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The term gynecomastia comes from the Greek gyne meaning woman and mastos meaning breast. Gynecomastia is the term given to the condition where the mammary glands in males are abnormally large and sometimes can even cause secretion of milk, much to his embarrassment. He can be a butt of jokes and he may feel embarrassed and shy. This condition may make him self-conscious. Though this condition can affect any male at any age, it is normally during the puberty and adolescence that it is highlighted and also when the person becomes old. Normally the hormonal imbalance at the growing up stage makes a boy’s breasts get enlarged. In most of the cases they become normal within a few months or years. If the breasts have enlarged because of accumulation of fat tissues due to overweight, then diet, exercises and weight reduction will help in bringing the breasts back to normal. Some medicines can also be responsible for this condition. Stopping these medicines or taking alternate medicines may help in reducing the breasts. If the gynecomastia is due to some tumor or some illness, then that has to be first corrected.
If all these methods fail, then the only cure for gynecomastia is surgery. A detailed talk with a reputed surgeon can help put things in perspective. If the candidate is in good health and does not have any disease like diabetes, then the surgery can be done. Also he should be a non-smoker or should stop smoking if he is so that he can go in for surgery to cure gynecomastia. He should also not be allergic to any medicine. If he is, then he should inform the surgeon of these problems. He should discuss and make sure he knows exactly what he is getting himself into when the surgery is planned.
Gynecomastia surgery consists of removing the excess fat by liposuction or by cutting it off. This surgery can be done under total or local anesthesia and takes a couple of hours. An incision is made in the natural folds of the skin and the excess fat removed. Or it can be cured through liposuction after first melting the fat. Once the excess fat is removed, fine sutures are used to close the incision.
Care has to be taken that the wound does not get stretched or get hurt. The doctor’s advice should be strictly followed. Sometimes the nipples need to be rearranged as removing the fat may shift their position. In the majority of the cases surgery is a sure cure for gynecomastia. The results of the surgery are good. If, by chance, the condition is repeated, the patient can always go in for another surgery. |
