Across the U.S., men have been turning to plastic surgery more to address aesthetic concerns they may have with their face or body. Many men have been having BOTOX® Cosmetic treatments, or Brotox, to fix signs of aging on the face but men have also been having male breast reduction surgery to address gynecomastia, or enlarged breasts in men.
Gynecomastia is an embarrassing condition in which adult males have the appearance of enlarged breasts. Commonly referred to as “man boobs,” this condition can cause self-esteem issues for those afflicted. What’s more, no amount of push-ups or cardio can reverse the condition, as the extra fat and tissue are resistant to exercise.
Male Breast Reduction is Growing in Popularity
At Luxe Plastic Surgery, our board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Malik Kutty understands how this condition can affect your confidence. You may refrain from wearing certain clothing or even enjoying certain activities because of the condition. However, male breast reduction surgery can help. In fact, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), recently released their 2017 plastic surgery stats and showed that there were nearly 27,000 male breast reduction procedures performed, a 30 percent increase from the year 2000.
What Causes Gynecomastia
Gynecomastia is generally caused by an imbalance of the male and female hormones in an adult male. Starting as early as adolescence, if a male produces too much estrogen and not enough testosterone, they may develop excess breast fat and tissue, resulting in the condition. However, most teens who may develop enlarged breasts will generally have the condition subside as they reach adulthood.
For adult men who have the condition, the hormonal imbalance can be caused by a few different factors, including:
- Family history or genetics
- Specific cancers in hormonal glands (pituitary, testicles, or adrenal glands)
- Taking medications such as some steroids, antidepressants, or heart medicines
- Changing hormones as you reach middle age
- Chronic drug and alcohol use
- Excessive weight gain
How Gynecomastia is Treated
Thankfully, if not caused by a serious medical condition, gynecomastia can be easily treated with the minor surgical removal of excess breast tissue and even liposuction, if excess fat is needed to be removed. What specific treatment is used for you is dependent on the severity of your condition. For example, liposuction may be used in conjunction with tissue removal or by itself to reshape your chest.
The procedure itself is performed rather quickly and can generally be completed in 1-2 hours, allowing you to go home the same day. The recovery is also quite quick and in most cases, normal activities can be resumed shortly after the procedure. Dr. Kutty will go over all this information with you so that you can maximize your recovery and enjoy the way you look and feel as soon as possible.
If you’re a man who wants to learn more about gynecomastia and male breast reduction, please contact us today by filling out the form on this page or by calling us at (281) 313-0551 to schedule your consultation. We proudly provide quality plastic surgery services to those who live in and near Houston, Katy, and Sugar Land, Texas.