subject: Gynecomastia Background And Treatment [print this page] Gynecomastia is a condition that affects males. Men who suffer from this have breasts in varying degrees of pronouncement. In spite of the different degrees that they may be pronounced, their owners are usually very embarrassed when these are exposed. One of the most common forms of this condition is commonly called puffy nipples. In this state, the tissue accumulation is more concentrated under and typically within the limits of the areola. Usually, the man has areolas with a dome-like appearance, which can be a cause of shyness and embarrassment to him.
Another form of the condition is pure glandular gynecomastia. In this state, the man may have been exposed to or have exposed himself to anabolic steroids because it is commonly found in body builders and other people who may be into this aspect of sports, health and fitness. Excessive use of anabolic steroids usually results to the conversion of testosterone into estrogen. In some cases, genetics have a hand at it. A male child may inherit this from some aspect of his family tree. In a few cases, it basically resolves itself after the boy experiences puberty and is done with it but in more cases, he lives with it for the rest of his life. The condition can also manifest itself unilaterally or asymmetrically in which only one side of the chest may suffer from it.
One of the main reasons why this is such a big deal for boys and many men is that they are basically embarrassed to expose their upper bodies and chests to their peers as well as those of the opposite sex. This kind of embarrassment can be daunting to deal with, especially when the male is in puberty and he wants to be with his peers.
Treatment
The treatment that doctors recommend for gynecomastia is basically similar to the procedure that females with overly large breasts might have to undergo if they want to reduce them. Reduction means making an incision on a strategic area in the chest and taking out the adipose tissues that may be present in the area. This can be done with the liposuction procedure, but in some cases it may not work too well and a recurrence may happen. The excision of the gland in the breast is something that the plastic surgeon will recommend for men who wish to get rid of their large or pronounced breasts and areolas and may have suffered from this condition for years already. Of course, preventing it from developing may also be important. Adolescents who may have a family history of gynecomastia should be vigilant and observant with their development. They can also consult a doctor regarding the monitoring of their hormone levels to make sure that they can prevent this from occurring. The monitoring should occur during puberty when a male's hormone levels may fluctuate and encourage development. It is vital to nip the development of overly pronounced breasts in the bud because once the tissue has hardened surgery is the only other option.
