Gynecomastia is the pathological enlargement in men of one or both breasts, and can be solved surgically, by liposuction or mastectomy.
Although it is not customary to link the male chest with prominent breasts, pathological breast enlargement in men is more common than it seems. This pathology, known as gynecomastia, appears in 65% of men during puberty and tends to disappear after a year or two. In adulthood, up to 36% of males may present it, and after the age of 45, the incidence among the male population grows up to 57%.
Causes of gynecomastia
The causes of the appearance of gynecomastia are many and very diverse. It may have a family origin, or be due to diseases of the liver or endocrine system, which may trigger the pathological growth of one or both of the male’s breasts.
The development of some tumors, such as lung, testicular or adrenal gland tumors, may be linked to the pathology, as well as the intake of drugs such as cimetidine (a drug used for duodenal or stomach ulcers) and digoxin (used in cardiac disorders), among others.
Some toxic substances, such as anabolic steroids, marijuana and heroin, have also been linked to the appearance of gynecomastia, although there are some times when the pathology appears without any cause.
Operation to reduce the breasts
The increase in the volume of the male breasts can be caused by an excess of fat, so the indicated intervention will be liposuction. This operation on both breasts may last one hour, and the resulting scars will resemble natural skin folds and will be located in the breast or in the armpit.
In the event that the gynecomastia is due to an enlarged mammary gland, a subcutaneous mastectomy will be performed. The gland will be removed through an incision in the lower part of the areola, an operation that can last more than an hour. If a lot of skin has to be removed, the scar will be localized around the entire areola.