Archive for April, 2015

Explaining Gynecomastia for the Average Man

Most men have never heard of gynecomastia or what it has to do with them. Generally, the first time you will hear about gynecomastia is if you are diagnosed with it. This disorder refers to a condition in which the male breast tissue becomes enlarged.

Sometimes a temporary aspect of the condition will appear during adolescence when boys experience hormonal changes or in newborn baby boys whose body chemistry has been influenced by mom’s female hormones. The development recedes in baby boys and typically resolves for teenage boys as quickly as three weeks to as long as two years. Excessive stress factors can cause this condition during puberty, as well. No treatment is used in cases of psychological gynecomastia, other than resolving the stress factors.

In older men, the disorder can appear when certain cancers and diseases are involved, specific medications are being taken, or in older males whose testosterone levels have decreased. In particular, it is an enlargement of the male breast tissues, and is usually a disorder associated with an underlying condition. Once that condition is discovered and treated, it will reduce the enlargement of the tissues.

If medical issues are the cause, appropriate therapies should be taken as early as possible. Testosterone replacement might be necessary. In some cases, that can exacerbate the problem. When gynecomastia is discovered, treated successfully and returns with frequency, consult your doctor for surgical or medical treatments.

Young men going through puberty are likely to be more psychologically affected by this condition than very young babies and older men. Parents can suggest counseling during that period of time but it is something that should be discussed with a qualified doctor. One of the deciding factors that will be discussed is how long the condition is expected to last. If chances are good that the disease won’t last long, treatment will probably not be recommended.

Posted in Gynecomastia on April 30th, 2015

Answers to Your Breast Reduction Surgery Questions 

Have you been considering breast reduction surgery? If so, you probably have a million questions you want answered. Before you go “under the knife,” do some personal research. Make sure surgery is the right answer for your issues. There are several reasons why a woman would choose to have breast reduction surgery and they include both cosmetic and medical reasons. Large breasts often cause a great deal of back pain as the spine struggles to hold the massive front weight on a woman’s body. This is the most common reason. Breast reduction surgery is also done to reverse implants and when a woman simply feels she is carrying too much up front.

A common concern is that breast reduction surgery will cause cancer. The simple answer is that this type of surgery does not affect your risk of contracting cancer of any type. It doesn’t interfere with any treatments that might later be needed for any type of disease and will actually improve a woman’s experience when having a mammogram procedure done.

The tissue that is removed in this surgery is later examined under a microscope to see if there is any indication of cancer or other problems. Studies show that there is a slight decrease in risk of other types of cancer in women who have had breast reduction surgery.

You will want to discuss the financial side of your decision with your doctor. Check with your insurance to see if you can get any kind of help that way. If it is medically necessary because of strain on the spine, it is more likely to be covered.

You don’t have to worry about the size of your breasts growing back after surgery. As long as they were fully developed when the surgery was performed, they will not get larger again. This is barring any pregnancy or weight gain. In addition to this, you may need some help breast-feeding after reduction surgery. Keep the formula nearby to supplement your baby’s appetite.

No matter your decision or your current or future breast size, you should feel confident and at home in your own body. Breast reduction surgery can help with that.

Posted in Breast Reduction on April 15th, 2015

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