Gynaecomastia
Gynaecomastia is a condition where there is enlargement of the male breasts.
It is a fairly common
condition affecting about 40 % of men of all ages, right from their
teens to the late 60's. It is the result of accumulation of fat in the
male breast and also of the enlargement of the glandular tissue of the
breast.
There is no obvious
cause for gynaecomastia, such as disease, etc., but it is believed to be
multifactorial. It is commoner in obese individuals, and may result
from hormonal fluctuations or as a side effect of certain medications.
Men with
gynaecomastia are embarrassed and self-conscious about their appearance.
They do not like to wear tight t-shirts, or take off their shirts in
public or to go swimming. This affects their social and family life as
they are unable to participate in family activities with their children.
Surgery for Gynaecomastia
Surgery for the
correction of gynaecomastia depends on whether the enlargement is due to
fat, breast tissue, or both. The size of the enlarged breasts also
matter because there may be excess skin as well.
Vaser Liposelection
This is a minimally
invasive procedure with a virtually invisible scar. It involves the removal of the gland and fatty tissue through a tiny puncture in the armpit. It is done as a day care
procedure, and you are sent home in a few hours.
Excision
Formal excision of
the glandular breast tissue is done, which involves an incision around
the areola. The scar can be minimized, and is usually not noticeable.
This procedure can also be done under local anesthesia, and you can go
home in a few hours.
Liposelection with excision
Gynaecomastia is
most commonly treated by a combination of liposuction of the fat
accumulated in the breast and excision of the breast tissue, if present in excess.
This procedure can also be done under local anesthesia, and you can go
home in a few hours.
Excision with free nipple transfer
In
some patients with very large breasts there may be a lot of excess skin
after removing the excess fat and breast tissue, necessitating the
removal of skin as well. The nipple- areola complex may need to be
shifted to a new appropriate location in these cases. It is a more
extensive surgery, requiring usually a day or so in hospital.
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