How Long Does Gynecomastia Affect a Male Person?

How long does Gynecomastia Last? This is a common question asked by men dealing with this condition. While gynecomastia can subside on its own over time, in certain cases you might need to go for surgery to achieve permanent effective results.

Gynecomastia

Gynecomastia is a common condition among males that causes an increase in the amount of breast gland tissues. The overdevelopment of tissues makes the chest appear large and female-like. It generally occurs in teenage boys going through puberty as a result of hormonal changes during that phase, and can also affect newborn babies and men as they age. The overdevelopment of male breasts can unevenly affect one or both breasts. The most common cause for Gynecomastia is Hormonal Changes inside the male body. Decrease in levels of male hormones called testosterone or growth in female hormones called estrogen.

Most people think that estrogen is just a female hormone, but little do they that men also produce estrogen but in small quantities. When estrogen levels in a male person are out of balance it leads to swollen breast tissues and even breast tenderness.

Though other causes also exist like the use of steroids, consumption of alcohol, poor diet intake, drug abuse, side effects of medications, obesity, or aging. Health conditions like Kidney failure, liver failure, hyperthyroidism, and malnutrition, etc.

Symptoms

When dealing with Gynecomastia a person may start to notice some of the following symptoms in their body:

•          Swelling in the chest art
•          Nipple sensitivity
•          Pain and tenderness
•          Swollen or puffy chests
•          Development of fatty tissue beneath the chest

 

What are the Complications of Gynecomastia?

Generally, the condition of gynecomastia in the medical field is not considered a very serious problem. But along with the physical changes in the body, especially around the chest area, Gynecomastia can often cause very serious effects on a person’s mental health leading to psychological and emotional traumas.

This condition of man boobs can lead to self-consciousness, social anxiety, eating disorders, body image issues, and even problems regarding bullying. You don’t have to let conditions like Gynecomastia keep you from feeling your most confident self. 

 

How long does gynecomastia last?

Typically, gynecomastia is not permanent. Regular exercising and following a proper diet will marginally reduce the swelling results. The condition progressively passes through several phases and then goes away.

First, there’s a developing phase where most men experience some breast tenderness. After a six to twelve months period, the swelling decreases, leaving only scar tissue behind. However, in most cases, one might need certain medications or a small corrective surgery to get permanent

Gynecomastia in Newborn Babies- The swelling in a newborn babies’ chest may subside on its own within a few weeks or it may take about a year’s time.

Gynecomastia in Teenage- If the breast tissues start to grow during and throughout puberty, adulthood, or during the late ’50s, chances are that it will stay for the rest of your life.

 

How common is Gynecomastia?

The development of man breasts is much more common than you might expect; up to 30 percent of men will be affected by this condition at some point in their life. A recent report by NIH found that almost 65% of males between 27 and 92 years of age encountered some extent of breast development in their chest.

Despite being such a common condition, people often feel awkward sharing about it openly. As a result, it creates a lot of confusion and doubts in the minds of people. With a lack of information comes fear and taboo which need to be addressed.

 

What are the treatments available?

Liposuction: Here, small incisions are made on each side of the chest near the armpits. The cosmetic surgeon removes the excess fat and sculpts a new chest contour that looks natural, to your body. This surgical technique is effective when gynecomastia happens due to the development of fat, this is commonly called pseudo-Gynecomastia.

Mastectomy: This surgery is performed for more severe cases of true gynecomastia where the tissue that caused gynecomastia is removed. This method is preferred by surgeons when liposuction alone can’t get rid of the issue. The small incisions are made within the chest especially below the nipple and male breast reduction with tissue excision is performed.

The effectiveness of surgery may however depend on the skill of a surgeon and with what precision they have performed the surgery.

 

Recovery Process

After surgery, the wounds and scars are carefully bandaged and the patient is provided with a compression garment to wear for the first 2-3 weeks. The garment helps in minimizing post-surgical complications like swelling and offers support for the chest to speed up the healing process.

A person can resume back to their normal life routine after several days of the procedure. However, it is important to understand that the healing time may differ from one person to another depending on how well they take care of themselves and follow the post-surgical precautions. The certified cosmetic surgeon will give you instructions for recovery according to your health requirements and the severity of your condition.

 

Also Read: Gynecomastia Treatment Without Surgery