MALE BREAST REDUCTION - Gregory Diehl · Both male and female breast tissue responds to the...
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48 IMAGE October/November 2009 M ale breast enlargement is known as Gynecomastia. Up to two thirds of adolescent males temporarily develop enlarged breasts somewhere be- tween ages 13 and 16. While this a common condition, these self-con- scious teens need reassurance from their pediatrician it will go away. About 90% of the time, the enlarged breasts do go away. However, it can be an emotional bur- den to endure gym glass, sports and summers looking different than their “normal” peers. Countless men carry this problem into adulthood. In most cases, this isn’t se- rious beyond the fact that the breast tissue is too sensitive to their circulating hor- mones. Good news: The problem is treatable. Removing the excess breast tissue is the fourth most common plastic surgical procedure among men. 18,000 such cases are performed annually in the U.S. Both male and female breast tissue responds to the circulating levels of estro- gen and testosterone. A combination of both high estrogen and low testosterone can cause the breasts to enlarge. The balance of these hormones is disturbed dur- ing puberty, which explains adolescent gynecomastia. Most cases that persist into adulthood, however, have normal hormone levels, and the fault seems to lie in the inability of the breast tissue to spontaneously regress. There is a long list of medications associated with gynecomastia. Some drugs act like estrogen, such as the heart medication Digitalis, or enhance estrogen pro- duction, such as anabolic steroids. Others inhibit testosterone production, such as the ulcer medication Cimetidine and the antibiotic Flagyl. There is an association with other drugs like certain anti-depressants, Valium and even marijuana which MALE BREAST REDUCTION A man with enlarged breasts won’t share the same enthusiasm as his lady friends MEN’S HEALTH Removing the excess breast tissue is the fourth most common plastic surgical procedure among men BY GREGORY J. DIEHL M.D., F.A.C.S.
Transcript of MALE BREAST REDUCTION - Gregory Diehl · Both male and female breast tissue responds to the...
48 IMAGE October/November 2009 October/November 2009 IMAGE 49
Male breast enlargement is known as Gynecomastia. Up to two thirds ofadolescent males temporarily develop enlarged breasts somewhere be-tween ages 13 and 16. While this a common condition, these self-con-
scious teens need reassurance from their pediatrician it will go away. About 90% ofthe time, the enlarged breasts do go away. However, it can be an emotional bur-den to endure gym glass, sports and summers looking different than their “normal”peers.
Countless men carry this problem into adulthood. In most cases, this isn’t se-rious beyond the fact that the breast tissue is too sensitive to their circulating hor-mones. Good news: The problem is treatable. Removing the excess breast tissue isthe fourth most common plastic surgical procedure among men. 18,000 such casesare performed annually in the U.S.
Both male and female breast tissue responds to the circulating levels of estro-gen and testosterone. A combination of both high estrogen and low testosteronecan cause the breasts to enlarge. The balance of these hormones is disturbed dur-ing puberty, which explains adolescent gynecomastia. Most cases that persist intoadulthood, however, have normal hormone levels, and the fault seems to lie in theinability of the breast tissue to spontaneously regress.
There is a long list of medications associated with gynecomastia. Some drugsact like estrogen, such as the heart medication Digitalis, or enhance estrogen pro-duction, such as anabolic steroids. Others inhibit testosterone production, such asthe ulcer medication Cimetidine and the antibiotic Flagyl. There is an associationwith other drugs like certain anti-depressants, Valium and even marijuana which
MALE BREAST REDUCTION A man with enlarged breasts won’t share the same enthusiasmas his lady friends
M E N ’ S H E A L T H
Removing theexcess breasttissue is thefourth mostcommon plasticsurgicalprocedureamong men
BY GREGORY J. DIEHL M.D., F.A.C.S.
