What Is
Men can develop gynecomastia for different reasons—and sometimes for no known reason at all. The condition is extremely common and thought to affect up to half of men at some point in their lives. Dr. Schlesinger treats men of all ages, from those in their teens all the way up to men in their 70s.
Teenage males are especially hard hit by this disorder. Fluctuating hormones can cause male breast tissues to enlarge during puberty. Adolescent gynecomastia is often temporary, and the chest flattens once a man is an adult. Sometimes, however, the “man boobs” last into adulthood.
Use of anabolic steroids and other substances are a common cause. Many young, healthy men who are attempting to look more muscular will turn to the illegal use of male hormones such as testosterone, or even legal health store products such as DHEA. These and other hormone-producing products can cause breasts to enlarge, resulting in the unfortunate side effect of making one look worse when they were only trying to look better. While stopping these products is important for health and may keep gynecomastia from getting worse, oftentimes the damage has been done.
Significant weight gain can also lead to enlarged male breasts, typically in the form of pseudogynecomastia (excess fat in the breasts). However, massive weight loss can leave behind excess skin, fat and glandular tissue in the breasts that can only be removed with male breast reduction surgery.
“True” gynecomastia refers to the growth of glandular breast tissue, while “pseudogynecomastia” refers to excess fatty deposits in the breast area. Most gynecomastia cases involve a combination of both excess breast tissue and fat. While the type of tissue causing enlarged male breasts will influence the surgical techniques used to treat gynecomastia, whether you have “true” or “psuedogynecomastia” is of less concern to Dr. Schlesinger than how you feel about your chest appearance and what results you desire.
If you are suffering from gynecomastia in Hawaii, know that you have options to restore a firmer, flatter and more masculine chest shape. Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. S. Larry Schlesinger has over 30 years of experience helping men permanently overcome gynecomastia and feel more confident in their bodies as a result.
Learn more about your male breast reduction treatment options now.
When choosing a plastic surgeon to perform your male breast reduction, one should always choose a Board Certified plastic surgeon that has the privilege to do male breast reductions at a local hospital. Cosmetic surgeries, including male breast reductions, are usually done in surgicenters, and not in hospitals. S. Larry Schlesinger, MD, FACS is a Board-Certified plastic surgeon with cosmetic surgery privileges at Queen’s Hospital, but he performs most surgeries at his new surgicenter at Hale Pawaa. Dr. Schlesinger is a graduate of the Medical College of Virginia and has received awards in the form of Hawaii Medical Association Physician of the Year, American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, and even received the Patients’ Choice and Compassionate Doctor certifications.
To learn more regarding your options as a Hawaii male breast reduction patient, contact our Plastic Surgery Center today at (808) 517-5076 to schedule an initial consultation at our office in Honolulu. S. Larry Schlesinger, MD, FACS will be glad to speak with potential Hawaii male breast reduction patients during that time.
