Gynecomastia is the name of the condition of abnormally large breasts in men. This condition is caused by the swelling of breast tissue in boys or men due to a hormone imbalance.

 Gynecomastia may involve one or both breasts. This is a common condition in adolescent boys and resolves itself 90% of time as the boy matures. For the other 10% of the population, gynecomastia may remain a problem into and throughout adulthood. But there is a surgical solution to this problem, and plastic surgeons at Cosmetic Plastic Surgery in La Jolla, California have helped countless patients with this embarrassing condition.

Some causes of gynecomastia include puberty, steroid abuse, obesity, tumors, genetic disorders, Gilberts Syndrome and aging. Gynecomastia is emotionally traumatizing for most men who suffer from this condition. Gynecomastia is not a serious health problem but is difficult to cope with, nonetheless. Men have feelings of shame, humiliation and embarrassment.

Gynecomastia may resolve itself, be treated with medication to balance hormone levels, or require surgery. Liposuction or mastectomy are two types of surgery to correct this condition. Liposuction removes the breast fat, not the breast itself. The surgeon removes the breast gland tissue in a mastectomy. This is usually done using tiny incisions employing an endoscope. Weight loss has been known to alleviate this condition in the obese.

If you are interested in learning more information about gynecomastia and the treatment for this condition, please contact California cosmetic surgeons Wendell Smoot, M.D., F.A.C.S. and John Smoot, M.D., F.A.C.S. at Cosmetic Plastic Surgery in La Jolla today.