Gynecomastia is a condition wherein the breast tissue of a male is enlarged, making its appearance similar to that of a female breast. This enlargement is benign and is caused by a variety of factors such as decrease in testosterone (the principal male sex hormone that is responsible for male secondary sexual characteristics), side effects of medications, or a disease or metabolic disorder that may affect the hormone’s production.
In a human male, it is natural that the androgen (male hormone) is present in much higher concentrations than the estrogen (female hormone). In this case though, there is an imbalance in these two hormones, making the estrogen concentration significantly higher relative to the androgen. This will therefore exhibit in the appearance of some female secondary sexual characteristics on the male.
Gynecomastia is not particularly harmful to the body, though it may be an underlying symptom for another, more serious condition, such as testicular cancer. The more apparent problem this has on males is the psychological and social effects. The social stigma on sufferers can oftentimes lead to self-esteem issues and depression.
Gynecomastia is often managed by medications and corrective surgery. How much gynecomastia surgeries cost usually depends on the type of surgery the patient will undergo. Here are the common breast reduction procedures that can be done for this condition.
Subcutaneous mastectomy. This involves the removal of the excess breast tissue in males while at the same time performing a nipple and areola transplant. The rest of the breast part (skin, nipple and areola) is left intact so that reconstruction of the breast may be made possible through insertion of prosthesis, though this only applies to female breasts. Male breasts, however, are left as is and further reconstruction is made to ensure symmetrical orientation of the nipple and areola. The cost for this type of surgery is around $6,800.
Liposuction-assisted mastectomy. Ultrasonic liposuction technology is used in this procedure in order to achieve lesser post surgical complications and to achieve better breast shape, orientation and symmetry. There is a decreased chance of compromised blood generation, saucer distortion, nipple deformation and areola scabs than in subcutaneous mastectomy. However, this method is not advisable for treating glandular gynecomastia. The surgery costs around $7,000-$10,000.
Laser-assisted liposuction. In this procedure, a small incision is made in the skin where a thin fiber will be inserted in order to collect the liquefied fat. A laser then will be used to heat the breast area in order to melt the fatty tissue and be extracted from the body. Laser-assisted liposuction is estimated to be around $6,000-$12,000.
How much gynecomastia surgeries cost depends on the procedure done and the hospital or surgeon performing it. Some well-known practitioners of the craft may charge higher than those with lesser experience towards the matter. It is important to discuss these things first with your surgeon before undergoing with the procedure. Some insurance companies argue that they should not cover how much gynecomastia surgeries cost since it’s done for aesthetic or cosmetic purposes so it is also best to ask your health insurance provider whether this type of procedure is also covered before continuing on.
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