Gynecomastia

Gynecomastia is the enlargement of the breast tissue in males that causes the appearance of male breasts.

Gynecomastia can occur in one or both breasts and involves excess breast tissue rather than fat tissue. Typical symptoms are breast tenderness, swelling, pain and, in some instances, nipple discharge.

Gynecomastia usually results from a hormone imbalance that decreases testosterone and increases estrogen. Other triggers include certain medications, alcohol and street drugs (such as marijuana), hyperthyroidism, kidney or liver failure, and cirrhosis. The risk for gynecomastia increases with age, with at least one in four men between 50 and 80 developing the condition. While it is not a serious health problem, those with gynecomastia are often embarrassed by the appearance of developed breasts.

Consultation

While most cases of gynecomastia resolve on their own, others are persistent and may warrant treatment with medication or cosmetic surgery. The plastic surgeons at The Plastic Surgery Center in New Jersey are highly sensitive to the needs of patients coping with gynecomastia. At our New Jersey and New York offices, the surgeons perform both liposuction and mastectomy to remove excess breast tissue and eliminate the appearance of developed breasts. Liposuction, a common cosmetic surgery, removes the breast fat, but not the breast gland tissue. Mastectomy, frequently performed endoscopically, does remove the breast gland tissue. Our staff at The Plastic Surgery Center in New Jersey will help you throughout the consultation and treatment process to ensure the best outcome.