| Male breast problems of cosmetic concern
may seem like an unusual topic, but in fact, is not. A very common abnormality
known as gynecomastia, ( literally "woman's breast"),
is cause for much consternation to many men, young and old. Exaggerated
breast development in the male most commonly occurs in the adolescent
years, during which time nearly 65% of young men will experience some
breast growth. For the majority, this will spontaneously regress. When
gynecomastia persists beyond 2 years, it nearly never regresses, and
can become an appropriate reason to consider surgery.
It is important to distinguish adolescent gynecomastia from drug-related breast development if treatment results are to be lasting. Gynecomastia induced by the use of marijuana or anabolic steroids can return after surgery if these drugs are not abandoned. In these instances, patients are often sufficiently disturbed by the breast growth to cease their use of the responsible drug. The mature or elderly male may also suffer from gynecomastia. When severe obesity or liver disease are the cause, surgery on the breast is not usually appropriate. However, some moderately obese men and those on therapy for hormonally-responsive tumors (like prostate cancer) may be very good candidates for surgical intervention. |
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The treatment of gynecomastia has improved dramatically in recent years. The need for large, potentially disfiguring incisions once used in years past has been eliminated through the combined use of small incisions at the areolar edge and liposuction. Using these techniques, scarring is minimal and the recovery much less involved.
However, it is well to note that there are still cases for which the preferred, minimally invasive approach is not appropriate. Where skin is in-elastic and in frank excess or the nipple-areolar complex needs to be moved a significant distance, larger incisions will be required.
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