Gynecomastia is the medical term for enlargement of the male breast. It is derived from the Greek words meaning "woman - like breasts."All men have breast tissue like women, but some men have more breast tissue than others do. It is a typical phenomenon in about 70% of boys going through their adolescent years, but is present in only about 5% of adult men. True enlargement of the breast glands needs to be distinguished from excess fat in the breast area that occurs with weight gain. It is an embarrassing situation for men and creates lot of psychological pain.
Though certain drugs and medical problems have been linked with over development of the male breast, there is no known cause in the vast majority of cases. The enlargement can be from excess glandular tissue or fat or both. Hormonal disbalance is not a proven reason yet.
For men who feel self-conscious about their appearance, breast-reduction surgery is a way out. The procedure removes fat and or glandular tissue from the breasts, and in extreme cases removes excess skin, resulting in a chest that is flatter, firmer, and better contoured.
The doctor has two choices:
To get the best results, liposuction and excision are often combined.
Risks include:
You may return to work immediately following the male breast reduction procedure. When you do return to work, be careful not to lift heavy weights for about 14 days or so. Avoid strenuous activities like sports or contact activities like swimming to avoid any kind of infection.
Gentle exercise, such as walking or slight stretching is recommended.
Gynaecomastia (breast reduction for a man) is a permanent solution to an otherwise permanent problem of male breast enlargement. But, it is not a way to lose weight.