Can “Man Boobs” Come Back After Male Breast Reduction?
Dr. Paul Angelchik is a Phoenix plastic surgeon who is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. He is also a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Dr. Angelchik is well-trained and experienced in all forms of plastic surgery, namely breast enhancement and facial rejuvenation. He has been serving patients for over 20 years. Dr. Angelchik brings his surgical experience, expertise, and quality care to patients in and around Phoenix, Arizona.
There are many causes of gynecomastia, or the growth of breast tissue in men, that affect how the condition is treated and whether it goes away on its own or requires liposuction or surgery to treat it. Causes include simply going through puberty and getting breast development that never resolves, anabolic supplements, drug use, endocrine abnormalities causing abnormal levels of hormones, certain types of tumors, and even some common medications. For most young men who are not using anabolic supplements, most commonly gynecomastia arises as the body starts to make a different type of testosterone during puberty. Most adolescent males will get some breast bud development during this stage, but it usually resolves. For reasons that are not completely understood, however, in some males, the condition may persist.
It’s common for guys who are looking into male breast reduction to wonder if it’s a foolproof way to get rid of their “man boobs” for the long run. If you’re looking for an effective, permanent solution to your gynecomastia, Dr. Angelchik has a solution for you.
Gynecomastia Surgery
We offer treatment for men with enlarged breasts. If the condition has persisted for more than 2 years, generally surgery will be required, even when an underlying medical condition has been identified. Gynecomastia can be treated with a minimally invasive liposuction procedure when there exists only fatty tissue beneath the nipple or throughout the breast. More commonly, glandular tissue is also there, which is too fibrous to be removed by liposuction, an incision will need to be made through which this tissue can be excised. The incisions are made at the margin of the areola, the darker skin surrounding the nipple, concealing them in the transition between the nipple and chest skin. Often, both surgical excision of tissue is combined with power-assisted liposuction to obtain the best result.
Can Gynecomastia Return After Treatment?
Several scenarios can cause the return of male breast tissue. First, patients with gynecomastia that was caused by a habit of theirs, such as frequent marijuana use or taking a medication associated with the development of gynecomastia not stopping or reducing the use of these substances can cause the issue to return. For medications that may have caused the condition, talk to your prescribing doctor for alternatives that may not lead to this side effect.
In addition, medical conditions such as some pituitary gland disorders or growths that continue untreated or undiagnosed can lead to gynecomastia, even after corrective surgery.
One fairly obvious risk of excess tissue in the breast area returning is weight gain. Fat can mimic breast tissue and this condition is termed pseudogynecomastia. While liposuction and surgery permanently remove fat cells from the chest, gaining too much more weight following the procedure can lead to the formation of new fat cells in the area again.
This would be in addition to the enlargement of fat cells throughout the body that occurs with weight gain.
And finally, gynecomastia surgery can’t prevent future hormone fluctuations from occurring, leading to the development of breast tissue in males. If these changes in hormone levels don’t regulate themselves back to normal, you may experience a return of the breast tissue.
When being evaluated at a consultation for gynecomastia, your surgeon should take a complete medical history and perform a careful physical examination targeted at identifying any findings which could be a cause of the problem. Additionally, checking hormone levels may be recommended in cases where an abnormality may be present. For most patients, the cause of gynecomastia is not a serious medical problem like a tumor or underlying diseases, such as liver or kidney problems.
Gynecomastia Treatment in Phoenix, AZ
Men in the Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Glendale areas of Arizona don’t have to live with the reality of having enlarged breast tissue. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Paul Angelchik offers surgical and minimally invasive treatment options to give you a more masculine chest contour and provide advice on how to maintain this physique for a long time to come. Learn more about gynecomastia and how you can fight it by calling our office or contacting us online today.
