The Stigma of Gynecomastia
It’s a common misconception that only women are interested in plastic surgery to fix physical flaws and enhance their looks. Men seek plastic surgery for the same reasons.
Men in Atlanta and across the country suffer, often silently, from gynecomastia-enlargement of the male breasts. If this describes you, you no longer need to feel embarrassed by your condition, not when a plastic surgery procedure can correct the condition.
Gynecomastia is caused by an imbalance of testosterone and estrogen in the male body. Men are most susceptible to gynecomastia during the times that hormones in the body undergo drastic changes: infancy, puberty, and “male menopause” (age 50 to 80). If you experience a mild case of gynecomastia during puberty, there is a chance the condition will go away on its own. It may, however, return sometime during adulthood.
Gynecomastia can also be caused by other factors, such as drug or steroid abuse. The condition can occur in one or both breasts. Currently, plastic surgery is the only known solution for gynecomastia.
Symptoms of gynecomastia can include swelling and tenderness of the breasts. Sufferers often wear loose clothing and rarely take off their shirts in public. If you believe you have this condition, seek a medical diagnosis from a board certified Atlanta plastic surgeon. A physician can confirm your condition through a thorough exam and a careful review of your medical history. A mammogram can rule out the suspicion of cancer.
If diagnosed with gynecomastia (even if non-cancerous), consider plastic surgery to correct the condition. Depending on your particular case, you have two options, although your plastic surgeon may recommend one over the other: liposuction or excision.
Liposuction only removes excess fat. If your condition included an excess of breast tissue, you may need to have that tissue surgically excised. Both procedures require only smaller incisions and neither takes very long to complete. Furthermore, recovery time from either surgery is reasonable: usually a few months to allow your body to adjust, although you can resume most normal activities after two-to-five weeks, depending on your condition. Neither surgery typically leaves visible scars, and gynecomastia rarely recurs after surgery.
With a solution so readily available in Atlanta plastic surgery, men no longer have to suffer the social stigma and the personal confidence-crusher of gynecomastia. Plastic surgery is not just an accepted treatment, it’s the only treatment. Get over your fears and get over your gynecomastia. Seek a board certified plastic surgeon and get the help you need.
