Gynecomastia

An enlarged breast in men is called gynecomastia. A distinction is made between “real” gynecomastia, in which a mammary gland is created, and “false” gynecomastia, in which there is only an increase in fat tissue. Often, both forms are combined. Those affected usually suffer extremely from the appearance of their breasts, which cannot be changed through exercise or a balanced diet.

During puberty, many young men develop what is known as puberty-related gynecomastia, which resolves itself without treatment and does not require an operation. Gynecomastia can have different causes in adulthood. In addition to changes in the changes in the hormonal balance, tumors can also cause gynecomastia. Therefore, the cause must be clarified before the operation, and another underlying disease must be ruled out.

Common questions

• What preliminary examinations are necessary for gynecomastia?
• How does gynecomastia surgery work?
• What can be expected after gynecomastia treatment?
• More questions about gynecomastia?
• What do I have to consider before and after the operation?

What preliminary examinations are necessary for gynecomastia?

In order to be able to make a clear diagnosis, we need findings from a current mammography and breast ultrasound at the first interview. To ensure that the gynecomastia is not caused by hormones, blood values are determined for both female and male sex hormones. Depending on this, an examination by a urologist will take place in some cases.

How does gynecomastia surgery work?

In an initial personal meeting, we discuss the individual findings with our patients and explain various treatment options. With the help of a mammography and an ultrasound, we determine which form of gynecomastia is present and how it can be corrected.

If there is a suspicious mammary gland, it should be removed. In some cases, the health insurance company will cover the treatment costs for this part of the operation. The surgery to remove the mammary gland is called a “subcutaneous mastectomy.” The mammary gland tissue is removed through an incision on the edge of the areola. It is sent to the pathologist for a tissue examination to make sure that there are no malignant changes. A tissue layer approx. 1 to 2 cm thick must be left behind the nipple itself in order to prevent the nipple from sticking to the pectoral muscle. If there is too much fatty tissue in the surrounding skin, liposuction is recommended to prevent dimpling in the area of the removed breast tissue. A drain is placed in the surgical cavity to prevent the accumulation of blood or tissue fluid.

For false gynecomastia, only liposuction is performed. If there is mixed gynecomastia, subcutaneous mastectomy and liposuction are combined. At the end of the operation, a compression shirt is put on so that the breast can heal well and prevent possible bleeding.

What can be expected after gynecomastia treatment?

Depending on the extent of the correction, the age of the patient and the overall health condition, treatment is possible on an outpatient or inpatient basis. Most of the time, there is only minor pain that can be treated with mild pain relievers. The compression shirt is worn day and night for 6 weeks. This allows the wounds to heal in the best possible way. For the first 6 weeks after the operation, you should not do any exercise in order not to endanger optimal wound healing and scarring. After 2 weeks, the stitches are pulled. By this time, the wounds have completely healed, and our patients receive special scar creams from us that can be applied as needed. After about 6 months, the scars have faded and are usually no longer visible.

More questions about gynecomastia?

If you have any further questions, please contact us by phone or using our contact form and arrange a personal consultation in my practice in Cham.