5 Measures to Prevent Gynecomastia

Gynecomastia, or man boobs, is a condition that is actually quite common, and something that is often suffered in silence. It is when a man develops female-like breasts, which is brought about by a variety of causes. This can be a highly distressing issue as it puts a dent on ones' masculinity. This is reflected on the increasing number of breast reduction or gynecomastia surgery requests. According to the 2013 Plastic Surgery Statistics Report of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, there was an 11% increase fom 2012 to 2013.  

If you are anxious about your man boobs, and may not have the means for radical treatment just yet, there are measures that can actually help you prevent it.

1. Check your medications and consult with your doctor.

As much as a drug contains beneficial action, they also pose a number of side effeects, and for some, it can result in gynecomastia. In fact, drug-induced gynecomastia accounts for 20% of all the cases in the UK.

If ever you notice your breast changing with continued use of a certain drug, inform your doctor immediately. Take note, however, that you should not stop your medication on your own, especially if it is prescribed. It doesn't mean that you should no longer be taking such medications, but when you discuss it with your doctor, he can advise you on a treatment plan that would not make you vulnerable to gynecomastia.

This type of medications creates estrogen-like effects, hence the enlargment of the breast tissue. Here are is a list of medications whose side effects include gynecomastia:

• Antipsychotics
• Tricyclic Antidepressants
• Gonadotrophins
• Cimetidine
• Amiodarone
• Digoxin
• Finasteride
• Flutamide
• Isoniazid
• Methyldopa
• Metronidazole
• Alkylating agents

2. Avoid recreational drugs

Recreational drugs, like marijuana, can also put you at risk for developing gynecomastia. It can alter your hormone levels and eventually tip the balance in favour of estrogen. Aside from all other serious consequences related to these drugs, you can start with gynecomastia as a way to convince yourself to stop using it. Gynecomastia will simply recede once you stop taking these drugs.

3. Regular testicular self exam

You might probably wondering why you ought to be checking what is down there, when the problem is on your chest. But, did you know that one of the reasons for gynecomastia is the presence of tumors?

So the best thing to do is to regularly perform a testicular self exam. Here is how you can do this:

• First of all, it is ideal to do this during or after a shower because this is when the scrotal skin is warm and relaxed. Also, make sure that you are standing when performing the exam.
• Second is to gently hold your scrotal sac to locate a testicle.
• Once you do, hold a testicle with one hand while you gently roll your fingers of your other hand over the surface of the testicle. Try to feel for any lumps or assess any changes to your testicle.
• Repeat this procedure with the other testicle.
  
  
  
  
  

Normally, your testicles should feel firm, but not hard. It is also common that one testicle is positioned lower than the other.

Medical experts, however, do not recommend doing regular testicular self-exams if you do not belong to the high-risk group. This means that you do not have any familial predisposition for testicular tumors, you do not have any past experience with it, or an undescended testicle.

4. Exercise

In some cases, the presence of fat in the chest area worsens gynecomastia, but the problem here is that even spot exercises may not do enough to help. According to an article at askmen.com, you cannot choose the areas where your body is going to lose fat, so you just have to lower it overall.

Cardio and strength training exercises are advised, along with a proper diet. Creating a caloric deficit is  also emphasized to further promote weight loss. This means that you either increase the number of calories you burn with exercise or reduce it by changing your diet. But, you can have better results when you do both.

5. Get pre-existing conditions checked

Gynecomastia is also associated with a number of conditions, such as hyperthyroidism or chronic liver disease. Medical assessment may also be done to rule out other conditions which may be mistaken for gynecomastia, such as, dermoid cyst, sebaceous cyst, mastitis, breast cancer, pseudogynecomastia, lipoma, hematoma, fat necrosis or ductal ectasia.

If you are suffering from a condition that could also lead to gynecomastia, discuss these concerns with your doctor so that he can create a treatment plan that will spare you from it. The goal here would be to treat the pre-existing condition first so that it does not result in gynecomastia.

If your gynecomastia is not relenting to all other treatments, get a consult with Esteem Cosmetic Studio today for surgical intervention. We assure a safe and reliable treatment with our highly experienced board certified surgeons.

