Gynecomastia

When males develop breasts, the condition is called gynaecomastia. It may be unilateral or bilateral. Although, these can develop at any age the condition is most common in adolescents due to hormonal changes taking place at that age. The other causes of gynaecomastia can be alcohol abuse, obesity, inheritance, certain medicines, oestrogen containing foods, testicular tumours etc.

In adolescents the condition is very distressing emotionally. To conceal their illness people may avoid physical activity like swimming.

Treatment

The overdeveloped breasts can be graded according to their size and different surgical procedures are designed for various grades. Thus, surgery may be done under local anaesthesia for a very small protuberance or under general anaesthesia for a larger breast. The type of surgery also depends on whether the tissue contains just fat or it has a glandular element. Liposuction alone may be sufficient if there is just fat tissue in the breast but an excision is required to remove the glandular tissue. The scars are quite inconspicuous for a small to medium enlargement but for large breasts a skin excision may be required. In very large breasts it may also be necessary to relocate the nipple-areola complex.

Patients are advised to wear a compression garment for 3-4 months after the surgery and avoid weight exercises for the same period.