Gynaecomastia: Treatment, Procedure, Cost And Side Effects

Gynaecomastia is a condition that results in enlarged breasts in men. It occurs due to an imbalance in the oestrogen and testosterone levels in the body. This condition can occur in one breast or both, and can even occur unevenly, leading to one breast being larger than the other. It can develop in infants, during puberty, and can also develop in adult males. Although this condition is not serious from a medical point of view and does not cause any health concerns, it can be quite traumatic for males and lead to various insecurities and psychological issues

Fortunately, gynaecomastia is something that resolves itself over time. The enlarged breast tissues begin to shrink on their own and the condition can be reversed completely. However, no one can really say how much time it will take to reverse the condition. It can take years on end. It is completely understandable, therefore, for men to seek out treatment for the condition rather than wait for it to go away on its own.

Doctors often prescribe medications in order to help the tissue shrink. However, if this does not work, there is always surgery to consider. Depending on your medical history and how prominent the problem is, you can either go in for a mastectomy or a liposuction. Both are equally effective in reversing the condition.

As per the current research, there are four stages of Gynecomastia:

• Grade I: The first and initial stage of Gynecomastia involves small enlargement without any signs of skin excess in the breast. The patient develops small breast enlargement especially around the nipple area or the areola which does not show any signs of clothing. The nipples may appear to be different in color and puffy which can be identical to a cone. The patient shows effective results if the treatment starts in this stage.
• Grade II: The grade II Gynecomastia has broader tissue growth than grade I but still doesn't have any signs of excess skin expanding throughout the chest. One may feel chest tightening under the nipple. On the other hand, the outer area may feel more soft and fatty. It can be easily treated with the help of gland excision followed by liposuction for the most effective results.
• Grade III: In this stage, one may see minor skin excess along with the moderate enlargement of the breast. The excess skin can be seen around the areola region which makes them droopy in appearance. The width of the chest also increases to moderate to severe size which can be alarming for an individual as one can see noticeable sagging of the breasts even with loose-fitting clothes.
• Grade IV: The last and the most severe stage of Gynecomastia, grade IV makes it look saggy and droopy which can be identical to female breasts. At this stage, the male breasts become so large that they can only be cured by liposuction with gland excision.

Summary: Gynecomastia can be divided into four categories on the basis of the size of the male breast and its associated discomforts.

In general, Gynecomastia is not considered a serious medical condition. However, if the home remedies and basic lifestyle alterations are not able to reduce or control the size of your breast, one must consult a healthcare professional as it can be a symptom of breast cancer.

Summary: Gynecomastia is not considered a serious medical condition. However, in the case of cancer, breast enlargement can be worrisome.

The diagnosis of gynaecomastia can often be confirmed visually however there are a few tests that need to be carried out in order to rule out the possibility of any other illness. Therefore, you will be asked to get a mammogram as well as blood tests to understand what the problem is. Sometimes, an MRI scan is also recommended. Gynaecomastia does not cause any health problems however, the condition itself can be caused by an underlying illness such as cirrhosis, in which case the condition must be treated.

As stated earlier, this is a condition that reverses itself naturally. Therefore it is important to know that seeking treatment is not compulsory. However, if you do seek treatment, the first line of treatment will include medication. Some medications that are designed for breast cancer and other diseases often them with gynaecomastia, even though that is not what they were intended for. The right dosage and frequency of medication depends largely on your medical history.

You can also opt for surgical procedures in order to correct this condition. If you get a liposuction, the procedure will help remove the fat in the breast area but not the breast gland itself. A mastectomy, on the other hand, removes the breast gland tissue as well and can be performed with minimal invasions.

If you have enlarged breast glands and want them removed, you can seek out the treatment. However, it is important to get evaluated by a psychiatrist once to ensure that you are eligible to undergo the procedure.

If your enlarged breasts are caused due to an underlying condition such as cirrhosis, an abscess in the breast, or fatty tissue in the area, it means that your problem is not gynaecomastia. Thus you will not be eligible for the treatment for the same.

With surgery, the side effects include bruising, swelling, and pain. If proper hygiene is not maintained during the healing period, then you can also end up developing an infection and may need more medical attention and care.

Gynecomastia can be described as enlarged male breasts or big man boobs. Most cases of Gynecomastia are just a result of fat tissue growth or excess muscle build-up in your chest area. So one can live with that without any complications throughout your life. However, there is only one case where one needs to be worried about an enlarged male breast, which is cancer. If your breast size increases for no apparent reason then one must consult a healthcare professional.

Summary: Most cases of Gynecomastia are normal fat tissues, so one can live with that without any complications. However, in the case of cancer, breast enlargement can be worrisome.

Making certain lifestyle changes will be imperative. If you have been suffering from gynaecomastia for a long time, the chances of it affecting your confidence and self-esteem are high. You may need to seek out counselling to help build the same back up. At the same time, there are various support groups that you can join where you can speak to others who are suffering from the same condition and can be in their pre-operation and post-operation conditions. They can help you ascertain what to expect in terms of medical care as well as the physical and emotional changes that will come with the procedure.

The minute the surgery is over, the glands will be removed and you will not have gynaecomastia any longer. It will take at least two weeks or more for your body to heal from the effects of the surgery.

The price of a mastectomy ranges from Rs. 1,00,000 to Rs. 2,50,000, depending on the hospital you go to and the doctor you see. Prices also range from city to city.

Once the glands are removed, you will not suffer from the condition again.

The key benefits one gets from regular exercise are toned muscles with less or no fat followed by a healthy blood flow. But it’s not possible to specifically design a routine to target a specific area for fat loss.

For Gynecomastia, there are different types of exercises that one can pursue in order to reduce the excess male breast:

• Cardio exercises like running, swimming, or even walking can help you burn general body fat and help you increase the size of the pectoral muscles by reducing the amount of fat on the chest. If you are active and have a regular exercise routine, it will take care of the loose skin by building up muscles instead of fat.
• While running is one of the best cardio to reduce body fat, walking every day and meeting your step goals according to your optimum body mass index (BMI) can also make some changes.
• Rowing Machines is another best full-body workout that is effective as it heavily involves your arms and chest. The pulling motion of the rowing machine will strengthen your upper side muscles, especially in your chest, and help you reduce breast fat.
• If you want to take a break from sweating and need something refreshing while reducing breast fat, Swimming can be a good option. Even though it is a low-impact form of cardio, it mainly involves your arms and chest muscles. It is considered one of the best cardiovascular exercises as it allows you to customize your swimming experience with different strokes and the lack of gravity impact on your body in the water. It will emphasize the amount of work your pectoral muscles do, making it both fat-free and better looking.

Summary: The key benefit one gets from regular exercise is toned muscles. But it’s not possible to specifically select the set of exercises to reduce breast fat or sagginess.

Foods that are high in estrogens may boost up the level of estrogen and cause Gynecomastia. Some of them are dried fruits, flax seeds, soy, and tofu.

Summary: Foods that are high in estrogens may boost up the level of estrogen in males which can increase the risk of Gynecomastia.

There are no home remedies to the treatment. The cure lies in removing the tissue and glands in the area so that your chest goes back to normal.

Safety: High

Effectiveness: High

Timeliness: High

Relative Risk: Low

Side Effects: Low

Time For Recovery: High

Price Range: Rs. 1,00,000 - Rs. 2,50,000

Conclusion: Gynecomastia can be described as shaggy male breasts in men and boys. In most cases, it can be due to excess fat or hormonal imbalance, in rare cases, it may be a sign of cancer or breast tumour.