GYNECOMASTIA IN FAIRFAX, VA & WASHINGTON, D.C.
What is Gynecomastia? Gynecomastia, male breast reduction, comes from the Greek words gyne meaning “woman” and mastia meaning breast. In practical terms, this means abnormally large breasts on men.
This condition is relatively common in adolescent boys and often disappears with time. When the condition persists, there can be a social handicap, shame, and embarrassment
The procedure can be performed using liposuction or direct surgical excision depending on the type and amount of excess breast tissue that is present.
Dominion Plastic Surgery performs the gynecomastia procedure in Washington, DC, Bethesda and Potomac, MD, Falls Church, Arlington, Fairfax, and Alexandria, VA areas. If you think you may benefit from this procedure, fill out our contact form.
FAQs
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF GYNECOMASTIA?
There isn’t a direct cause/effect with gynecomastia. The condition is very common in teenage boys going through puberty, affecting up to 70% of them. In these younger patients, the cause is hormonal. Both estrogen and testosterone surge during this time, dictating changes such as enlarged breasts. In teens, this condition passes with the end of puberty. A variety of factors are thought to possibly be behind enlarged breasts in middle-age and older men. Hormones shift again during this time of life. Also, regularly taking certain medications is linked to gynecomastia: antibiotics, anti-anxiety drugs, steroids, heartburn treatment drugs, tricyclic antidepressants, and AIDS treatment drugs. Heavy drinking and use of marijuana and heroin can trigger the condition, as well as use of certain herbal products such as tea tree oil and lavender oil. This isn’t true gynecomastia, however.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF GYNECOMASTIA SURGERY?
When a man develops larger than normal breast tissue, it can be a real drag on his self-confidence. Invitations to head to the coast or just poolside get turned down. Taking off a shirt in public becomes something to avoid. This surgery with Drs. Mehan and Johnson can change all that. These aren’t difficult procedures and recovery is pretty easy. Afterwards, your chest will be back in proportion, and you’ll be happy to take your shirt off when mowing the grass on a hot summer day. Gone will be the “man boobs” comments. These surgeries at Dominion can really change your outlook.
WHO IS A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR MALE BREAST REDUCTION SURGERY?
The question of whether surgery can resolve your enlarged breasts involves ruling some things out. If a man’s enlarged breasts are due to weight gain, the first step is to lose the weight and see if the condition persists. Heavy drinkers and marijuana users also aren’t candidates for surgery, as their breast enlargement comes from their lifestyle choices. Dr. Mehan and Dr. Johnson can diagnose when gynecomastia is to blame. During your consultation, we’ll feel for a firm, rubbery mass underneath the nipple area. The size of this mass is usually less than two inches in diameter. It will often be sensitive to applied pressure. Before opting for surgery, it’s likely we’ll begin treatment by prescribing medication that reduces the amount of estrogen your body is producing. One important criterion is that you still need to have good elasticity in your chest skin, so that the skin is able to tighten down after this surgery.
HOW IS MALE BREAST REDUCTION SURGERY PERFORMED?
Called reduction mammaplasty, this surgery typically involves small incisions made around the edge of the areola. This makes scarring inconspicuous. Once Dr. Mehan or Dr. Johnson has access to the excess breast tissue, the tissue is removed, usually along with some excess fat. We may use some liposuction in combination with the excision surgery. If you have sagging, excess skin, that will be trimmed away. In cases where the patient has true gynecomastia, excess skin is not usually a problem. These are outpatient procedures and are not complicated.
WHAT RESULTS CAN THESE SURGERIES PROVIDE, AND HOW LONG WITH THEY LAST?
Having enlarged breasts due to gynecomastia can be very tough on a man’s self-confidence. It can make you self-conscious anytime you would normally need to remove your shirt, such as on a water skiing trip. That’s no way to go through life. When the enlarged tissue is removed, often along with some excess fat, you’ll have a slimmer, contoured chest. Our Dominion patients often tell us that they now feel comfortable going shirtless for the first time in years. The results are immediately seen, and recovery is not difficult. This procedure can be a real boost for a man’s self-esteem.
HOW LONG WILL MY RESULTS FROM GYNECOMASTIA SURGERY LAST?
We often get questions during consultation from patients who wonder if they will need to have this procedure more than once. True gynecomastia, versus enlarged breasts due to weight gain or other lifestyle factors, is caused mainly by excess glandular tissue. This causes the protrusion of the nipple-areola complex. In male breast reduction surgery, we remove the majority of the mammary gland, leaving enough to support the nipple-areola. With this tissue gone, the chances of recurrence are very low. However, if the gynecomastia was due to the use of steroids, marijuana, or other medications, it is possible for a patient’s breasts to become enlarged again if usage continues. Also, a sizeable increase in weight can allow fat to accumulate in the breasts, although this isn’t true gynecomastia.
WHAT IS RECOVERY LIKE?
Recovery is not difficult. You’ll have some swelling and discomfort, but this doesn’t endure. We will have you to wear a compression garment to help your chest tissues adhere to your new slimmer contour, but otherwise can return to normal activities within a week. Exercise, especially anything that directly targets the chest, will need to be delayed a few weeks.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH MALE BREAST REDUCTION SURGERY?
These are low-risk procedures with Dr. Mehan and Dr. Johnson. They are surgery, so there is the risk of infection, reaction to anesthesia, excessive bleeding, and the like. But these are rare, as these are not complicated procedures. The main risk with this procedure is that you could lose some nipple sensation, but this is usually only a temporary side effect that resolves as feeling returns to the affected tissues.