Getting rid of false gynecomastia in men

Correction of gynecomastia by Vedrova O.V.

Correction of gynecomastia is a surgical intervention aimed at eliminating pathological growth of the mammary glands or excess fatty tissue (in short, breast reduction in men). Corrective surgery is indicated in cases where drug treatment has not been successful.

Anesthesia General anesthesia

Operation time 1-3 hours

Cost 100,000 rub.

BEFORE/AFTER PHOTO

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The reasons for this problem can be very diverse:

• obesity;
• hermaphroditism;
• hormonal disorders, etc.

As a result, men develop all sorts of complexes that negatively affect their quality of life. The correction method depends on whether the form was identified unilaterally or bilaterally. The choice of technique is also influenced by what type of disease was diagnosed (false or true).

The corrective procedure is performed under general anesthesia and lasts from one to three hours.

Removing gynecomastia is not only a way to get rid of complexes. Such breast deformation in men can lead to the development of oncological pathology - which is why it is so important to carry out correction in a timely manner.

Make an appointment with one of the best plastic surgeons in Moscow, Dr. O.V. Vedrov, to effectively and safely solve the problem that is complicating your life!

↑ Gynecomastia in women

With a strict approach to terms, it must be recognized that women do not have gynecomastia as such. After all, this term usually refers only to breast growth in men. However, in everyday life, gynecomastia in women refers to a pathological enlargement of the mammary glands at various periods of life.

During adolescence, girls begin to grow breasts. This physiological phenomenon is natural. It should be noted that each girl’s mammary glands grow differently.

Breasts grow throughout life. Normally, a woman's breasts become larger when she is pregnant and when she is breastfeeding. In other cases, when the mammary glands greatly increase in volume, it can be assumed that there are some abnormalities.

As you know, gynecomastia is a pathological growth of breast tissue. If the volume of a woman’s mammary gland increases to 400 cubic centimeters, then this is the diagnosis. Note that in medicine there are cases where the breast size was 1 thousand cubic centimeters. This condition, of course, causes discomfort in the girl. At the same time, let’s not forget about the harm to health.

Next, we will present a classification that should be considered rather arbitrary, since it is not related to one or another clinical manifestation, but to the patient’s age, as well as to changes in her body.

GYNECOMASTIA IN NEWBORNS

. It occurs frequently, but in most cases it is not considered a disease, and therefore treatment is not provided. The disease goes away about a month after birth. In the case when the mother's medical history is burdened with mammological problems, it is necessary that the child, whether a boy or a girl, be examined by a specialist.

GYNECOMASTIA IN GIRLS

. Clearly visible mammary glands appear in them from 9-10 years of age. If a girl between the ages of 1 and 9 years is actively growing her bust, she should immediately consult a doctor. There is no need to attribute symptoms to acceleration and argue that this is the case when puberty is early.

GYNECOMASTIA IN ADOLESCENTS

. In most cases it is temporary. And it goes away without any consequences. The doctor often makes this diagnosis. Approximately every third patient of both sexes has this diagnosis. The peak of the disease occurs in children aged 12-14 years.

IMPORTANT! In such cases, it is advisable to contact a specialist. With a high probability we can say that possible treatment will be reduced to the fact that the child will need to adjust his diet. He will also sometimes need to visit a medical facility.

Gynecomastia in women can be of three subtypes:

• False. This is “obesity” of the chest. This condition is caused by subcutaneous fat, which has accumulated beyond measure.
• True. In this case, the glandular tissue grows pathologically, but the normal volume of adipose tissue remains.
• Mixed. Tissue, both glandular and adipose, increases. This can be clearly determined not only with mammography, but also with ultrasound. And even with palpation, that is, by touch.

