Gynecomastia Surgery in Miami, FL

Frequently, certain medications, marijuana use, long-term use of steroids, and a few other health problems can lead to gynecomastia. It’s more common than many people know. In fact, 70% of boys develop some form of the condition during puberty; luckily, most cases of gynecomastia in teens will resolve later. However, men can still develop this chest enlargement later in life due to hormonal changes.

Secondary sex characteristics are governed mostly by two hormones: testosterone and estrogen. Testosterone produces masculine characteristics such as increased body hair and a deeper voice, while estrogen is responsible for producing women’s enlarged breasts. While we think of these two hormones as associated solely with their respective sex, the truth is that everybody has both estrogen and testosterone present in their bodies in different amounts. In males, when testosterone levels are lowered and/or there is an increase in estrogen, gynecomastia can occur. Some men have a genetically related gynecomastia, meaning that they have normal amounts of circulating estrogen in their bodies, but their chests are unusually sensitive to the hormone. Many male infants are born with enlarged breasts due to the high levels of estrogen present in the mother; this is normal. During puberty, a hormonal imbalance can trigger gynecomastia that will typically resolve within six months or two years without the need for surgical intervention. Men between the ages of 50 and 69 experience another sudden increase in the condition, with about one in four men in this age group affected.

In addition to natural hormonal changes, the risk of gynecomastia can also be increased by the use of certain street drugs (amphetamines, marijuana, heroin, and methadone) and alcohol. Medications prescribed by a doctor to treat another condition can also play a role in causing enlarged breasts in males. Common medications that can lead to larger breasts in men include steroids, AIDS medications, medications used to treat prostate enlargement, some antibiotics, certain psychotropic medications, chemotherapy, and drugs used to treat ulcers, heart conditions, and stomach issues. Medical conditions affecting the heart, kidneys, liver, thyroid, or prostate can also be responsible for the condition.

If a patient truly has gynecomastia, which is a hormonal phenomenon, then chest exercises will not eliminate that firm glandular tissue. It’s true that weight loss can help to decrease the amount of fat in the chest for some men, but for others, doing a lot of chest exercises will build more muscle and push the tissue further outwards. This can lead to the puffy nipples and other aesthetic problems. This is one of the key differences between true gynecomastia and simply having excess fat in the chest because of carrying excess weight: With gynecomastia, men may be able to eliminate or reduce fat through diet and exercise, but the firm, glandular tissue persists. No other treatment besides male breast reduction surgery is known to have lasting results.

Any man that has concerns about the enlargement of his chest not due solely to muscle growth and who is healthy enough to have surgery is a candidate for a gynecomastia procedure. The surgery is performed on an out-patient basis, depending on the extent of the enlargement and the skin quality in the area. To begin your Gynecomastia Surgery Miami plastic surgeon, Dr. White will perform liposuction of the chest, with or without the removal of glandular tissue, through a small incision around the nipple. When there is extreme skin laxity, some skin may also be removed in the chest surgery. This surgery to correct gynecomastia is a satisfying procedure for male patients who are self-conscious about having breasts that are enlarged. With the male breast reduction, patients report that their self-confidence is dramatically improved.

The cost of Gynecomastia Surgery in Miami depends on the type and extent of the surgery that will be performed, the cost in Miami can typically range from $4,000 to $6,500. This price covers the surgeon’s fee, the anesthesiologist, and the facility costs. In the grand scheme of things, most of our patients who have the gynecomastia surgery done are satisfied with the results and feel it was well worth the price.