Many patients visit California Skin Institute because they’re wondering how to get rid of gynecomastia. This problem is quite common for men of all ages, and presents itself as the enlargement of one or both breasts. Unfortunately, this seemingly innocuous issue can have deep psychological effects on some individuals. Gynecomastia can make an individual feel emasculated; leading to feelings of insecurity and a less active social life. The latter is perhaps the most troublesome effect of gynecomastia, because it can compound into feelings of depression and prevent an individual from making more friends and experiencing relationships.

At California Skin Institute we’ve helped many patients struggling with gynecomastia, and can use a variety of treatment options to address this problem.

Causes of Gynecomastia

The enlargement of the breast is a common issue for many men and can be induced by a variety of reasons. For example, in young men, breast enlargement is common during adolescence and can affect either one or both breasts. When gynecomastia occurs at this stage in life, tenderness and sensitivity are common. In most cases, gynecomastia in adolescents ultimately disappears with time, though in some cases may require surgical intervention.

In adults, gynecomastia can result from a multitude of conditions, including; hormonal changes, heredity, weight gain, or the use of certain drugs. Further, adults of any age may be affected, and some are quite surprised when the breasts enlarge later in life, when no apparent weight gain or other health changes have occurred.

Regardless of the reasons for the development of breast enlargement, the psychological and emotional costs of gynecomastia during adolescence and adulthood can be severe.

Treatment of Gynecomastia

The surgeons at California Skin Institute have extensive experience helping patients treat gynecomastia successfully. Our experienced doctors focus on reducing the size of the breast(s) for decreased overall volume, and on contouring the area, so that the chest looks natural. Further, our board-certified surgeons take great care to minimize any scarring associated with surgery, so that the patient can recover with minimal reminders of the procedure.

When you meet with a California Skin Institute surgeon, he or she will make a careful assessment to identify the cause of the breast enlargement. This diagnosis is vital, because it will dictate the course of proper treatment. For example, the biological causes can be due to:

• Excess localized fat (soft)
• Excess glandular tissue (firm)
• A combination of localized aft and excess glandular tissue
• Excess skin

Depending on the root cause, your California Skin Institute surgeon will take a specific course of action. For example, any excess fat is commonly removed with liposuction. In this procedure, a specialized tool called the cannula is inserted under the skin to suction out the excess fat. This minimizes scarring and the healing time after the procedure.

If gynecomastia is caused by excess glandular tissue, the extra tissue is removed through a small incision located at the lower border of the areola (the pigmented tissue around the nipple). This also minimizes scarring and recovery time after the procedure.

When excess skin is the culprit behind gynecomastia, it is usually due to weight loss and needs to be reduced surgically.

Setting up Your Appointment

Depending on your specific situation, your surgeon will use a combination of the treatments above to reduce the appearance of gynecomastia, and produce outcomes that look natural. However, for the procedure to be executed successfully with aesthetically pleasing outcomes, it is important to work with a skilled, experienced surgeon who will base your treatment plan around your unique situation.

Disclaimer

Treatment results will vary, talk to a practitioner to see if this treatment or procedure is right for you.