Gynecomastia Surgery

The growth of breast tissue in men, caused by an imbalance of the hormones estrogen and testosterone, is called gynecomastia. Breast enlargement in men can be seen in one or both of the breasts. Gynecomastia, the incidence of which increases in newborns, adolescent men and older men, can also occur as a result of different risk factors. Gynecomastia usually does not cause a very serious health problem, but it has psychological effects that it creates in men.

Male breast enlargement, which is quite common worldwide, is a health problem that can be treated with different methods. When planning treatment, it is necessary to determine the main factor that causes breast growth. Gynecomastia can be treated with surgical methods when it does not respond to treatment or does not improve spontaneously, causing pain or pain, reducing the comfort of a person’s life. With gynecomastia surgery, both breast growth and skin sagging problems are eliminated and patients ‘ complaints are reduced.

What Is Gynecomastia?

Gynecomastia is a condition of breast growth that occurs in men, as mentioned above. Breast enlargement in men can occur both in the adipose tissue in the breast and in the breasts own tissue. Gynecomastia, which has different stages, can cause psychological damage to men in its later stages. The fact that breasts are obvious from clothes, wearing thin clothes in summer can cause problems that lead to social isolation and depression. Social discourses cause men to feel psychologically bad about breast size.

What Causes Male-Type Breast Enlargement?

The causes of gynecomastia can be very diverse. Loss of balance between the hormone testosterone and estrogen can trigger the formation of gynecomastia. A drop in testosterone can cause growth in breast tissue. The formation of gynecomastia in infants is possible. Babies can be born with enlarged breasts caused by estrogen in their mothers. This condition passes spontaneously in the first one month after birth. Gynecomastia in adolescence is characterized by hormonal changes specific to this period. Gynecomastia is common in adolescence and, if left untreated, can improve spontaneously for a period of 6 months to 2 years. But the psychological effects of gynecomastia, which occurs during adolescence, can be quite large. The incidence of gynecomastia increases again in adulthood and old age. It is known that 1 out of every 4 men has a gynecomastia problem due to period-specific hormonal changes. Other factors that can cause the formation of gynecomastia can include drugs, drugs, alcohol, kidney failure, lack of nutrition, ageing, tumours, diseases such as hyperthyroidism.

What Are The Symptoms Of Gynecomastia?

Breast enlargement symptoms in men can be listed as an increase in breast tissue, an increase in breast fat, pain and tenderness in the breast area, and discharge from the nipple. All these symptoms can increase their severity in line with the stages of gynecomastia.

What Are The Stages Of Gynecomastia?

Gynecomastia can be studied in four separate stages, basically. In the first stage, slight swelling and discolouration can be seen around the areola and nipple. Growth is not yet fully noticeable. In the second stage, the growth in the breast begins to become obvious, and now the priority is given to closing the breasts when making clothing choices. In the third stage, the width of the chest also increases the skin tissue around the breast. At this stage, breasts can be noticed, although men pay attention to their clothing choices. At the last stage, the breasts of men have a structure similar to that of a woman. In the case of stage four gynecomastia, surgical intervention is essential.

What Are Gynecomastia Treatment Options?

The planning of gynecomastia treatment is done individually. In some patients, there is no need to evaluate any treatment options, the patient is monitored, and after a while, gynecomastia resolves spontaneously. During planned treatment for the cause of gynecomastia, the patient may need to stop drinking alcohol and smoking, lose weight, decommission medications used, or use medications that will provide hormone balance. If gynecomastia does not improve on its own, if the treatment does not give results and the patient experiences psychological difficulties due to their growing breasts, gynecomastia surgery can be performed.

What Is Gynecomastia Surgery?

Plastic surgery performed on the principle of removing excess adipose tissue in the breasts of people who experience problems with male breast growth, or excess breast tissue together with excess adipose tissue in the breast, is called gynecomastia surgery.

Why Is Gynecomastia Surgery Performed?

Gynecomastia, which does not respond to treatment or does not pass spontaneously, can negatively affect the quality of life, leading to pain and pain, as well as causing psychological damage to men. The psychological effects of having breasts that are obvious from clothes should not be denied, and when this health problem reaches an uncomfortable level, surgical options should be evaluated.

How Is Gynecomastia Surgery Performed?

