Gynecomastia in Korea – Things You Need to Know About Gynecomastia for Men

Gynecomastia affects more men than we think, and for them, this condition can be equivalent to having a lot of body hair in women. This condition can be a man’s insecurity; this is why gynecomastia surgery is the fastest solution to the undesirable enlargement of a male’s breast. Male breast reduction may be the answer to the cause of your lowered confidence. Read on to know more about the procedures, techniques, as well as benefits from getting the gynecomastia surgery.

Gynecomastia is a condition of the male breast wherein it becomes over-developed or enlarged. It can affect only one breast or both. According to a study by B. Venkata Ratnam, if the enlargement of the breast is because of glandular tissue, then it is called true gynecomastia. On the other hand, if the enlargement is because of increase fat tissue in the breast, it is referred to as pseudogynecomastia.

One of the reasons why this condition occurs in males is because of the imbalance in hormones. Men and women have estrogen and testosterone in their bodies, but because testosterone is a male hormone, it is considered as the dominant one in males. When estrogen levels become too high in males or not balanced with the testosterone level, gynecomastia occurs. Other causes of gynecomastia in males are: 

• Heredity 
• Obesity 
• Smoking 
• Use of drugs 
• Medication 
• Lifestyle 

Enlargement of the male breast can happen at any age and naturally occurs in three phases of a male’s life, namely, after birth, puberty, and mid-life and beyond. After being born, half of the baby boys tend to have gynecomastia because of the estrogen that their mother passed on to them while developing inside the womb. During puberty, enlargement of the breast happens because of the changing hormones and hormonal imbalance.

However, this usually disappears six months to two years from the start of a teen boy’s puberty stage. When it comes to the mid-life and beyond phase, one in four men tend to develop gynecomastia. It is in this phase that the condition is considered to be at its peak. This is why men in their late 30’s and beyond are the ones who mostly undergo gynecomastia surgery.  

Gynecomastia surgery has several benefits for men who suffer from this condition. Men can benefit from the surgery psychologically, aesthetically, and physically. Some of the benefits of gynecomastia surgery are: 

• Psychological benefits 
• Improvement in self-confidence 
• Gets rid of embarrassment because of feminine-like breasts 
• Aesthetic benefits
• Well-toned masculine chest 
• More masculine appearance 
• Allows you to wear even fitted shirts 
• Physical benefits 
• Improved body posture 
• Enhances ability to do physical activities 
• Gets rid of back pain because of added weight in the breast area 

Gynecomastia surgery is recommended to adult men who have enlarged breasts that cannot be treated despite medications and exercise. Any male with the problem can have the surgery, but he should first be able to pass the following qualifications:

• He should be mentally and physically healthy 
• He should have a firm and elastic skin that can adjust to the new shape of the breast
• He should not have any medical condition that causes gynecomastia 
• He should be willing to quit smoking and drinking 
• He should have realistic expectations of the results of the procedure
• He should be prepared to avoid medications and substances that can make gynecomastia reoccur 
• He should be willing to make an effort to maintain a stable weight after having the surgery 

There are two kinds of techniques used in gynecomastia surgery, depending on the cause of the breast enlargement. If it is considered as a pseudogynecomastia, then it can be treated by liposuction alone. However, if the condition is diagnosed as true gynecomastia, then the doctor will usually opt for surgical excision. They may also perform both liposuction and surgical excision to treat the enlarged breast. The procedure takes one to two hours, depending on the amount of fat and glandular tissue that needs extraction from the chest. For this surgical procedure, it is a must that you find a board-certified cosmetic surgeon who has a well-experienced background in male breast reduction. This is to ensure that the results will successfully match your expectations. 

A gynecomastia procedure is customized based on the patient’s need. This is why a consultation is essential and will allow your doctor to assess your condition. They will perform a physical exam and take photographs of the appearance of your breast before surgery for your medical record. This is also the time when you and your doctor will discuss the treatment plan as well as the technique that the surgeon will use for the surgery. As a patient, you should be transparent with your doctor regarding your medical history as well as your expectations concerning the procedure and the results. 

