What Is Gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia is the over-expression of breast tissue in males, such that it resembles (to varying degrees) the breast tissue of females. It is not a condition that demands medical concern, but its cosmetic effects can have emotional side-effects, especially in a culture where female traits in males is viewed negatively. The condition is almost always the result of a hormonal imbalance, as abnormally high levels of the predominately female hormone estrogen or abnormally low levels of the “masculine” hormone testosterone can cause the tissue of the breast to swell and grow. The hormone balance can be the result of one or many factors, some of which are normal parts of the life cycle. For instance, newborn boys and girls often exhibit gynecomastia to a limited degree as a result of the estrogen taken in from the mother’s breast milk while nursing. Newborn gynecomastia tends to disappear within two or three weeks after delivery, and is neither permanent nor a health concern.
Gynecomastia is a condition in which firm breast tissue forms in males. Gynecomastia may be present on one side or on both sides. This condition may make the breast tender. It is a swelling of the breast, either diffusely or as a nodule, mostly occuring directly behind the nipple. It is sometimes considered the male counterpart to the female fibrocystic change -hormonal or medicine related, self limited, and creating a benign lump that must be differentiated from cancer. Some men and boys have fat on their chests that makes it look like they have breasts. This condition is called pseudogynecomastia (false gynecomastia). It is not the same thing as gynecomastia.
Gynecomastia is an enlargement of the male breasts, a condition that is common and affects a good percentage of the male population. The majority of the cases have no known causes or pathology, while in some cases, this may be related to the use of drugs or a medical condition. The best candidates for the procedure are healthy, emotionally stable men or boys, who have firm, elastic skin that will reshape after the mastopexy. The procedure is done as an outpatient and is done with general anesthetic or sedation, depending on the extensiveness of the procedure. Click here to contact Dr.
Gynecomastia (or gynaecomastia) is the medical term for breast tissue growing on a male. While it is not known exactly why it happens, it is actually normal for young men, and about 65% of 14 year old males develop some breast tissue. The hormones that cause all of the other changes in puberty can cause this too. Breast tissue growth for older males can be caused by other health problems, or by medicines that are needed to treat some health problems, or by use of some drugs such as anabolic steroids. This is different to the normal growth of breast tissue in young men around puberty. Men who are overweight can develop ‘man boobs’, but this is caused by fat deposits, not breast tissue growth.
Gynecomastia is a fairly common, but rarely talked about, condition of enlarged male breasts. Sometimes overdeveloped male breasts can be linked to specific drugs or medical problems. Most commonly gynecomastia is caused by excess glandular tissue (localized fat deposits). Male breast reduction surgery can help men feel better about their appearance by creating a more masculine chest contour. Gynecomastia comes from the Greek words gyne and mastos, meaning female and breasts, roughly translating to female-like breasts. Gynecomastia is a benign condition that accounts for 60% of all disorders of the male breast and 85% of male breast masses. It can occur in persons of any age, but 40% of cases occur in adolescent boys aged 14-15.5 years. As many as 65% of teenage boys have gynecomastia. In 90% of those teenage boys, gynecomastia goes away on its own in 2 to 3 years. Approximately 40% of healthy men and up to 70% of hospitalized men have palpable breast tissue.
