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1250 Pine Ridge Road, Suite 101C,
Naples, Florida 34108

Gynecomastia

Will My Gynecomastia Ever Go Away?—What to Do if it Doesn’t

Naples Plastic Surgery has earned a stellar reputation for helping men overcome gynecomastia. A medical condition that causes male breast tissue enlargement commonly referred to as “man boobs,” the affliction can significantly impact a man’s self-confidence. Most men don’t know who to talk to about their condition, leaving them with many unanswered questions.

Drs. Paul Gardner, Leo Baccaro, Mark Walsh, and Andrew Bonett know how difficult it can be for men to discuss this often-embarrassing condition. With expertise in treating gynecomastia, they have helped many men understand the causes of the condition and guided them on treatment options. If you or someone you know has symptoms suggestive of gynecomastia, read on to learn more.

What Causes Gynecomastia?

Hormonal imbalances between testosterone and estrogen levels are believed to be responsible for most cases of gynecomastia. Because of the natural flux of hormone levels during adolescence, up to 25% of pre-teen and teenage boys experience the condition, though most of these cases resolve themselves naturally. Gynecomastia in adult males tends to be most prevalent in those with a genetic predisposition carried down from male relatives. Numerous conditions and other factors can disrupt hormone balances and potentially cause gynecomastia symptoms, including:

  • Adolescent gynecomastia that doesn’t resolve
  • Side-effect of certain medications
  • Chemotherapy
  • Anabolic steroid use
  • Recreational cannabis
  • Excess alcohol consumption
  • Malnutrition
  • Liver disease
  • Kidney disease
  • Lung cancer
  • Low testosterone
  • Hypogonadism
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Testicular cancer
  • Obesity
  • Trauma or injuries
  • Adrenal dysfunction

How to Tell Whether You Actually Have Gynecomastia?

Enlargement of male breasts is not always true gynecomastia; rather than through breast tissue growth, the enlargement is caused by fat buildup. Such non-gynecomastia enlargement can be addressed with diet and exercise. True gynecomastia is typically marked by having excess levels of estrogen, which, along with enlarged breasts, can cause other symptoms in men, including:

  • Lumps beneath the skin of the chest cavity
  • Tender or sore breasts
  • Low sex drive
  • Decrease in muscle mass
  • Increase in belly fat
  • Constant fatigue
  • Emotional instability and depression
  • Hypertension

Because gynecomastia symptoms vary among men and can be like other medical condition symptoms, doctors usually conduct several diagnostic procedures to confirm a diagnosis, including:

  • Blood, liver function, hormone level, and urine tests
  • Mammogram
  • Biopsy

Will Gynecomastia Symptoms Subside Naturally?

As previously noted, adolescent gynecomastia symptoms usually resolve as teens age into adulthood. However, about 5% of teenage cases remain unresolved into adulthood due to continuing imbalances in hormone levels. The longer such cases remain unresolved as the men age through their twenties, the less likely they will resolve themselves.

Some cases of gynecomastia caused by outside factors may be relieved by lifestyle changes that help restore natural hormone levels. Such lifestyle changes include:

  • Reduce alcohol intake
  • Quit recreational cannabis
  • Don’t use steroids
  • Consume testosterone-rich foods
  • Eat a balanced diet
  • Get more exercise

Resolving the underlying medical-related causes of hormone imbalances can also help reduce gynecomastia symptoms. If a medical condition, medications, or other treatment is causing the hormone imbalance, balance will likely be restored once the condition has been successfully addressed or when relevant medications/treatment are no longer needed.

While the natural restoration of hormone balance will help control gynecomastia, it may not lead to a reduction of the enlarged breast tissue it already caused. At best, it will take time for the already enlarged tissue to subside.

What Are the Treatment Options?

Testosterone treatment and several drugs can be used to control gynecomastia and reduce the size of enlarged breasts in males. The success of these treatments is often dependent on the patient’s body composition and lifestyle, and they usually take time to achieve noticeable results. For this reason, many men opt to combine these treatments with male breast reduction surgery, and some gynecomastia cases can only be resolved by surgery.

Gynecomastia surgery removes and shapes a man’s breast tissue to improve its tone and produce a slimmer chest physique. Recommended surgical options might primarily rely on liposuction or involve surgical excision of tissue combined with liposuction, depending on skin quality, skin thickness, fat deposits, breast tissue levels, and the shape and size of the enlarged breasts. The skilled surgeons at Naples Plastic Surgery customize every male breast reduction surgery to meet each patient’s specific needs and aesthetic goals.

Learn More with Naples Plastic Surgery

If you would like to learn more about gynecomastia and consult with our experienced surgeons about your medical treatment options, we would be glad to speak with you personally. For all your esthetic concerns, contact Naples Plastic Surgery today at 239.566.2611 to schedule your initial consultation.

Naples Plastic Surgey is Proud to Serve Patients from Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and All Over the Country!

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At Naples Plastic Surgery, our cosmetic services are designed to contour and enhance your body to help you achieve the body image that you desire. Known for offering among the best facial plastic surgery in Naples, our board-certified surgeons are known as much for their artistry as they are for their surgical skills. We understand that your image is the key to feeling great, so we will provide you with the most reliable advice and services to help make you look and feel your best.

The surgical team at Naples Plastic Surgery has the training and experience necessary to help you pursue your own individual cosmetic goals down to the very last detail, all in a warm, comfortable, and private environment.

Dr. Paul Gardner, MD, FACS is a board-certified plastic surgeon serving Southwest Florida. As one of the leading plastic surgeons in Naples, FL, Dr. Gardner has more than 25 years of experience performing facial procedures including composite facelift, mini facelift, brow lift and skin cancer removal procedures. He also possesses expertise in breast augmentations, tummy tucks, and labiaplasty.

Dr. Leopoldo M. Baccaro, MD received extensive training at the prestigious Houston Methodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center, where he worked with some of the most well-renowned practitioners in the art of cosmetic surgery. With honors and awards throughout medical school and his residency, Dr. Baccaro earned a stellar reputation for high quality surgical care with both cosmetic and reconstructive surgery procedures.

Dr. Mark Walsh, MD, FACS is a board-certified plastic surgeon serving Southwest Florida. Dr. Walsh participated in the prestigious plastic surgery training program at Duke University. He has also served as an invited reviewer and has provided expert commentaries for multiple surgical journals, including the highly regarded Aesthetic Surgery Journal.

Dr. Andrew M. Bonett, MD specializes in both reconstructive and cosmetic plastic surgery, with specific interests in reconstruction after breast and skin cancers, including Mohs reconstruction. His experience also includes reconstruction following traumatic injuries, body contouring, and general cosmetic plastic surgery procedures.

The plastic surgery process at Naples Plastic Surgery begins with a one-on-one, confidential consultation in which your surgeon conducts an examination to determine which procedures are likely to produce the most robust aesthetic improvements. This includes a comprehensive discussion with you to identify the benefits, risks and costs associated with each procedure. It may be possible to combine a number of surgical procedures into a single surgery if you desire and if your medical condition permits it.

As with any medical procedure, there is no guarantee that a desired outcome will be achieved. There are a number of health risks associated with even minor medical procedures. If you have any health issues or concerns, please feel free to discuss them any time with your surgeon at our Naples’ plastic surgery center.
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Plastic Surgeons | Paul M. Gardner, MD, FACS | Leopoldo M. Baccaro, MD | Mark Walsh, MD, F.A.C.S. | Andrew Bonett, MD

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