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Schedule A ConsultationGynecomastia is a condition that often presents itself as excess breast tissue, excess fat, and/or excess skin in male breasts. Often called male breast enlargement or enlarged male breasts, there can be one or more components causing the condition, and discovering those causes can help you understand the options for treating it.
Let’s take a look at some of the different types of gynecomastia, how they present themselves, and what treatment options are available at Cruise Plastic Surgery in Newport Beach, CA.
The most common type of gynecomastia is classic gynecomastia. This type is caused by a combination of excess breast tissue and excess fatty tissue. You may notice it as breasts that have a rounded bottom and don’t allow the pectoral muscles to show through.
The excess breast tissue may also sag or have a tear-drop shape and feel firm or rubbery. The breast will also protrude from the chest more than is typical.
Fatty gynecomastia is not technically considered a type of gynecomastia but is referred to as pseudo-gynecomastia. Fatty gynecomastia only consists of excess fatty tissue in the male breast, not excess glandular or breast tissue. It may look exactly like gynecomastia from the outside, but when you look deeper, it’s much different.
While weight loss is typically the recommended treatment for this type, surgical options like liposuction may be an option.
Saggy gynecomastia occurs when a patient has a significant amount of excess skin in the chest area that causes the nipple and areola to sag. This type of gynecomastia most often occurs after significant weight loss or weight fluctuations. Loss of skin laxity resulting in saggy gynecomastia can also occur with age as collagen levels decrease and hormone levels change. Saggy gynecomastia can range from mild to moderate to severe.
The removal of this excess skin and moving the nipple-areola complex to a more elevated position is often the recommended treatment.
Puffy nipples is another common form of gynecomastia and one that Dr. Cruise sees quite a bit at his practice. As you can imagine from the name, the condition shows itself as nipples and areola that are cone-shaped, causing them to protrude and look “puffy.” The nipples can be seen through lighter-weight shirts, and it can cause significant embarrassment. Unfortunately, diet and exercise do not solve the problem, as excess fat is not the issue. Excess breast tissue underneath the nipple-areola complex is what’s pushing the nipple forward. Puffy nipples is often seen in teenagers and young adults with slender body types.
One component of gynecomastia that is not talked about much is the male breast roll, which is fat that forms around the outer part of the chest, under the arm, and toward the back. It’s often seen in men who are overweight. Addressing gynecomastia and not the breast roll can make the overall appearance of the chest look a bit strange. Removing the breast roll during traditional gynecomastia surgery is recommended.
When you have a consultation with Dr. Cruise, he will listen to your concerns, review your symptoms, medical history, and medications, perform a medical exam, and evaluate your breast tissue. He will then be able to determine if you have gynecomastia and if it’s in one or both breasts,
If gynecomastia is the issue, Dr. Cruise will determine if male breast reduction surgery is right for you. If you are generally healthy, a nonsmoker, and not obese, you are likely a good candidate for the procedure.
The type of gynecomastia surgery you receive at Cruise Plastic Surgery depends on the type of gynecomastia you’re experiencing.
For classic gynecomastia, the condition can be surgically corrected by removing excess fat and glandular tissue with gynecomastia surgery. If you have good skin laxity, your skin should snap back to the new position. If you’re older and have lost elasticity, a secondary procedure using a skin tightening procedure may be performed to tighten the sagging skin and move the areola and nipple into an appropriate place.
With true fatty gynecomastia, liposuction alone may be used to remove the excess fat.
For puffy nipples, Dr. Cruise will remove the excess breast tissue to flatten the chest.
With saggy gynecomastia, removing the excess skin and tightening the remaining skin can be a very effective treatment.
If it turns out medication is the cause of your gynecomastia, stopping that medication or finding an alternative may be recommended.
If gynecomastia isn’t being caused by a serious issue, it is a condition that is completely safe to live with. It could even go away on its own. But if it’s causing self-consciousness, embarrassment, or a decrease in your confidence levels, why not have surgery and feel good about yourself again? Dr. Cruise can use his over 20 years of expertise to change your life for the better!
If you’re struggling with gynecomastia and don’t know where to turn, scheduling a consultation with Dr. Cruise is a great first step. He will address any questions or concerns you have, perform an exam, and then build a customized treatment plan to fit your exact needs. You don’t need to live with the embarrassment that comes with gynecomastia anymore. Dr. Cruise can help you feel like yourself again.
To schedule a consultation today, call Dr. Cruise’s Newport Beach, CA office at 949-644-4808 or use our online scheduling form.
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