Causes and main risk factors:

• Pregnancy and lactation. This is the most common reason. It is not dangerous and does not require treatment. And after the child switches to a normal diet, the symptoms, as a rule, go away on their own.
• Side effect after taking medications. In most cases, the culprits of the disease are anabolic steroids and steroids. This is why doctors recommend regular examinations for women who engage in bodybuilding. In rare cases, other medications are the culprit. Therefore, it is necessary to read the instructions before taking any medications. And as soon as the first symptoms appear, you need to go to the clinic and see a doctor.
• Improper or unbalanced diet, sedentary lifestyle. This problem is the easiest to deal with. The most harmless option, which is easily treated and most often goes away without any trace.
• Chronic diseases of the thyroid gland, hormonal imbalance. In this case, diagnosis can be difficult. And treatment will require a lot of time and money. Hormonal gynecomastia is sometimes accompanied by many concomitant diseases. This explains the difficulty of making a correct diagnosis. After all, there are many side symptoms.

IMPORTANT! Gynecomastia in women either does not require treatment at all or requires a simple operation. It usually solves the problem completely. However, when surgery is necessary, it is performed under local or general anesthesia. The operation lasts from one hour to several hours. The patient can return home the very next day.

How is the disease classified?

To select the optimal correction method, the doctor first determines the form of the pathology:

1. True form. It is characterized by excessive growth of glandular tissue. Drug therapy is required to eliminate the causes and surgical intervention to correct the consequences.
2. False or fatty gynecomastia. Often detected in obese men. The pathology is caused by the proliferation of adipose tissue and is not dangerous. Requires correction for aesthetic purposes.
3. Mixed type. In this case, breast enlargement is caused by both forms of pathology. There is also diffuse (sometimes called fibrocystic disease) and nodular types of pathology. If the first is less dangerous, then the second requires immediate intervention, as it sometimes degenerates into breast cancer.

Gynecomastia can be of three types. True – when men have accumulations of glandular tissue due to hormonal changes. False - these are accumulations of adipose tissue due to excess body weight. And there is mixed - the most popular variant of gynecomastia, when there is glandular tissue under the nipple, and around it there is fatty tissue with an admixture of glandular tissue.

Vedrov O. V. plastic surgeon

Gynecomastia: how to know if you have it

In order not to panic while waiting for corrective intervention and to get rid of the fear of the unknown, you need to understand what gynecomastia is and how it manifests itself in men.

Symptoms of the pathology (as well as its treatment) depend primarily on the stage. For example, when it comes to elderly patients: if in the first 4 months of the disease it is still possible to do without surgery, then in the third - fibrous stage - only radical intervention will be effective.

Patients with gynecomastia may experience specific signs of the disease:

• decreased erectile function;
• baldness or decreased male pattern hair growth;
• change in voice timbre;
• depression, frequent mood swings;
• a feeling of fullness in this area, even mild itching is possible;
• whitish discharge from the nipples in small quantities;
• swelling of the mammary glands (on one side or both);
• a sharp change in size (to the point that some patients purchase a special bra to hide the problem).

As for pain: with gynecomastia, men usually do not have complaints that their breasts hurt a lot

The appearance of bloody impurities or enlarged lymph nodes may indicate the development of cancer pathology. At the first symptoms, immediately contact a doctor to get diagnosed and begin therapy, since by identifying gynecomastia at an early stage, there is every chance of getting rid of it without surgery.

Briefly about the indications for the operation

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In most cases, the condition of enlargement of the paired organ (glands) in men is caused by a disease such as gynecomastia. Gynecomastia is present in approximately 25% of men without weight gain and in 70% of obese men. According to medical data, the disease can develop in two forms. Accordingly, they distinguish:

• true gynecomastia;
• false gynecomastia.

The false form occurs in patients with a high body mass index.

Obesity causes false gynecomastia

“Breasts” (if such a term is applicable to representatives of the stronger sex) with a false form increase due to the deposition of a large amount of fat in the mammary gland and is considered a safe condition.

In the true form, we are talking about pathology: the gland itself enlarges. In most cases, we have to talk about hormonal imbalance, and possibly a cancerous tumor.

