Gynecomastia is not a life threatening condition, but the men who have it often suffer a lot of emotional stress. In some cases they feel so self-conscious and embarrassed about how they look, that they dread doing things like going to the beach, or the gym. The condition can affect one or both breasts, often making the breasts appear asymmetrical. But what is gynecomastia, and what are the main causes of the condition.
Understanding roots of Gynecomastia
Gynecomastia is the medical name for enlarged male breasts. It is a syndrome that affects men of all ages across the world. While the condition is very common in boys transitioning through puberty, a large number of males over the age of 35 also develop some kind of excess breast tissue.
Gynecomastia is the result of estrogen dominance in men. Men have both male and female hormones, but in differing amounts. Males have higher levels of the male hormone testosterone than the female hormone estrogen. However, whenever estrogen irregularities occur, which is common during puberty, then this can trigger growth in the breast tissue.
In addition to the hormonal fluctuations that accompany puberty, enlarged male breasts may also result from weight gain, genetics, as well as from certain medications. Steroids and amphetamines are known to increase estrogen levels.
More men are now coming forward to undergo breast reduction due to gynecomastia. As a result, breast reduction is among the top 5 most common plastic surgery procedures for males in the US. Depending on the amount of breast tissue vs fatty tissue that is present, the condition can be treated with surgery alone, or in conjunction with liposuction.
If you need further clarification about what is gynecomastia, then you contact Song Plastic Surgery located in Irvine CA. You can schedule a consultation with Dr. Kyle Song at 949-701-4454, or visit the website at http://www.songplasticsurgery.com/.