Gynecomastia is a surgery usually performed under general anaesthesia. As part of the operation, liposuction can only be performed, which allows you to remove excess adipose tissue in the breast, and in case of excess breast tissue, it may be necessary to resort to mastectomy. In mixed-type gynecomastia, that is, both liposuction and mastectomy can be combined with an increase in the adipose tissue in the patient’s breast as well as breast tissue. The technique to be preferred during the operation is determined individually.

How Many Hours Does Gynecomastia Surgery Take?

The duration of gynecomastia surgery may vary depending on the technique to be applied. If only liposuction is performed on the patient, this procedure is completed with local anaesthesia in about 45 minutes. If the patient is to receive an excess of both fat and breast tissue, the operation time can reach 1 hour and general anaesthesia is needed. In some patients with gynecomastia, both general growth and sagging of the breast can be observed at the same time. In this case, it may be necessary to reduce the nipple. This operation, which is more comprehensive, can be completed in 1-2 hours.

Who Is A Suitable Candidate For Gynecomastia Surgery?

People with male-type breast growth, body development has been completed, who cannot get results from treatments, who experience psychological problems due to the appearance of their breasts, who have aesthetic concerns, are suitable candidates for gynecomastia surgery.

What to Consider After Gynecomastia Surgery?

In order for the healing process after gynecomastia to proceed smoothly, it is important that patients follow the instructions of the doctors. During this period, a corset of gynecomastia should be worn during the recommended time period. Complaints such as pain, bruising, tenderness and oedema may occur at an early stage in the operation area. Pain is at a level that can be eliminated with simple painkillers.

In the process after gynecomastia surgery, the chest area should be protected against bumps. Heavy sports are recommended to be decamped for about 2 months. Care should be taken to sleep in the supine position until full recovery occurs.

What Is Gynecomastia Corset, Why Should It Be Used?

Gynecomastia corset, which should be used for about 6 weeks after gynecomastia surgery, is a medical product that should be used in order to best fit the shape of the structured breasts and protect the area from bumps. It should be used immediately after surgery. Information about the use and duration of gynecomastia will be transmitted by surgeons.

Does gynecomastia recur after surgery?

Gynecomastia will not recur when there is no health problem that can cause the formation of gynecomastia when excess weight is not gained when alcohol consumption is controlled. But for reasons such as age progression, weight gain, or diseases that affect the balance of hormones, breast growth can occur again in men.

Does the scar remain after gynecomastia surgery?

The answer to this question depends on the operation technique. If excess adipose tissue in the breast is removed only with liposuction, there will be no scars. But if breast tissue is removed and the nipple is configured, a scar that becomes silicified over time can occur. In order to prevent the formation of scars after gynecomastia, surgeons carefully determine the incision sites.

Does gynecomastia surgery affect sex life?

After the healing process after gynecomastia is completed, patients can have sex. An improvement in their sex life occurs because they are able to regain the self-confidence they have lost due to breast size.

Does the loss of sensation occur in the breasts after gynecomastia surgery?

After breast reduction surgery in men, complaints such as loss of sensation and numbness may occur in the breasts for some time, depending on the technique of the operation performed. Usually, the loss of sensation passes within 2-3 weeks after the operation.

Is gynecomastia surgery performed at any age?

In order for gynecomastia surgery to be performed, patients must be over the age of 18, and for patients of a younger age, family approval must be obtained. The completion of body development is the most decisive element in making the decision of the operation. Patients should be expected if they do not complete their body development. Since gynecomastia usually passes on its own, it would be more accurate to wait until at least body development is complete before the decision to operate is made.

Is there any pain after gynecomastia surgery?

Complaints that are likely to occur after gynecomastia surgery include pain. As after almost all surgical interventions, pain can be observed in the period after gynecomastia surgery. It is possible to control this complaint with the use of prescribed painkillers.

Are the results of gynecomastia surgery successful?

Although the success rate of breast growth surgery in men is high, various factors that can affect this rate can be mentioned. Factors such as how patients adapt to the rules of the recovery period, whether the diagnosis is performed correctly, whether the operation is planned individually can affect the success of the operation. For successful completion of healing in the post-operative period, it is important that patients stop using alcohol and smoking, which will negatively affect the wound healing process.