True gynecomastia is caused by excessive levels of female sex hormones (estrogens) in the blood and is manifested by the following symptoms:

• Raising the tone of voice. Due to the influence of estrogen, the vocal cords become thinner and shorter.
• Decreased libido.
• Lack of body hair or female pattern hair growth. If gynecomastia overtakes a man in adulthood, his hair will simply begin to fall out.
• Breast enlargement on one or both sides. In this case, palpation gives pronounced results.
• A dense formation or formations may be detected in the structure of the mammary glands. This is a worrying sign. Contrary to popular belief, breast cancer does not only affect women. This rarely happens, however, clinical cases do occur.
• Changes in skin pigmentation in the nipple areola area.
• Development of testicular failure: they change their shape, color and size. Testicular atrophy occurs (in the most severe cases).

Sharp enlargement of the mammary gland in men due to hormonal imbalance

Accordingly, we can talk about two absolute indications for surgical removal of mammary glands in men:

• Having diagnosed breast cancer. Or suspicion of a neoplastic process of a malignant nature.
• Advanced true gynecomastia with ineffective testosterone therapy. It must be noted that only mature men over the age of 18 are treated promptly.

In all other cases there is no need for such radical measures. To eliminate false gynecomastia, liposuction surgery is performed (pumping out excess fat).

Who's at risk

Gynecomastia is most often diagnosed in adolescents aged 12–15 years. However, signs are also found in newborns, but at this age the problem is not serious, as it goes away on its own after a few weeks. Experts attribute this to intrauterine receipt of an excessive dose of female hormones from the mother.

The next physiological stage is teenage or juvenile gynecomastia (at 14, 17 years old). It is more serious, as it may be the result of another dangerous pathology. In addition, it is very difficult to understand what you have and whether it is normal during adolescence. As a result, depression and aggression develop. In this case, it is necessary to be monitored by a specialist who will tell you what hormones need to be tested for male gynecomastia, as well as what examinations should be taken to rule out dangerous syndromes.

Bilateral gynecomastia in Klinefelter syndrome is detected in adolescence due to insufficient production of the hormone testosterone

If the examination showed that the cause of the symptoms that appeared is hormonal changes in the body, then after 1–2 years the problem will go away on its own.

The appearance of such signs in the medical history of an elderly patient requires the greatest attention. What is gynecomastia in men 60 years old? It is usually preceded by:

• gaining excess weight;
• decreased androgen function;
• insufficient production of testosterone with excess estrogen.

At the age of “40+” it is very important to correct the situation and stop tissue proliferation in time so that the problem does not become malignant.

The main thing about gynecomastia: what it is and where it comes from

This pathology is common among men. It consists of enlargement of the mammary glands due to the influence of a number of factors, including an increase in the fat layer. Against the background of obesity, hormonal imbalance can also develop, which also affects the onset of gynecomastia. Other causes of the disease are:

1. Age. During a man's life, hormonal levels change at different stages. For example, in newly born boys, the pathology of breast enlargement occurs in about 70% of cases, but within the first two months it goes away on its own. The maternal hormone prolactin plays a role here, which influenced the baby in the prenatal period. The disease also occurs in adolescents, since at the age of 13-18 years hormonal changes occur - puberty. When the indicators are normalized, gynecomastia also goes away on its own in many cases. The problem can still arise due to aging. Scientists associate the process with prostate diseases, as well as low levels of testosterone production at this age.
2. Medications. Long-term uncontrolled use of pharmacological compounds of the hormonal group, as well as diuretics, antibiotics and similar medications, can provoke the development of gynecomastia in the patient. Often, to eliminate the problem, it is enough to stop using such drugs.
3. Anabolics. This is relevant for athletes who, while on a course of steroids, often show signs of breast enlargement. The fact is that many anabolic steroids contain female hormones, for example, estradiol, sometimes prolactin, which means that in the bodybuilder’s body the concentration of these hormones gradually increases, which causes gynecomastia. As in the previous case, most often to stop the pathology it is enough to simply stop taking such pharmaceuticals.

Another, less obvious reason for the development of gynecomastia is active sports, which the man abruptly stopped doing. Due to the constant physical activity that the body received, the production of testosterone constantly increased. And as a result of a sharp decrease in activity, testosterone production also drops, which is fraught with hormonal disruption and an estrogen/testosterone imbalance in favor of the former.

