Nov 25, 2008 9:59 am US/Central
NYC Surgeon Helps Men Battle 'Man Boobs'
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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A surgeon in New York City is helping men dealing with gynecomastia, the overdevelopment of breast tissue in men usually in response to a slight hormonal imbalance.
AP
Male breasts are a problem we don't generally talk about, but for millions it's an embarrassing reality.
A local surgeon is offering a technique that his patients consider to be life-saving, reports CBS station WCBS-TV in New York City.
When 22-year-old Julian Piazzola was just 16, he developed breasts.
"I felt, it's emasculating, you know? And it's really embarrassing and depressing," he admits. "You could imagine how it would feel being at school, going to the beach, going out places, you know, where you take your shirt off. You want to be like everybody else, you know?"
The condition, called gynecomastia, is the overdevelopment of breast tissue in men usually in response to a slight hormonal imbalance. And it's common, by some estimated 50 to 60 percent of men have some degree of breast enlargement.
"In my practice, gynecomastia is probably the most common procedure men are seeking, and right behind it would be liposuction," says Manhattan plastic surgeon Dr. George Lefkovits.
So Piazzola sought the help of Lefkovits, who specializes in procedures for men.
"I had to do a reduction of his gynecomastia whereby we, I did not just use liposuction, but we also took tissue, breast tissue. Plus his breasts had to be lifted because it was droopy and his areola was enlarged," said Lefkovits.
Gynecomastia happens frequently in newborns and boys in their early teens, but in those cases, it usually goes away on its own. In adults, it can be triggered by serious conditions like cancer of the adrenal gland, pituitary, or testicles. Medications like steroids and epilepsy drugs can be a cause, as can substances like alcohol and marijuana can be to blame.
But more often than not, it seems to happen for no reason.
"It doesn't hurt you, but psychologically it's very disturbing," says Lefkovits.
Piazzola says recovery was easy and the procedure changed his life dramatically.
"I remember nothing from the procedure. I remember walking in and being greeted by the doctor and getting dressed for the surgery and waking up," he says. "I've dated a lot since then and I have a lot of fun you know. I got to live."
When gynecomastia is caused by medications, stopping the drugs can cause the condition to resolve on its own. If it's caused by an imbalance of estrogen and testosterone, hormonal treatment may be prescribed.
Many people often think that weight gain is a primary reason for gynecomastia.
The condition is more common in people who are overweight, but by no means is that always the case. It may be that obesity triggers hormonal imbalances so development of breast tissue is more common in that group. People who lose weight may or may not see a change in the area of breast tissue.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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