What is Gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia is a medical condition that results in enlarged or overdeveloped breasts in men. It can occur at any age and can be the result of hormonal changes, obesity, the use of certain drugs, or heredity.
Characteristics of Gynecomastia:
- Excess localized fat
- Excess glandular tissue development
- On occasion, excess breast skin
- It can present either unilaterally (one breast) or bilaterally (both breasts)
Gynecomastia can cause intense emotional discomfort, impair a man’s self-confidence, and cause men to avoid certain physical activities and intimacy simply to hide their condition.
In a severe case of gynecomastia, the excess weight of the breast tissue can cause the breasts to sag and stretch the dark skin surrounding the nipple (areola). In cases like this, the position and size of the areola can be surgically improved while reducing excess skin.
Surgery for Gynecomastia reduces breast size in men by flattening and enhancing the contours of the chest. Plastic surgery to correct gynecomastia is technically called a reduction mammaplasty.
