple. An indicative visual aspect is the resemblance to a woman's breasts.
Gynecomastia is often mistaken for the expected presence of fatty tissues, gynecomastia is often mistaken for the expected presence of fatty tissues, especially among overweightespecially among young overweight males. Therefore, it should be a qualified physician who makes the diagnosis and comes to a conclusion.
Apart from gynecomastia, another frequent surgery in men is rhinoplasty.
In order to have a timely diagnosis of whether what we have is a gynecomastia, due to increased breast and fat tissue, or a pseudogynecomastia, that is, only increased fat tissue, it can be done in the consultation in two ways.
The first way is a physical examination. Usually any experienced breast surgeon, such as those who are part of the Sculpture Clinic team, can make the appropriate indication.
If you experience breast tissue enlargement, pain, tenderness or nipple discharge it is advisable to consult a physician. The main reason to see a specialist is to rule out any cause other than gynecomastia.
During the consultation, a physical examination will be performed, in which the physician palpates the breast tissue. He or she will also look for signs of swelling, tenderness and any other abnormalities.
After the physical examination, an ultrasound will be performed to help confirm the presence of mammary glandular tissue, evaluate its size and rule out other pathologies. In some cases additional examinations will be necessary.
The ultrasound can be done in the same consultation. In this way, we will make an accurate diagnosis through physical examination and ultrasound and we will know which intervention to apply in each case, whether liposuction or breast tissue reduction surgery.
The most appropriate treatment of gynecomastia will depend on making a timely diagnosis. There are times when breast enlargement comes from an increase in fat volume, and others when the increase in breast volume is due to an increase in breast tissue. This last cause is what is strictly known as gynecomastia.
Diet and exercise can help eliminate adipose tissue, so it can be effective for pseudogynecomastia. In the case of gynecomastia, foods that increase testosterone levels could be included in the diet.
Another non-surgical option is to evaluate the patient's medication. Because some medications alter hormone levels, the possibility of changing the treatment could be evaluated. The treating physician is the one who can modify the treatment.
When the increase in breast volume is at the expense of fat, the most appropriate medical treatment will always be liposuction. liposuction. This condition is going to be called pseudogynecomastia, since breast tissue augmentation does not come into play.
In contrast, if there is breast augmentation with breast tissue, this is corrected in the vast majority of cases with surgery. An incision is made through the areola and the excess tissue is removed.
If you have doubts about how to know if I have gynecomastia or if it is just fat, the best thing to do is to consult your doctor, contact us at and ask for an appointment with our specialists.
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