Causes of pathological changes

If in children symptoms are more often caused by physiological factors, then the appearance of gynecomastia in men may be associated with the following reasons:

Video

Types and nuances of gynecomastia surgery

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Types and nuances of gynecomastia surgery

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• fasting and overeating;
• consequences of treatment with certain types of hormonal drugs;
• hyperthyroidism;
• cirrhosis of the liver;
• hyperprolactinemia;
• chronic renal failure;
• adrenal neoplasms;
• malfunction of the pituitary gland;
• testicular pathologies that reduce testosterone production, etc.

Sometimes men ignore visits to the clinic because they do not know which doctor to contact with such a defect. But unsuccessfully trying to hide gynecomastia, they only destroy their own lives with all sorts of complexes.

INDICATIONS FOR THE PROCEDURE

Indications

Surgery to remove gynecomastia in men is indicated not only for aesthetic reasons. There are a number of factors that make it necessary:

• suspicion of a malignant neoplasm;
• the appearance of dense nodes or cysts of the mammary glands;
• discharge from the nipples of any nature;
• lack of stable therapeutic effect from drug treatment;
• soreness in this area.

Important! After the operation, the removed tissues are necessarily sent for histological analysis!

CONTRAINDICATIONS TO THE PROCEDURE

Contraindications

Since gynecomastia in men can be treated surgically only under general anesthesia, patients who have contraindications to it will not be allowed to undergo surgery. We are talking about serious diseases with a high anesthetic risk. But there are other factors that make correction impossible or push back the date of its implementation indefinitely:

• acute phase of an infectious disease;
• any dermatological pathologies in the area of ​​the proposed intervention;
• late stages of obesity;
• age up to 18 years, since the problem can be eliminated only after the boy has completed puberty;
• further tissue proliferation against the background of highly effective treatment (first it is necessary to cure gynecomastia by eliminating the cause of its occurrence, and only after that - remove aesthetic defects).

Sometimes a surgeon may recommend treatment without surgery if a man has not undergone hormonal correction before. But if the patient insists on surgical intervention, and no contraindications are identified, preparations for the operation will begin.

Gynecomastia in adolescence

"Wait until you're 18..."

As a rule, parents of such children turn to an endocrinologist and are advised to wait indefinitely. This statement is paradoxical. If gynecomastia does not go away on its own within six months after its occurrence, it can no longer disappear. The growth of the rudimentary mammary gland is controlled by hormones, and it is estrogens that are responsible for this process. Figuratively speaking, the mammary glands do not care in which body they exist - male or female. They will behave as their hormones tell them to. That is, despite the fact that gynecomastia is a pathology in the male body, the growth of the mammary glands is a natural phenomenon in the event of an increase in estrogen levels. The formed mammary gland is essentially an organ that cannot disappear anywhere.

In our practice, there have been cases when desperate young people sought surgical help immediately after reaching adulthood due to a lack of mutual understanding with their parents, who were afraid to have surgery or hoped that gynecomastia would disappear.

Patient reviews

Review

Igor

I had an appointment with Oleg Vyacheslavovich Vedrov, I just wanted to remove my sides with liposuction. But it turned out that I have gynecomastia. I took tests on the doctor’s advice, gynecomastia was confirmed, but there wasn’t anything too bad about it yet. Oleg Vyacheslavovich agreed to perform two operations at the same time - to remove the sides and to correct the chest. As I was told, the Vaiser or Vaser operation was performed. But I'm extremely pleased! There are no big scars, nothing hurts, only small punctures were made from which the fat was pumped out from the chest. And now I finally have male breasts. I would like to say a big thank you to Oleg Vyacheslavovich for immediately identifying the problem with his experienced surgical eye and helping to avoid terrible consequences in the form of oncology, etc. Thank you again, I highly recommend this doctor. I had it done at the Etalon clinic!

