Gynecomastia

Gynecomastia is an enlargement of the male breasts, which appear as “female-like breasts.” This condition is quite common and it affects as many as 40 percent of the male population. Gynecomastia may affect only one or both of the breasts. The majority of the cases have no known cause, while the others might be related to the use of drugs and/or alcohol, or medical conditions. Gynecomastia can be apparent by the visibility of excessive glandular breast tissue, fat, or a combination of the two. For men who feel self-conscious about their oversized breasts and refuse to be shirtless in public, this procedure can help restore self-confidence and appearance.

During a consultation at the practice of Dr. Pertsch, either his Mountain View or San Mateo facility, patients may undergo a thorough examination in order to determine the most appropriate treatment. Patients can discuss their options and have their questions/concerns addressed at this time.

The best candidates for gynecomastia correction are healthy, emotionally stable men of any age, and have firm, elastic skin that will reshape well after surgery. Men who are discouraged from gynecomastia correction are typically obese or overweight and have not attempted to correct the problem with diet and exercise, as well as those who consume excessive amounts of alcohol and/or marijuana. These drugs along with anabolic steroids may cause gynecomastia, as well as hormonal imbalances.

Gynecomastia correction is usually performed as an outpatient procedure. Dr. Pertsch may use local or general anesthesia, depending on the extensiveness of your surgery. Typically, a combination of liposuction and excision of breast tissue and skin is performed in order to produce the most beneficial outcome. Liposuction can remove excess fat deposits around the chest area, which can help contour the pectoral muscle appearance. Trimming away tissues and skin can help further accentuate a masculine contour.

Post-surgery, you will need to wear a compression garment to help the treated area heal properly and adhere to its new shape. Bruising, swelling, and discomfort may be present for a few days after the procedure but should subside as time passes. Scarring for this procedure is minimal, if visible at all. The final results are long-lasting and generally satisfactory to patients who undergo gynecomastia surgery.

A personalized treatment plan can be created to fit your individual anatomy and desired outcome when meeting with Dr. Pertsch at his San Mateo or Mountain View office. In addition, you may learn more regarding other body contouring procedures that may help provide an overall body enhancement. During this time, you may also view examples of previous patient results in before and after photos.

Before	After	Before	After
Click HERE to see more Before & After photos.

Before	After	After
Gynecomastia Description: Patient is a 17 yr. old who noted his left chest enlarging to its present size and feminine shape at the time of puberty. Although he waited patiently for it to just go away the size and shape remained stable for 2.5 yrs. He felt uneasy on the beach or working out even though he wore a shirt. Only the left side bothered him. The left side was to be reduced just enough to match the minimally enlarged right. No surgery was performed on the right side. Exam 5’7″ 140 lb. Although there was some extra tissue on the right side estimated at 20 gm. (4 teaspoonful) there was at least 80 gm. extra on the left. The areola diameters were at the upper limit of normal for a male. At surgery portions of the tissue were too fibrous to remove by liposuction. 70 gm. were removed by direct excision and an additional 20 gm. were removed with liposuction. The 3 cm. incision was hidden within the lower part of the areola. He thought results were “great”. He had renewed confidence when postoperative pictures were taken 5.5 months after the procedure. Click HERE to see more Before & After photos.