Gynecomastia in men is the enlargement of the glandular breast tissue in the male breasts. During childhood, puberty, and in middle-aged to older men, it can be common and lead to psychological and emotional problems.
True gynecomastia results from the growth of glandular or breast tissue, which is present in very small amounts in men.
Although gynecomastia in men is not a serious problem, it is the most common reason for medical evaluation of the male chest.
It must be distinguished from pseudogynecomastia, a term by which we refer to an excess accumulation of adipocytes or fat cells, in the breast area of men with considerable excess weight or those who manifest obesity.
Pubertal males, that is, those who are in adolescence and therefore in the process of normal development, may be at risk of developing it.
Many of the male babies when they are born have overly large breasts with inflamed breast tissue, as a consequence of the high levels of estrogens present in the blood, received from the mother.
After several weeks this situation normalizes.
Other risk factors include:
The main symptom that characterizes this medical condition is excess mammary gland tissue, not fatty tissue in male breasts.
Signs of gynecomastia include or are characterized by:
It is recommended that you go to the best plastic surgeon in Malad in the case of swelling, acute pain, sensitivity and/or discharge from the nipple.
The most important distinction between gynecomastia symptoms from male breast cancer is that the cancer is generally confined to one side, is not necessarily centered around the nipple, feels hard or firm, and may be accompanied by other symptoms such as dimpling of the skin, nipple retraction, nipple discharge, and enlarged axillary lymph nodes.
In adolescence it occurs as a result of a hormonal imbalance or gap between the hormonal levels of estrogens (female hormones), which suffer a relative increase with respect to androgen levels (male hormones).
When it occurs in newborn babies and children going through puberty in a normal growth phase, and which in most cases usually disappears over time, it is called physiological gynecomastia.
All individuals, whether male or female, possess both female hormones called estrogens, and also male hormones, or androgens.
During puberty, estrogen and androgen levels can change, with relative estrogen levels sometimes being abnormally high.
The different studies carried out to try to see the presence in pubertal adolescents, show a great variation in the results. In some of these studies it occurred in only 4% of cases, while in others the presence or prevalence rates reached 69%.
These differences probably result from variations in what is perceived as normal and the different ages of the children examined in the studies.
In the event that it is produced by the changes that can occur in the levels of hormones in the growth stages, it usually disappears without taking action, after a period that ranges between six months and two years.
Occasionally, that which develops in the pubertal growth phase and does not subside within two years, gives rise to what is known as persistent pubertal gynecomastia.
By reducing male hormones, a relatively high level of female hormones can remain, thus triggering it.
These disorders can be genetic or acquired due to trauma, infection, reduced blood flow, or aging.
Testicular cancer can also secrete hormones that can cause gynecomastia.
This pathology can be a side effect of many drugs, for example diuretics that have antiandrogenic activity, calcium channel blockers that are used to treat hypertension, some antibiotics, anti-ulcer drugs, therapies against certain cancers of the prostate…
Other substances also related to gynecomastia are:
It is appropriate to see a plastic surgeon in Mumbai if you think you may be developing or have the condition.
Men suffering from gynecomastia have excess breast tissue in the mammary glands, not fatty tissue, with dimensions greater than 0.5 cm in diameter, which is usually found in the area around the nipple in a man, commonly under the breast. the areola
The presence of fatty tissue in the male breasts is not considered as such.
Although pubertal gynecomastia usually regresses on its own, in rare cases it can persist and require treatment.
When it has been present for 12 months or more (long-term) it can lead to fibrosis and scar formation, making drug treatment much more difficult, if not impossible, to achieve a response.
Psychological consequences can occur if breast enlargement is pronounced or a source of embarrassment.
Gynecomastia in men, especially in males in the pubertal phase, often disappears on its own within approximately six months, so in many cases it is preferable to maintain observation during that time period, to see if subsides naturally, before starting to apply a specific treatment.
Suspending medications and treatment of existing medical problems or health conditions that cause enlarged breasts, eliminating the use of substances such as steroids and anabolics that may cause their appearance, are also pillars of treatment.
Medical treatments are available to treat it, but the data on their effectiveness are limited.
Medications are most effective in reducing gynecomastia in the early stages, as scarring often occurs after about 12 months.
Once the tissue has healed, medications may not be effective, and surgical removal is the only possible treatment.
Gynecomastia surgery in Mumbai has been used in severe cases of the condition, when it persists long-term, or in cases where pharmacological therapies have not been effective, to help restore an appearance normal mammary
In fact, gynecomastia surgery in Mumbai is the treatment that eliminates gynecomastia forever, through an excision surgical procedure that removes excess tissue through a small incision.
Men with gynecomastia have a five times higher risk of developing male breast cancer compared to the general population.
It is believed that it itself is not a condition that appears prior to the appearance of cancer, but that the hormonal changes (relative increase in estrogen, lower levels of androgens) that produce it in adult men also increase the risk of developing male breast cancer.
That which occurs due to hormonal fluctuations with growth or aging cannot be prevented.
That related to medical conditions can only be prevented to the extent that the underlying or responsible condition can be prevented.