Gynecomastia After Weight Loss

Gynecomastia is a medical condition that causes overdeveloped male breast tissue. Typically, this condition occurs with both breasts, but it can also be unilateral. If you have gynecomastia, you will notice a bump developing behind the nipple with a somewhat soft consistency.

There are several causes of gynecomastia, including genetics, weight gain, hormonal imbalance, or specific medications, such as steroids. Your first impulse might be to shed pounds through diet and exercise, but often, lifestyle changes aren’t enough to solve this problem. Even if you are otherwise in excellent shape, you may still find yourself frustrated with excess fatty tissue in your chest area.

The medical term for excess tissue men can develop after weight loss is lipomastia, not gynecomastia. The difference between the two conditions primarily has to do with what caused overdeveloped breast tissue.

Types of Gynecomastia

Gynecomastia can be physiological during the following life stages.

• Shortly after birth: Hormones passed on from their mothers can stimulate breast growth in infants of both genders. Usually, the condition lasts only a few weeks and resolves by itself without treatment.
• During puberty: Over half of all teenage boys experience symmetrical or asymmetrical gynecomastia. Under typical conditions, it disappears by itself after approximately three years. However, in about 20% of cases, it can persist after you reach your 20thbirthday.
• Maturity: Over age 60, men may have lower testosterone levels correlated with an adipose tissue, which is common with age. A small amount of testosterone will convert into estrogen, thereby causing gynecomastia. Another explanation for gynecomastia in older men might be medications that can lead to the development of excess breast tissue.

Gynecomastia Causes

Gynecomastia may occur due to obesity and remain present after weight loss.

Because breast tissue is overly sensitive to the presence of estrogen, pathological gynecomastia may occur due to a hormonal imbalance. For example, your breast tissue may become enlarged if you have low testosterone due to infections, irradiation, or testicular trauma. Other gynecomastia causes include the following.

• Testicular tumors: These cause the body to produce estrogen, particularly Leydig cell tumors. They secrete a female hormone called estradiol or come with serum beta hCG that creates too much testosterone, causing an uneven testosterone-estrogen ratio.
• Other tumors: Some other forms of tumors can increase enzyme activity, which may transform testosterone into estrogen, resulting in obesity, chronic hepatic diseases, hyperthyroidism, and inherited genetic mutations.

Treatment Options for Gynecomastia

Before considering male breast reduction surgery, you should know that some temporary cases resolve on their own once circumstances change. For example, if you developed enlarged breast tissue after taking a specific medication, you may notice your condition improving after you adjust your dosage or stop using it. On the other hand, if the condition persists for a few years, you may consider surgery to eliminate the excess adipose breast tissue.

Most men dealing with gynecomastia opt to undergo surgical intervention because they find the condition embarrassing. If you have changed various aspects of your lifestyle and are still experiencing enlarged breast tissue, it could significantly impact your self-confidence, limit your clothing choices, and make you unwilling to reveal your chest. For this reason, male breast reduction is a surgery with physical and emotional benefits.

Surgical gynecomastia treatments vary depending on your needs. After talking with you, Dr. Bresnick will customize a plan based on your concerns, potentially including techniques like liposuction and direct excision. After the procedure, you can go home on the same day. Though it typically involves minimal downtime, you should feel well enough to return to work within a few days after surgery.

Meet With a Leading Gynecomastia Surgeon

For more information about gynecomastia surgery, call (818) 981-3333 to schedule your consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Stephen Bresnick in Encino.