• The anesthesia used for this surgical procedure is either local anesthesia with IV sedation or general anesthesia, depending on the doctor’s assessment and the patient’s need. 

• Liposuction 

1. The surgeon will make an incision for liposuction, which will be either a semi-circular shape along the areola or within the armpit. 
2. Through the incision made, the surgeon will insert a cannula and remove excess fats using a push and pull motion. 
3. Once the cannula has extracted the excess fats, the surgeon will suture the incisions and protect it with a bandage. 

•  Tissue Excision

1. Depending on the complexity of the surgery, the surgeon can either make the incision along the areola or within the creases of the patient’s chest. 
2. He will then excise, or cut out, the excess glandular tissue in the breast. 
3. If there is excess skin in the breast, the surgeon will also remove this to avoid sagging. 
4. Once the excess glandular tissue and skin have been removed, the surgeon will suture the incision and protect it with a bandage. 

• Combination of Liposuction and Tissue Excision 

1. If the patient has both true gynecomastia and pseudogynecomastia, the surgeon will perform liposuction as well as tissue excision to treat the condition. 
2. The surgeon will create an incision either along the areola or within the crease of the chest. 
3. He will then excise the excess glandular tissue before performing a` liposuction. 
4. Once both techniques have been completed, the surgeon will suture the incisions and cover them with a bandage for protection. 

After the surgery, your doctor will give you specific instructions on how to take care of the surgical site, drains, and yourself during the recovery period of one to two weeks. It is a must that you strictly follow the doctor’s instructions and attend the scheduled follow up checkups. Right after the surgery until the area heals, you are required to apply bandages on the incisions as well as a compression garment that will aid in swelling and contouring your chest area.

Your doctor will also temporarily place a tube under your skin that will drain any excess fluid and blood. He will also give you topical medications as well as oral medications that will help ease the discomfort if there is any. Until the incisions heal, you must protect your chest area from excessive force and motion by staying away from strenuous activities. 

The results after having gynecomastia surgery are instantly visible; however, it is common for bruising and swelling to be present for about one to two weeks. As the breasts heal over time, the results will get more evident until it ultimately reaches the full setting at 3-6 months. 

As seen on the before and after images below, gynecomastia surgery can improve the appearance of the breast from a feminine look to a flatter, more masculine appearance. The operation made the patients’ breast flatter and more muscular, but it also fixed the contours and made it tighter. This, in turn, meant the surgeon did not leave any sagging skin that can be caused by the condition. 

The results after having gynecomastia surgery are instantly visible; however, it is common for bruising and swelling to be present for about one to two weeks. As the breasts heal over time, the results will get more evident until it ultimately reaches the full setting at 3-6 months. 

As seen on the before and after images below, gynecomastia surgery can improve the appearance of the breast from a feminine look to a flatter, more masculine appearance. The operation made the patients’ breast flatter and more muscular, but it also fixed the contours and made it tighter. This, in turn, meant the surgeon did not leave any sagging skin that can be caused by the condition. 

Gynecomastia is a condition wherein the male breasts are enlarged, thus appearing like feminine breasts. Breast enlargement in males can be caused by hormonal imbalance, lifestyle, medication, and genes, to name a few. It is called as true gynecomastia when it is caused by glandular tissue, while it is referred to as pseudogynecomastia when it is due to excess breast fats. Two surgical techniques that are used to treat gynecomastia, namely, are liposuction for pseudogynecomastia and tissue excision for true gynecomastia. The surgeon can opt to use these two techniques in one procedure for more complex cases of true gynecomastia. 

Undergoing a gynecomastia surgery is ultimately beneficial psychologically, physically, and aesthetically for men who are suffering from the condition. The results are also instant and will only take 3-6 months to see the full set of results. As for those who want to have the procedure, but are too busy with daily activities, it is not something to worry about since the recovery time only takes two weeks at most.

Two weeks off from work is only a short time as compared to years or a lifetime of suffering from gynecomastia. If you are a male who suffers from true gynecomastia or pseudogynecomastia, let us help you achieve the masculine figure that you have always wanted. All you need to do is book a consultation through our website, and we will take it from there to guide you in getting rid of gynecomastia.