Causes and Treatment Options for Gynecomastia

Breast augmentation is a hot topic in the plastic surgery industry, but most of the discussion revolves around women. There are many cases, however, that involve men needing a breast reduction. Gynecomastia is a benign enlargement of breast tissues, and affects between 40 and 50 percent of men. This enlargement of the breasts in men may come with some pain, but it is more embarrassing than physically painful and could affect both teenagers and adult men. To talk with someone more in depth about the causes and options for treating gynecomastia, contact Dr. Brown- who offers the plastic surgery Tampa has to offer. Call today to discuss the gynecomastia reduction Tampa has available.

What Causes Gynecomastia?

Gynecomastia is the swelling of breast tissue in boys or men, caused by an imbalance of the hormones estrogen and testosterone. Estrogen is a hormone that controls “female” characteristics, and testosterone is a hormone that controls “male” characteristics. This hormone imbalance creates feminine physical characteristics in men and has been known to affect both breasts or a single breast, sometimes creating a noticeably uneven look to the breast sizes.

Although estrogen is associated with women, men also have estrogen, and it is not until the estrogen levels increase past normal amounts that gynecomastia takes place. Many infants are born with enlarged breasts because of the residual estrogen from their mothers, but most cases of the swollen breast tissues go away after a few weeks. The most common occurrence of breast enlargement is in boys who are hitting puberty because of the natural hormone changes that take place; however, most swollen breast tissue will also go away naturally once the stages of puberty are completed. Finally, there is the possibility of men ages 50 to 69 might experience gynecomastia as well, with 25 percent of men in this age range experiencing enlarged breast tissue.

Some causes of gynecomastia can be linked to other medical conditions, such as obesity, chronic kidney failure, and hyperthyroidism. Ultimately, our bodies have a natural hormone balance, and anything that creates imbalance to those hormones, whether natural or synthetic (i.e. prescription drug side effects, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, etc.), can cause gynecomastia. To discuss further, be sure to contact Dr. Brown and review your options for male breast reduction in Tampa.

What Are the Symptoms of Gynecomastia?

The main symptom of gynecomastia is the enlargement of breast tissue, which could be accompanied with some minor pain or tenderness. You may also experience nipple discharge in some cases. Although this disorder is usually harmless, you should seriously consider talking to your doctor about the possibility of breast cancer as well since these symptoms can sometimes be similar. Once you rule out the possibility of any major medical conditions, like cancer, you can then contact Tampa Aesthetic and Plastic Surgery to discuss options for treatment and performing a male breast reduction in Tampa.

How Can You Treat Gynecomastia?

The only real preventative measure for gynecomastia is to refrain from abusing illegal drugs or alcohol, but this disorder most commonly happens naturally. In many cases, specifically the cases of boys hitting puberty, gynecomastia will fix itself and no treatment is required. For older men suffering from gynecomastia, however, the most effective treatment is surgically removing the breast tissue that is causing the enlargement. Tampa Aesthetic and Plastic Surgery is home to a facility that can help those in need of male breast reductions in Tampa.

Gynecomastia by itself is not fatal or malignant, but the reason you have it may stem from a more severe medical condition, so it is always important to be medically examined. Enlarged breasts is something that is embarrassing for most men, so be sure to contact Dr. Brown to talk about options for male breast reduction in Tampa.