/assets/images/provider/photos/2543966.jpg)
Growing breasts due to gynecomastia can cause you to feel like you look less masculine than you’d prefer or like your clothing doesn’t fit properly anymore. If you’re embarrassed or inconvenienced by gynecomastia, consider visiting us for care.
Breast tissue enlargement in men, or gynecomastia, is mostly cosmetic and is often due to an underlying hormone imbalance. While your chest might flatten out again over time, you might not be comfortable with how your enlarged breasts look or how they affect the way your clothing fits.
There’s no shame in seeking treatment for gynecomastia, and our team at Women’s Health Institute in Macon and Warner Robins, Georgia, are here to assist. If you’re one of the roughly 65% of adult men who experience gynecomastia, skilled cosmetic surgeon Nnaemeka Umerah, MD, can work with you to explore conservative treatments and consider surgery if you qualify.
If you’re embarrassed by your gynecomastia, you’re not alone. Fortunately, our cosmetic experts offer several treatment options.
Where gynecomastia comes from
You might wonder why your breasts seemed to grow out of the blue and whether or not you’ll need surgery to address the issue. Gynecomastia in men is quite common and is typically an effect of the imbalance between testosterone and estrogen hormones in your body. If you produce a high amount of estrogen, a low amount of testosterone, or both, you may see your breasts swell and grow.
You can sometimes trace these hormone imbalances to medications, drugs, behaviors, or medical conditions such as:
- Alcoholism
- Kidney disease
- Thyroid disease
- Liver disease
- Anabolic steroid use
- Amphetamines
- Opioids
- Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) for male infertility
Sometimes there is no cause that you can identify.
Conservative care to shrink your breasts
Even if you’ve had gynecomastia for a significant amount of time, surgery may not be something you need to consider. Sometimes correcting the underlying hormone imbalance is as simple as adjusting medication or treating an underlying medical condition. In other cases, minimally invasive procedures can help shrink your breast tissue.
Our offices are equipped with BodyTite™ radiofrequency body contouring technology, which liquefies the fat of your breasts using radiofrequency energy. At the same time, the technology tightens the skin. This way, you won’t have any scars left behind by surgery and don’t have to go through the lengthy and complicated process of preparing for, undergoing, and recovering from breast surgery.
When to consider surgery
Another option is to remove the extra fat from your breast tissue with power-assisted liposuction surgery. This option is highly effective at reducing the size of your breasts and is an option when more conservative care is ineffective and the condition doesn’t diminish on its own.
We understand that surgery is a big step to take, but many men are happy with the masculinizing results of power-assisted liposuction and the confidence boost that tends to ensue. Dr. Umerah can discuss this option at length and make sure it’s safe for you if it’s the next logical step in your care plan.
Schedule your consultation for safe, nonjudgmental gynecomastia care by calling either of our central Georgia offices or using the online booking tool at your earliest convenience.