Gynaecomastia, also called “man boobs,” is a condition that causes male’s breasts to become larger than normal or swell. The condition is common in older men and teenage boys. The signs of man boobs can vary from small amounts of enlarged tissue around the breast’s nipples to swelled or prominent breasts. At times, the victim’s breast tissues can be painful or tender, but is not always the case.
Causes of Gynecomastia
Gynaecomastia has several causes, but the main one is hormonal imbalance.
Hormone Imbalance
The condition can result from the imbalance between testosterone and estrogen sex hormones. Estrogen is the hormone that causes the growth of the tissue. Although all men produce small quantities of estrogen, they have high-levels of the testosterone hormone that suppresses the activity of estrogen. If the balance between them is altered, the breasts start growing. The growth of the breast tissues is not because of being overweight and, therefore, exercising to lose weight does not help.
Other Causes
- Infection and lumps in the testicles.
- Health abnormalities such as liver disease or kidney failure
- Negative effects of drugs such as medication for heart ailments
- Use of illegal drugs such as anabolic steroids and cannabis
- Klinefelter’s syndrome
- Treatment for Gynecomastia
The condition is treated using the male breast reduction procedure. During the procedure which takes less than two hours, excess breast tissues are removed under general anesthetic. The surgeon undertaking the operation makes an incision around the areola and sucks the excess fatty tissue using liposuction method. If a lot of tissue needs to be removed, the cuts extend down the chest and the nipples are repositioned. The doctors can require you to stay in hospital overnight and rest for a few days before returning to work.
Results
The male breast reduction procedure is an effective way of reducing the breast size to give a flattened chest shape. The results are permanent, but hormonal imbalance, use of drugs, and weight gain can cause the breasts to enlarge again.
Risks
The surgery can lead to loss or reduced sensation in the nipples. It can also leave lumpy and red scars that can last for several months, but gradually fade over time.