Gynecomastia is a benign condition where the male breast glandular tissue swells up either as a response to excess estrogen or reduced testosterone or due to certain medications. It is a misnomer that estrogen is exclusively a female hormone, which is not the case as men also produce the same but in smaller quantities. Hence, an increase in estrogen levels as compared with the testosterone levels can disrupt the hormonal balance and cause Gynecomastia in men.
Though common in infants, pre-teens, teens and older men, Gynecomastia can become a concern after adolescence because of embarrasment faced in gyms & swimming pools. underlying conditions such as liver cirrhosis, low testosterone levels, overactive thyroid prevalence, genetic abnormality are very rare causes of gynaecomastia and rarely require investigations.
Symptoms
The typical symptoms of Gynecomastia are a rubbery and hard feeling on the breasts. This can appear on one or both sides. Breast buds in adolescent boys normally disappear within the first year.
Causes
Idiopathic:-
In majority of cases of gynaecomastia,the causative factor is not known. They fall under the category of ideopathic
Infants and Gynecomastia:
Babies or infants get Gynecomastia because of their mother’s estrogen. Breast buds are often seen in baby boys, which last for a few weeks but can last for a longer time in some.
Puberty and Gynecomastia:
More common during puberty, Gynecomastia is said to disappear gradually.In pre-teen boys, it is said to be the result of several cosmetic applications—lotions, tea tree oil, etc.The breast buds could also be the result of a tumor that produces estrogen.Among teenagers, Gynecomastia is caused due to hormonal changes during puberty and the breast buds generally fade away within a year or two.
Adults and Gynecomastia:
Gynecomastia takes prevalence again in male adults aged usually between 50 and 80 years.At this stage, the overdevelopment of breasts could be the result of other factors such as:
Liver cirrhosis
Lung cancer
An overactive thyroid
Cancer of the testicles, pituitary glands or adrenal glands.
Heroin, alcohol, marijuana and amphetaminesare also potential substancesthat are said to cause Gynecomastia.
Medicines and Gynecomastia:
Several medications including Steroids, drugs to treat ulcers, epilepsy, heart problems, anti-androgens to treat cancer, antidepressants, drugs for chemotherapy, medications for AIDS and antibiotics, can cause Gynecomastia.
Hormones and Gynecomastia:
Certain health conditions that influence hormonal activity and balance can also cause Gynecomastia. These include Hypogonadism involving Pituitary insufficiency and any such condition that interferes with the normal production of testosterone, ageing (brings hormonal changes especially in overweight men), Hyperthyroidism (production of excess thyroxine by thyroid gland), tumors of testes and adrenal glands etc., treatment and medication for Kidney failure and Liver cirrhosis and malnutrition wherein the testosterone levels drop.
Treatment
Gynecomastia generally disappear within two years of puberty in adolescents. It is, however, a concern only when the breast buds do not disappear and cause pain or tenderness. . Hormonal treatment and withdrawing certain drugs is the treatment in the rare cases where causative factor is hormonal imbalance & certain drugs
However in majority of cases which fall in the idiopathic are treated with a simple day care surgery under local or general aneasthesia. The procedure involves removing the fat through tiny incision which is followed by removal of gland through a small incision on brown portion of nipple. The resultant scars are insignificant & disappear with time leaving no stigma of surgery,This operation is called liposuction assisted gynaecomastia removal and is a better technique over earlier used operation called mastectomy which was a big operation & resultant scar is quite big & not acceptable. Even though obsolete this operation may still be performed in many less advanced centres
www.dacindia.com
Delhi Aesthetic Clinic
Though common in infants, pre-teens, teens and older men, Gynecomastia can become a concern after adolescence because of embarrasment faced in gyms & swimming pools. underlying conditions such as liver cirrhosis, low testosterone levels, overactive thyroid prevalence, genetic abnormality are very rare causes of gynaecomastia and rarely require investigations.
Symptoms
The typical symptoms of Gynecomastia are a rubbery and hard feeling on the breasts. This can appear on one or both sides. Breast buds in adolescent boys normally disappear within the first year.
Causes
Idiopathic:-
In majority of cases of gynaecomastia,the causative factor is not known. They fall under the category of ideopathic
Infants and Gynecomastia:
Babies or infants get Gynecomastia because of their mother’s estrogen. Breast buds are often seen in baby boys, which last for a few weeks but can last for a longer time in some.
Puberty and Gynecomastia:
More common during puberty, Gynecomastia is said to disappear gradually.In pre-teen boys, it is said to be the result of several cosmetic applications—lotions, tea tree oil, etc.The breast buds could also be the result of a tumor that produces estrogen.Among teenagers, Gynecomastia is caused due to hormonal changes during puberty and the breast buds generally fade away within a year or two.
Adults and Gynecomastia:
Gynecomastia takes prevalence again in male adults aged usually between 50 and 80 years.At this stage, the overdevelopment of breasts could be the result of other factors such as:
Liver cirrhosis
Lung cancer
An overactive thyroid
Cancer of the testicles, pituitary glands or adrenal glands.
Heroin, alcohol, marijuana and amphetaminesare also potential substancesthat are said to cause Gynecomastia.
Medicines and Gynecomastia:
Several medications including Steroids, drugs to treat ulcers, epilepsy, heart problems, anti-androgens to treat cancer, antidepressants, drugs for chemotherapy, medications for AIDS and antibiotics, can cause Gynecomastia.
Hormones and Gynecomastia:
Certain health conditions that influence hormonal activity and balance can also cause Gynecomastia. These include Hypogonadism involving Pituitary insufficiency and any such condition that interferes with the normal production of testosterone, ageing (brings hormonal changes especially in overweight men), Hyperthyroidism (production of excess thyroxine by thyroid gland), tumors of testes and adrenal glands etc., treatment and medication for Kidney failure and Liver cirrhosis and malnutrition wherein the testosterone levels drop.
Treatment
Gynecomastia generally disappear within two years of puberty in adolescents. It is, however, a concern only when the breast buds do not disappear and cause pain or tenderness. . Hormonal treatment and withdrawing certain drugs is the treatment in the rare cases where causative factor is hormonal imbalance & certain drugs
However in majority of cases which fall in the idiopathic are treated with a simple day care surgery under local or general aneasthesia. The procedure involves removing the fat through tiny incision which is followed by removal of gland through a small incision on brown portion of nipple. The resultant scars are insignificant & disappear with time leaving no stigma of surgery,This operation is called liposuction assisted gynaecomastia removal and is a better technique over earlier used operation called mastectomy which was a big operation & resultant scar is quite big & not acceptable. Even though obsolete this operation may still be performed in many less advanced centres
www.dacindia.com
Delhi Aesthetic Clinic
What is the treatment for small sized Gynecomastia other than surgery?
ReplyDeleteThe treatment other than surgery can be Injection Lipolysis.
ReplyDeleteFor more details please visit www.dacindia.com