What is gynecomastia?
It is the accumulation of fat with or without simultaneous hypertrophy of the gland in the male breast. It occurs to some degree in 40-60% of men. The cause is often unknown, but it may be related to hormonal disorders, medication (steroids, anabolic steroids), obesity, or genetic predisposing factors. This condition in men is rarely due to pathological causes, which are investigated through endocrinological tests. Gynecomastia often appears in the early years of adolescence and, in a large percentage of cases, subsides after adolescence.
Who is considered suitable for the procedure?
Men who are considered suitable are those who have reached adulthood, have stable chest development and a normal weight, are bothered by the size of their breasts, and have realistic expectations. It is for men who are healthy and do not take hormones, steroids, anabolic agents, or other pharmaceutical substances that cause gynecomastia. Discontinuing the use of such substances may contribute to some extent to the correction of gynecomastia. In many cases, preoperative hormone testing is recommended.
The Procedure
Usually, two factors coexist: excess fat and excess glandular tissue. Often, large nipples that are disproportionate to the size of the breast are also bothersome, as they resemble female breasts. Usually, when the breast volume is reduced, the nipples shrink on their own without any extra surgery. In some cases, the correction requires only liposuction. Because the fat is located inside the gland, classic liposuction is not effective. Mr. Stamatiou uses the UAL (ultrasonic assisted liposuction) technique for this purpose, where ultrasound is used to dissolve the fat contained within the existing gland. When simultaneous glandular enlargement is part of the problem, UAL liposuction is combined with partial excision of the gland through a small semicircular incision around the lower part of the nipple. For a natural-looking result, the surgery must be tailored to the man’s body type and part of the gland must be removed as necessary so that the appearance of the chest is in harmony with the rest of the body.
In some cases where there may be significant weight loss and the breasts are loose and sagging, the procedure is combined with local skin removal. The procedure lasts 1-2 hours, is performed under sedation or light general anesthesia, and does not require an overnight stay at the clinic.
Recovery
Postoperatively, there is no pain when moving, as the muscle is not affected during the operation and there is no muscle injury. Pain during the first 24 hours can be easily controlled with anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers. The use of a type of compression bandage helps manage post-operative swelling, which subsides within a few weeks. You can return to office work in 2-3 days, but you should avoid strenuous exercise for a month. The surgery has been very successful in boosting these men’s self-confidence.