What Causes Gynecomastia in Men and How Is It Treated?

Gynecomastia is a condition that affects males and causes enlarged bre-asts, which people often mistake for stubborn fat deposition over the chest. But a true gynecomastia is an outcome of glandular tissue excess, which usually leads to severe physical discomfort and emotional breakdown. It can occur at any age, but is common among teenage boys, middle-aged men, and older adults.

It is essential to get the facts straight about gynecomastia so it can be effectively treated at an early stage and prevented from advancing. At SB Aesthetic Clinic, our focus is to help eligible gynecomastia patients receive advanced male bre-ast reduction or gynecomastia treatment in Gurgaon and help them achieve the confident look they desire.

Signs of Gynecomastia that You Shouldn’t Ignore

A true gynecomastia condition displays as:

• Persistent female bo-obs-like appearance
• Milky or clear fluid leakage through nip-ples (a rare case).
• Swollen bre-ast leading to asymmetry/unevenness between bre-asts
• A rubbery, firm, disc-like glandular tissue, often feeling like a hard, small knot under the nip-ple
• Bre-ast soreness and nip-ple sensitivity- often when touched or rubbed against something
• The characteristic symptom of pseudo-gynecomastia is a noticeable bre-ast enlargement or puffiness caused by fat build-up in the chest.

Description and Appearance of Grades of Gynecomastia

A true gynecomastia condition is categorised into four grades, based on its severity:

1. Grade 1 (Mild): There is slight enlargement of the glandular tissue around the areola. Often, it goes unnoticed. But it is characterised by puffy nip-ples with minimal to no hanging bre-ast tissue.
2. Grade 2 (Moderate): The glandular tissue enlarges beyond the are-ola. The person’s chest appears fuller, but the skin remains taut.
3. Grade 3 (Severe): The glandular tissue grows extensively, and there is unnecessary skin. The person’s chest appears extremely enlarged and may start to look like female bre-asts with mild to moderate drooping tissue.
4. Grade 4 (Most Severe): There is significant enlargement and sagging of the bre-ast along with a large amount of redundant skin. The affected person's chest appears entirely like that of a female.

Primary Culprits of Gynecomastia

• Hormonal imbalance- Gynecomastia develops when the estr-ogen hormone that controls female s-ex traits becomes in excess while the level of testo-sterone hormone, responsible for male se-xual characteristics, drops. This hormonal shift from estro-gen low to high and test-osterone high to low may occur at the time of puberty, due to natural ageing, or after certain illnesses/ test-icular surgeries.
• Some medical conditions- Underlying illnesses like liver disease, kidney failure, overactive thyroid, and test-icular, adrenal, or pituitary tumors may lead to a hormonal shift that causes gynecomastia.
• Certain medications- Anti-androgens, certain antidepressants/antipsychotics, calcium channel blockers for the heart, ulcer medications, anabolic steroids, and chemotherapy drugs are known to cause hormonal imbalance, leading to gynecomastia.
• Use of recreational substances- Heroin, marijuana, amphetamines, methadone, anabolic steroids, and alcohol addiction is strongly associated with the development of gynecomastia.
• Obesity or excess fat accumulation- The localised fat deposition in the chest region also increases estro-gen production by promoting the conversion of test-osterone to est-rogen. This hormonal change is the reason behind gynecomastia.
• Genetics or congenital issues- Rarely, a genetic syndrome like Klinefelter Syndrome causes high estro-gen and low test-osterone levels and causes gynecomastia to develop during puberty.

Risk Factors of Gynecomastia

Gynecomastia is most likely to develop in:

• Drug/alcohol addicts
• Men taking hormonal therapy for the long term
• Men with a family history of genetic or hormonal disorders
• Teenage boys- due to a hormonal shift during puberty
• Older men- due to a sharp decline in test-osterone with aging
• Obese males or males with an unhealthy lifestyle, due to extra fat deposition
• Kidney, liver, or thyroid patients- due to a hormonal imbalance caused by a kidney, liver, or thyroid disorder.

How to Know Whether You Have True Gynecomastia?

If any signs of gynecomastia are noticed, connect with a cosmetic or plastic surgeon. The doctor will confirm true gynecomastia by performing a thorough physical examination, hormone testing (if required), and an ultrasound or other imaging test to evaluate for excess glandular tissue.

Medical Ways to Correct Gynecomastia

Gynecomastia treatment depends on its underlying cause and its grade. Here are all the possible ways to get relief from enlarged bre-asts:

1. Lifestyle modifications- The first grade of gynecomastia that is the result of obesity or poor lifestyle habits can be addressed by switching to a healthy lifestyle. Experts recommend going ahead with a tailored weight loss plan and even avoiding the use of recreational drugs.
2. Hormonal therapy- If the doctor prescribes and the gynecomastia condition is consistently monitored, a testo-sterone replacement therapy and the use of aromatase inhibitors that prevent the conversion of testost-erone to estro-gen can work.
3. Medications- Early stages of gynecomastia can be addressed with a prescription aromatase inhibitor or a selective estro-gen receptor modulator.
4. Use of compression garment- Wearing a compression garment, especially in social settings, while other treatments are at work, can help boost confidence by providing a flat chest appearance.
5. Nutritional supplements- Vitamin D, zinc, and herbal boosters for hormonal health can be used, but only when a doctor recommends.
6. Male Boo-bs Reduction Surgery- This is the gold-standard treatment of severe grade of gynecomastia. It involves a combination of two techniques: Liposuction for excess fat removal and Excision for the removal of excess glandular tissues and redundant skin. It provides a permanent correction of the chest. With advanced approaches, there is discreet scarring and minimal downtime.

Get Help from an Expert Plastic Surgeon

Gynecomastia is not an aesthetic concern but a medical issue resulting from estro-gen excess. At SB Aesthetics Clinic, a plastic surgery clinic in Gurgaon, early diagnosis and treatment of gynecomastia can help manage the condition.

What our Patients Ask about Gynecomastia

How do I know whether I have gynecomastia?

Do a pinch test and feel for the difference in the bre-ast. If there is a palpable lump beneath the nip-ple along with pain, tenderness, and swelling, it’s likely gynecomastia.

Can gynecomastia go away on its own?

Sometimes, it's pubertal/hormonal or a result of mild obesity.

When to consider gynecomastia surgery?

Surgery will be the only solution left if the gynecomastia condition has been present for the past 1-2 years and fails to be relieved with non-surgical treatments. When bre-ast tissue is dense and fibrotic, and the condition causes significant distress, it can lead to a poor quality of life.

Is it possible to prevent the progression of gynecomastia?

An early consultation with a medical specialist/gynecomastia doctor and maintenance of good health may help.

At what age is the best time to treat gynecomastia?

There is no fixed age. Adult men with stabilised hormones are recommended to get their gynecomastia treated.

If you have gynecomastia symptoms but don’t know which treatment will work for you, reach out to Dr. Shilpi Bhadani and Dr. Sahil Niyazi at SB Aesthetics Clinic for a tailored, detailed assessment and receive the best, affordable plan of action for gynecomastia treatment in Gurgaon. Schedule a consultation now for details.