During the developmental ages of men, as a result of hormonal-changes the condition of over-developed or enlarged breasts and sensitivity on breast area in men, is common in men of any age. This is generally occurs between 13-15 years of age and in ninety five percent of the cases it will be naturally healed in a couple of years. If this situation became permanent because of various reasons, it will be called as Gynecomastia.

The Gynecomastia can be turn into a social problem which may negatively affect the young men’s physical activities and their mode of dressing. Some men may even avoid wearing t-shirts, sea bathing or undressing other people’s presence and intimacy simply to hide their condition. Gynecomastia can have various reasons. Gynecomastia can occur because of hormonal reasons, tumors or used medicaments. For example the hormone secreting tumors can cause over-development of the breast tissues.

Instant development of the breast tissue on the middle ages can be examined with hormonal levels, tumor markers should be checked and the medical tests must be done against a hormone secreting tumor’s existence. Besides these, hepatitis, cirrhosis, lung cancer, lung diseases, testis diseases, heroin and similar drugs usages, using anabolic medicaments for putting weight and increasing the muscle field can be resulted with gynecomastia. In some cases no reason could be found to cause gynecomastia.

On the young men the breast structure constituted from connective tissue and breast tissue, but on the adolescences it includes fat tissue. Classical gynecomastia starts during the puberty and continues in advanced ages, but the gynecomastia caused by other reasons may arise in advanced ages and generally it is unilaterally (one breast).  Gynecomastia can be evaluated in three groups depending on its size and the skin loose that it creates: The breast is enlarged and there is sagged skin.

The size is lie a woman’s breast but the sagging is not formed yet. The size is limited and there is no sagging or slackening on the skin. Once the reason of gynecomastia has been determines, it will be started to plan for the treatment.

The treatment of gynecomastia is surgical. Unfortunately there is no way of hormonal treatment except surgery.  If you have first level gynecomastia and the excessive part formed mostly by the fat tissue, it can be corrected by liposuction. If the excessive part formed by the glandular tissue, these tissue will be removed by making a small incision on the nipple.  The same treatment will be done also for the second level gynecomastia. For the third level of gynecomastia the excessive skin must also be removed in addition to the other procedures. There can be some permanent scars depending on the amount of removed skin. The clarity of the scars can be changed according to the skin type.

Preparing for the Surgery; Like all surgical operations, avoid taking aspirin during the last ten days before the surgery. The regularly used medicaments and important diseases must be notified to the doctor. Additionally no fluid or food should be eaten during the last 8 hours before the surgery.

After the surgery and healing period; the gynecomastia surgery will be performed in hospital under general anesthesia. The fat tissue will be removed from a couple of small incisions with 3-4 mm. thick cannulas. If it is also necessary to remove the breast tissues, the excessive tissue will be removed by making a half-moon formed incision on the bottom line of the areola (the dark skin surrounding the nipple). The incision lines are concealed within natural contours, and will be healed by leaving a very pale scar. If the breast tissue has been removed, some drain tubes may be placed to prevent the possible fluid leakages on the operation area.

The surgery will take 0,5 – 2 hours and a special corset will be worn to support your operated breast. The drains will be removed in 1 or two days according to the fluid amount. Removing the stitches is not necessary.  You can be discharged from the hospital either on the same or next day after the surgery and you can start to your normal life in 1-2 days. The corset must be worn for one week. After the first week, especially if you are making heavy activities during the day, you must continue to wear the corset for following three weeks.

During the first days you may have swellings, sensitivity, bruises or pains during the arm movements. These are normal situations and start to heal quickly after the third day of your surgery. If you have pains, the orally taken painkillers will be helpful. The sensitivity may last longer in some cases. Sometimes you may feel apathy, prickle or burning but these are not in a level that may affect your normal daily life.  In the second week you may swim in the pool or sea, but you have to use sun protection creams. Besides that, you must avoid the solarium, steam bath and sauna, you have to limit the heavy sports exercises.

The risks of gynecomastia surgery; Like all the surgical procedures, the gynecomastia surgery has also some risks.  Possible complications on the early stages: Bleeding; this can be minimized with drains, this risk may be higher for the persons who have propensity to extreme bleedings and the people who takes Aspirin. Infection: It is not a common complication.

Possible complications on the late stages: The irregularities are very rare, bad scar, long lasted apathy, prickles or color changes may occur, but these will be healed after a certain period.