Do you have excess breast tissue that you wish you could get rid of? Does your chest look soft and fatty? If so, you may be a good candidate for gynecomastia treatment at Murphy Plastic Surgery in Englewood, CO, conveniently located just 10 miles from Denver, CO. Today, we’re looking at how this condition can be treated, how long the results last, and more. Here’s what you need to know.

How Can You Get Rid of Gynecomastia?

How gynecomastia is treated depends on whether the appearance of male breasts is caused by excess fat tissue or excess fat and breast tissue. In the case of excess breast and fat tissue, male breast reduction can help. Male breast reduction involves the removal of excess breast tissue through a tiny incision made along the edge of the areola. During this procedure, a small amount of excess fat is excised.

If you have a lot of fat in your chest, liposuction or CoolSculpting may be a better fit for you. Also, it is not uncommon for liposuction to be performed in conjunction with male breast reduction even if the sole purpose of the liposuction is to feather the edges of the breast tissue removal.

Liposuction

For nearly half of a century, liposuction has been revered as the gold standard in fat removal. It involves making a very small incision through which a cannula is inserted. Through this cannula, fat is suctioned out of the chest. Individual results vary, but you can reasonably expect approximately one-third of your chest fat to be removed in a single session if fat loss is the goal.

If fat loss is not the goal, a smaller amount of fat can be suctioned out through the cannula. Usually, when clients have excess breast tissue growth, only a short liposuction procedure is required to remove just enough fat for smooth contours that accentuate the pecs. Note, although the fat is removed during the procedure, it can take anywhere from one to three months for the final results to become apparent depending on your skin elasticity.

CoolSculpting

While CoolSculpting hasn’t been around for as long as liposuction, it is still a very popular fat removal technique. There are several reasons why CoolSculpting is the most popular non-invasive fat removal treatment, including the fact that it is just as effective as liposuction is.

How Long Can I Expect the Results to Last?

Whether you opt for liposuction or CoolSculpting to achieve fat removal, you can expect the results to last for the rest of your life. This is because liposuction removes whole fat cells from the body via suction. CoolSculpting causes your body to flush out whole fat cells after they are frozen and processed by your lymphatic system. Regardless, the fat cells are removed from your body, and they will never be replaced.

However, you should understand that it is possible to store fat in your chest following your fat removal. If you consume more calories than your body needs to maintain its weight, you can store excess energy in any fat cell in your body. If you have a genetic predisposition for storing chest fat, there is a very good chance that you will store fat in your chest if you gain weight after your fat removal.

How Long the Breast Tissue Removal Will Last

Whether you need a follow-up procedure following your breast tissue removal depends on several factors, including the cause of your condition. For example, if your condition is caused by a hormonal imbalance, your results may last forever if you resolve your hormonal imbalance. On the other hand, it may not be possible to enjoy results for the rest of your life if your condition is caused by certain medications and medical conditions.

Hormonal Imbalance

This condition usually occurs when there is not enough testosterone in the body. To maintain your glandular tissue removal for the rest of your life, you will need to take testosterone replacement therapy for the rest of your life. If you stop taking testosterone replacement therapy at some point, your sex hormone levels may become so imbalanced that you start to develop breast tissue again.

However, it can also develop when testosterone levels are sufficient but there is too much estrogen in the body. If the root cause of this condition is caused by an excess of estrogen, you may benefit from weight loss because body fat can produce some of its own estrogen. The more fat that is removed through liposuction or CoolSculpting, the less estrogen your body will produce.

Drugs

It is also possible to enjoy the results of breast tissue removal for the rest of your life if you are taking pharmaceuticals that cause the development of excess breast tissue. For example, if you are taking corticosteroids for pain relief, antibiotics, medications for the treatment of prostate cancer, or antidepressants, you may be able to find alternative medications to take to treat your concerns that do not cause excess breast tissue growth.

However, there is also a chance that you will not be able to find a suitable substitute to treat your concerns. Also, it is possible that you will need a follow-up procedure in the future if you are suffering from certain medical conditions, like hyperthyroidism or kidney disease. Unless you treat the condition causing the excess breast tissue development, there is a chance that it will recur in the future.

Am I a Good Candidate for Gynecomastia Treatment?

You will probably be considered a good candidate for gynecomastia treatment if you are in relatively good health and concerned about the appearance of male breasts. Whether you are a better candidate for male breast reduction or a fat removal technique will be determined once your chest has been evaluated. You will probably be considered a good candidate for male breast reduction if you’re fairly healthy and concerned about breast tissue.

On the other hand, you will probably be considered a good candidate for liposuction or CoolSculpting if you have only developed the appearance of male breasts due to excess fatty tissue deposits. Note, if you are healthy enough to receive male breast reduction, you are healthy enough to receive fat removal. The question that must be answered during your initial consultation is whether there is enough chest fat to warrant lipo or CoolSculpting.

FAQs Answered

How Common Is This Condition?

This condition is extremely common. All males start to produce testosterone at a much slower rate when they reach the age of 30. Over time, this results in testosterone levels that are so low that they develop andropause. While andropause does not always lead to the development in excess glandular tissue, roughly 40 to 50% of males develop gynecomastia at some point in their life.

Some males develop this condition when they are going through puberty. However, most males who develop this condition during puberty simply have to wait for their hormone levels to balance out over the course of several months or a couple of years. Men who develop this condition when they are closer to their 50s should expect this condition to worsen rather than resolve itself.

Can I Exercise My Condition Away?

There is not a good chance that you can exercise your condition away. If you only have the appearance of male breasts due to an excess of fat, you may be able to lose fat from your chest through a caloric deficit. However, there is no way to encourage your body to burn fat from any specific part of your body. It could take months or years to get your body fat percentage down to the point that you would lose enough chest fat to sculpt your chest.

Also, it is not a good idea to try to build up your chest muscles in an attempt to improve your chest contours. Particularly if your condition is caused by excess glandular tissue, building up your pecs will only exacerbate your condition, pushing the excess breast tissue closer to the surface of the skin.

Schedule Your Initial Consultation Today

You don’t have to live with a chest you feel self-conscious about. Liposuction, CoolSculpting, or male breast reduction can treat the appearance of male breasts and provide long-lasting results. To find out whether you qualify for liposuction, CoolSculpting, or male breast reduction, contact us today at Murphy Plastic Surgery in Englewood, CO to schedule your initial gynecomastia treatment consultation. We’ll see you soon.