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Review

Stepan

I would like to express my deep gratitude to the best plastic surgeon in the world, Oleg Vyacheslavovich Vedrov! In general, I don’t like writing reviews, but he is a surgeon from God and I decided that men with a problem like mine should know their heroes by sight. I was diagnosed with gynecomastia, which can even cause breast cancer. Following advice on the Internet, I came across Oleg Vyacheslavovich Vedrov. I looked at his work, read the reviews, and didn’t find a single bad one! I immediately liked the doctor, he is a detailed man and says everything to the point, does not try to sell or sell anything unnecessary, but everything is factual. He performed an operation on me, a few days later I went to work calmly and did not hurt anything. I advise and recommend Oleg Vyacheslavovich to everyone, he takes on even the most difficult cases like mine.

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What you need to know about correction

Finding out which doctor treats this pathology and what gynecomastia means is not enough. It is equally important to familiarize yourself with the features of the preparatory stage and the rehabilitation period. This will avoid complications and maintain the results. It is very important to strictly adhere to the recommendations established by the surgeon and report any (even minor) changes in the condition.

Preparation rules

At the preparatory stage, the patient should:

• undergo a full examination (including examination by specialists);
• pass the necessary tests;
• stop taking medications that affect blood clotting (at least 14 days before the intervention);
• eliminate alcohol and reduce smoking to a minimum;
• switch to a lighter diet.

In the evening (on the eve of the appointed date) you cannot eat/drink anything, but be sure to take a shower.

Download the list of necessary tests for surgery (local / general anesthesia). The final list of tests is determined by the surgeon.

Features of surgical intervention

On the day of the procedure, hair in the area of ​​intended intervention is removed. The doctor once again examines the patient and makes markings on the skin, which will be used to carry out corrections in the future.

Depending on the type of problem, the following may be done:

• resection of glandular tissue;
• pumping out excess fat from the problem area.

In some cases, with gynecomastia, liposuction is performed in conjunction with a cardinal mastectomy, if this is provided for in the surgical protocol. The indication for combined intervention is a combination of excess weight and endocrine disorders, resulting in the proliferation of both glandular and adipose tissue.

Rehabilitation

To prevent complications during the recovery period, the patient must follow the following rules:

• do dressings daily in the clinic while monitoring the condition of the operated area;
• engage in physical therapy;
• undergo physiotherapeutic procedures;
• use a special bandage;
• take prescribed medications.

During the rehabilitation period, it is necessary to limit physical activity to one and a half months. And then, on the contrary, I recommend loading the large pectoral muscles in the gym in order to “crush” the cavity that is forming there.

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By following the recommendations and controlling your weight in the future, you can forget about the problem forever and start a new full life!

Do you suffer from complexes? Don't feel like a real man? Call us and make an appointment with Dr. O.V. Vedrov. A beautiful body is the key to masculinity and self-confidence!

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Rehabilitation after surgery to remove gynecomastia

While in the hospital, dressings, recovery procedures, and bed rest are carried out. After discharge, the men are responsible for maintaining the recovery regime and some restrictions.

After some interventions, a drainage is installed to drain excess fluid, its removal is scheduled for the third to fifth day.

The first day after gynecomastia is spent wearing a rigid support corset; from the second day to one or two months, wearing an elastic corset or bandage is required.

• In general, you can go to work a week after correction of gynecomastia; after laser surgery, the time frame is reduced.
• You can sleep on your back or sides for 14 days.
• Take preventive medications as prescribed. At the same time, restrictions on taking medications that affect blood clotting continue.
• Daily dressing and treatment of postoperative sutures as prescribed.
• To minimize swelling and lymph outflow, you can do a light lymphatic drainage massage from the second week (after consulting with your doctor). It should be temporarily abandoned if pain is present.
• Refrain from water procedures for five days.
• For 2-3 weeks you cannot visit the bathhouse, sauna, hammam, or take a bath.
• Postpone visits to the beach and solarium for a month.
• If there are no complications, you can start non-exhaustive cardio training after 15-20 days. Strength and intense training is possible after at least a month. Any training begins with a gradual increase in loads and only after consulting a doctor.
• Alcohol is prohibited for the entire recovery period; you must abstain at least until the stitches heal.
• Smoking increases the healing time, so from the preparatory period until the formation of healed wounds, it is better to limit the number of cigarettes smoked.
• Proper nutrition is required, avoiding salty and spicy foods.