Gynecomastia is the benign unilateral or bilateral enlargement of the male breast. It is mainly attributed to the proliferation of ductular elements. This enlargement may be caused by increased fibrous tissue, glandular tissue, or adipose tissue. It may also be a combination of the three. Gynecomastia may also be caused by aging, hyperthyroidism, kidney failure, liver failure, hypogonadism, tumors, and malnutrition.
This condition is not the same with pseudo-gynecomastia, the enlargement of the breast in males due to excess deposition of fat. Gynecomastia occurs in sixty to seventy percent of boys in their puberty years and is regarded as a normal occurrence in adolescence. In male adults, about thirty to forty percent have this condition. Then again, gynecomastia that has a rapid onset or is unilateral in post-adolescent boys is usually linked to an underlying pathology.
Medical treatment is available for gynecomastia depending on its severity. Surgical procedures, such as liposuction-assisted mastectomy, subcutaneous mastectomy, laser-lipolysis without liposuction, and laser-assisted liposuction, are recommended. Is mastectomy the solution to gynecomastia? Well, this procedure is done to remove the glandular breast tissue. It is effective but it can have certain complications.
These complications include seroma, necrosis of the nipple, hematoma, breast asymmetry, surgical wound infection, changes in breast sensation, contour deformities, and noticeable scars. Is mastectomy the solution to gynecomastia and is it necessary? Mastectomy for gynecomastia is suitable for males who are at least eighteen years old and meet the criteria for the procedure. For instance, they are qualified if they can provide pre-operative photographs.
Males with glandular breast tissues that need to be removed are also qualified provided that it was not a result of adolescence, obesity, or reversible effects of drug treatments. In addition, a diagnostic evaluation has to be done in order for a male to qualify for the procedure. He is also qualified if he experiences tenderness or pain in his breast tissue. These are the criteria that have to be met before a male can qualify for the mastectomy surgery.
Is mastectomy the solution to gynecomastia in males above eighteen years of age only? Eighteen years old is technically the legal age, but mastectomy may be medically necessary for a patient regardless of age. So when he qualifies for the procedure, he should be allowed to undergo it even if he does not suit the age requirement which is at least eighteen years of age. Gynecomastia, after all, may develop in males that are young and old.
Prolonged gynecomastia results in stromal hyalinization and periductal fibrosis, which prevents the regression of the breast tissue. This may require surgery, using either liposuction or mastectomy, if it is not treated with conservative therapies. Nonetheless, the patient may only be allowed to undergo the procedure if there is a legitimate concern that his breast mass may represent breast carcinoma. In some cases, mammography may be necessary to find out if surgery is indeed needed to treat gynecomastia. On the other hand, the use of liposuction to execute mastectomy is considered to be investigational but not medically necessary.
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