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Dr. Linder's Blog

Gynecomastia Symptoms

Posted On: December 11, 2018 Author: The Office of Dr. Stuart Linder Posted In: Gynecomastia

We see patients weekly in our Beverly Hills office who come in with gynecomastia symptoms, including feminizing breast problems, increased retroareolar breast tissue, excess breast tissue, lipodystrophy, and adiposity of the entire chest wall. In short, it is the appearance of female-like breasts on a man.

Before & After Patient

These men all come in with similar problems and frustrations, such as:

  • The inability to wear T-shirts without having prominent nipple-areolar complex protrusion through the shirt.
  • The inability to take off their shirts at the pool setting due to the increased breast tissue found.

What Causes Gynecomastia?

There is an increased predominance of tissue in patients who have taken several medications and steroids as well as the use of marijuana. Weight loss may be helpful, but, in general, it is not able to completely resolve the problem of severe gynecomastia with feminized tissue production.

On the side view photo, the patient has a conical pendulous appearance to the breast with protrusion of the nipple-areolar complex due to herniation of the gynecomastia tissue causing an outpouching of the nipple. This is very distressing to men especially wearing tighter T-shirts in that it appears that they have male breasts.

How Can I Get Rid of it?

Our typical patients present with protrusion of the nipple-areolar complex as well as increased fatty tissue extending from the anterior axillary line along the midline and down to the inframammary fold. These patients do well with a combination of liposuction using the tumescent technique as well as direct partial subcutaneous lumpectomy of tissue in the retroareolar region.

Before & After Patient

The after photo from both of these patients takes place eight weeks after surgery. The only incisions made were through the periareolar from the 3 o’clock to 9 o’clock position at which the patient has had tumescent lipectomy of the entire chest wall with a small cannula, 2.5 mm, and then a partial subcutaneous mastectomy of retroareolar breast tissue with care not to form a depressive deformity under the nipple-areolar complex by over-excision of the tissue. It is important that the breast tissue is sent to pathology for diagnostic purpose to rule out any form of premalignancy or malignancy.

Gynecomastia presentation has increased significantly over the last decade. These patients are extraordinarily happy with the results of the removal of this breast tissue.

If you would like to learn more about gynecomastia surgery, please call (310) 275-4513 to schedule your appointment.