Top 5 Cosmetic Surgeries for Men

In a press release by Dr. Steinbrech of Men's Plastic Surgery Manhattan, he revealed that the numbers on male cosmetic surgery has increased exponentially over the years. More than a million males had some cosmetic enhancement done, which results to an increase of up to 106% in the last two decades.

Based on the data gathered, one of the common reasons that men undergo cosmetic surgery is for work purposes. For instance, male models or CEOs who still want to look young and able with the highly competitive nature of their job.

Surgeons would attest that the numbers have dramatically increased. According to a statement by a certain Dr. Johnny Franco in the Miami Herald, more men are coming in for a variety of cosmetic procedures; from the less invasive Botox treatments to liposuction and tummy tucks.

Here are the top cosmetic procedures requested by men:

Chin implants

Improving the appearance of the chin is important in creating a refined male feature, which is why it is widely requested. In 2013, the number of chin implant surgeries in the UK increased by 50% since 2010, and it was even dubbed as the “new boob job” in the US according to the Dailymail. 

The American Society of Plastic Surgery even touted chin implants as the fastest-growing cosmetic surgery in recent years. Today, there are new alternatives to implants like synthetic fillers and fat transfer. Incidentally, the requests for fat injections procedure soared because it provides a safe and natural-looking alternative.

Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty, or a nose job, is among the most popular cosmetic procedures for females. But, the male patients are also catching up. From flat out dissatisfaction with the appearance of the nose to nasal repair due to injuries, this can help restore or improve the nasal structures, both internally and externally.

The procedure takes about two hours and the entire healing process takes about a year to see the final result. The operation often takes place inside of the nose to prevent any scars being visible on the outside. This involves rearranging the skin, shaving or restructing the bones, or adding in grafts to create better form and length. The signs of surgery will be gone in three weeks. But, males should still take extra care to avoid injuring the structure.

Liposuction

Men ask for this procedure because they want to tone their bodies, especially in areas that are not budging despite regular exercise and strict dieting. According to the Dailymail, this is also a good measure to emphasize the washboard abs that men want. 

The procedure involves the use of a cannula that is connected to a suction machine, while the other end is inserted into the area being treated. This suctions out the excess fats from large areas like the abdomen, thighs or buttocks, to smaller ones like the chin, jawline, or the knees. An elastic bandage or compression vest would have to be worn on the treated area to ensure that your skin follows your new contour and also to avoid post-surgical swelling.

Eyelid surgery

A lot of men are also getting eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty to enhance the appearance of both their upper and lower eyelids. This improves the appearance of tired or aged eyes. More often, this is done on Asian eyelids, which is why it is more popularly known as Asian eyelid surgery.

For most Asians, being born with monolids or puffy eyelids made them appear bored, uninterested or tired. That is why they want to open up their eyes more by having a crease created on their eyelids. This defines the eye better, resulting in a more attractive appearance.

This can also treat droopy eyelids which can make a person look old and tired. Men who want to look young and vibrant for a job also benefit from this procedure.

Gynecomastia surgery

Gynecomastia, or man boobs, is a condition where a male develops female breasts due to hormonal imbalance, recreational drugs, medications, or an underlying condition. This causes the male breast glands to proliferate, resulting to enalrged breasts. A lot of men suffer from this condition in silence because they are afraid of being ridiculed.

One of the major reasons that drives men affected by the condition is the negative effect that gynecomastia have on their body image and self esteem. Dr. Brian I. Labow, who is the team leader on a gynecomastia study, even wrote:

“Merely having gyencomastia was sufficient to cause deficits in general health, social functioning, mental health, self-esteem, and eating behaviours and attitudes  compared with controls.” 

There are a number of ways to treat the problem, but some men opt for a more aggressive approach through gynecomastia surgery. This involves an incision made along the edge of the areola so the surgeon can visualize and properly remove breast and fat tissues. The results can be astounding, with men becoming more confident going shirtless in public.

If you are interested on these procedures, get a consultation with Esteem Cosmetic Studio today. We will give you all the details, a comprehensive evaluation, and an honest consultation process. Highly skilled, experienced and board-certified surgeons provide quality cosmetic procedures that can further enhance your male form.