Common Questions About Getting Surgery for Gynecomastia

Whether you are a man or a woman, there are always certain problems that, while benign, may cause you to be self-conscious about your appearance and negatively affect other aspects of your life. For women, a common concern may be the size or shape of their breasts. While much of cosmetic surgery is focused on the needs of women due to more pressure on women in terms of standards of beauty, there are certainly plenty of things that men are self-conscious of. One of those things is what is colloquially known as man boobs—or gynecomastia.

What is Gynecomastia?

Gynecomastia is the name for when males develop enlarged breast tissue. This leads to the appearance of breasts on the male physique. Gynecomastia can develop on either one breast or both.

What Causes Gynecomastia?

For many men, their troubles with gynecomastia start at the onset of puberty, a time when the body is experiencing many quick and sharp hormonal changes. Some boys experience higher levels of estrogen that can cause the breasts to become enlarged. This typically goes away within half a year to a few years.

In any case, gynecomastia can occur anytime that estrogen levels are heightened in men. Here are a few of the many different reasons men may experience gynecomastia, all of them involving hormonal shifts in some form or another:

  • Thyroid issues such as hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism affect the entire body as well as hormonal and metabolic processes
  • Injury or diseases, such as testicular cancer, which affect the body’s production of testosterone
  • Obesity, which creates a cascading effect on hormones. For men, higher levels of estrogen are an issue.
  • Medications which affect the prostate

What is the Difference Between Being Overweight and Gynecomastia?

Men who are slightly overweight may be concerned if they have gynecomastia. Men who are carrying extra weight may appear to have gynecomastia since fat also accumulates on the chest. This can give the appearance of having gynecomastia but it may not be the case. It is simply excess fat being deposited in the area, which is called “psuedogynecomastia”

Through weight loss, this extra weight will go away. However, for men with gynecomastia, the appearance of breasts or “puffiness” will likely never go away in adults without undergoing gynecomastia surgery.

The simple reason for this is that fat can be lost, but breast tissue cannot unless excised surgically.

Is “Gyno” The Same as Gynecomastia?

Unsurprisingly, gynecomastia is a large concern for many people who are interested in bodybuilding as a hobby and competition. In many fitness oriented circles, the term “gyno” is mistakenly thrown around. “Do I have gyno”, or “Should I get surgery for gyno”, are common questions. The misconception may stem from the fact that many people think the formal term is “gynocomastia”.

Regardless, “gyno” and gynecomastia are one in the same.

How Can I Tell if I Have Gynecomastia?

A simple touch based self-assessment can tell you if you have gynecomastia or not. But before you do that, ask yourself if you are experiencing:

  • Swelling
  • Pain or tenderness in your “breasts”
  • Asymmetrical breasts
  • Sagging breasts
  • Stretched areolas

If you want to tell if you have gynecomastia or are simply overweight, feel the area around and behind your nipples and squeeze—does it feel like there is a lump or mass of tissue there? If so, you may have gynecomastia, as ordinary fat deposits will feel fairly uniform.

Should I Get Gynecomastia Surgery?

Gynecomastia, in the vast majority of cases, is harmless and poses no medical risk outside of discomfort or dissatisfaction with physical appearance. However, at Greenberg Cosmetic Surgery, we understand that being uncomfortable with how you look can have a tremendous impact on your quality of life.

If you are suffering from gynecomastia, consider how much it affects your life. Many people who are self-conscious about their physical appearance may refrain from life activities that benefit them. Men with gynecomastia are particularly sensitive about being shirtless, so leisurely days at the pool or the beach are out of the question.

Those who are very sensitive about their condition may even refrain from physical exercises such as jogging in public because they are self-conscious about how their breasts may look.

Like many issues with physical appearance, these day to day worries end up creating a lot of stress and lack of freedom in life.

If this is you, then we at Greenberg Cosmetic Surgery would invite you to get the surgery. It is a simple cosmetic procedure that involves removing excess fat and breast tissue on your chest to reveal a tighter, more firmer appearance underneath.

What is the Recovery Time for Male Breast Reduction?

The recovery time for gynecomastia surgery is about 1-2 weeks of down time. Walking around should be no issue even post-surgery, but it is incredibly important that you avoid engaging in any physical exercise.

The final results of the male breast reduction procedure will typically be noticeable approximately 3 months after the procedure has been completed. To retain the best results of the procedure, it is best to avoid any major fluctuations in weight to avoid gaining any excess tissue there. All in all, many patients are highly satisfied with their male breast reduction.

Gynecomastia Surgery Long Island NY

We have performed gynecomastia surgery in Long Island many times to great success. Gynecomastia is a procedure that truly helps the patient be more comfortable in a wide variety of situations in life, and the outcome of the surgery yields high patient satisfaction. Greenberg Cosmetic Surgery is proud to provide the expertise and procedures to assist our patients in living their ideal life.

Contact us today by booking a consultation with us or give us a call at (516)-217-8120.

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