Publicado por Dr. Miguel Fernández Calderón: 08/03/2023
Enlargement of the breasts in men is a cosmetic problem and one that causes insecurity. Which is why one of the most common questions among men is how gynecomastia is removed. Today we are going to talk about the treatments and other details of this condition.
What are the treatments for gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia in men is defined as the pathological growth of the mammary glands. And it is a fairly common problem, which can affect up to 60% of men.
It can appear at any age, although it is common in teenagers because of hormonal imbalance. However, at this stage it may well subside after a few weeks. Older men, whose testosterone levels are reduced by some illness, are also prone to gynecomastia.
This condition can appear in one breast or in both, and it can develop more in one than in the other.
Excess mammary gland tissue is a problem for men because it gives them a feminine appearance. It is therefore capable of causing insecurity, embarrassment and low self-esteem.
Even so, it is a problem that can be corrected to give a man back a flat, firm chest.
If gynecomastia appears during puberty, no treatment is usually prescribed at first. This is because the problem corrects itself once the young man gets past the hormonal imbalance.
If, on the other hand, the problem persists or develops in adulthood, then a doctor can be consulted to remove it. The treatment for gynecomastia is cosmetic surgery, but let us look at how surgery, and medication too, affects the reduction of the mammary glands in men.
Medication
The effectiveness of the medication available for removing gynecomastia has not yet been proven. However, there are medicines used to treat other illnesses — such as breast cancer — that have been used for this purpose.
The clearest role for medication in removing gynecomastia is where the medication itself is the cause. So that, on stopping that substance, the growth of the chest should subside.
That is what happens, for example, with substances such as the steroids used to improve muscle performance.
In this case, what would need to be assessed is whether the patient is taking any medication or drug that contributes to the growth of the breasts.
Cosmetic surgery
This cosmetic surgery for men is the real solution to pathological chest development in men. The procedure used to treat the problem is also called gynecomastia surgery and it can be done by liposuction or through a mastectomy.
Liposuction consists of removing the fatty tissue that accumulates in the chest using a cannula. This treatment reduces the size of the chest by taking away the fat, but it does not remove the breast tissue.
Gynecomastia surgery with mastectomy, on the other hand, does aim to remove the mammary glands. In other words, this is the real treatment for gynecomastia in men.
What is done in this surgery is to remove the fat and the breast tissue through an incision made around the areola. Sometimes it is also necessary to excise the excess skin.
Gynecomastia surgery in Madrid is the most effective solution for having a flat, masculine chest.
How is gynecomastia removed without surgery?
To answer this question you have to understand that it is not possible to remove gynecomastia without surgery. The definitive solution to this problem is going into the operating room.
Even so, you have to understand what is behind the growth of the chest in men.
Gynecomastia is often confused with obesity, although they are not the same thing. Obesity causes fat to accumulate in the chest and, as a result, it looks bigger. But this fat can be removed with diet and exercise; in some cases it will also require liposuction.
In fact, obesity can hide gynecomastia, but the problem becomes obvious when the patient loses weight.
There are other conditions that also show characteristics similar to gynecomastia, such as infection of the breast tissue. The treatment for this problem is different from that for gynecomastia.
Where the condition is a consequence of taking certain medications, it is recommended that they be stopped or replaced with others.
If you are a woman and are unhappy with sagging breasts, take a look at the price of a breast lift in Madrid.
Who is a candidate for gynecomastia surgery?
Gynecomastia surgery can be performed on men who are in good health and want a masculine chest. They must not be overweight; in that case, the obesity has to be treated first and the operation considered afterwards.
The patient must also not be taking substances such as anabolic steroids, alcohol or drugs, since these encourage the growth of the mammary glands.
Finally, the best results are seen in patients with firm, elastic skin, since it adjusts more quickly to the new contour.
The surgeon will be responsible for assessing the patient in order to plan the surgery. During the appointment they will rule out any other condition. They may ask for some medical tests in order to do so.
If they confirm that it is gynecomastia, they will then determine the origin of the problem.
Once they have gathered all the information they need, they will start planning the surgery together with the patient.
Gynecomastia surgery takes around an hour, after which the patient must stay under observation for 24 hours. For the first two days the patient must rest completely and stay semi-reclined.
For the first two weeks they must wear a compression garment and after that they will only wear it at night.
It is normal to feel discomfort in the treated area for the first few days and for there to be some swelling. For that, the doctor will prescribe the medication to take to relieve the pain.
Little by little the patient will be able to return to their normal activities, always following the surgeon’s recommendations.
After surgery they will feel more self-confident thanks to the results of the procedure. If you have questions about how gynecomastia is removed, talk to our experts.
