Gynecomastia

Q: Is there a treatment for gynecomastia? I’ve had abnormally large breasts ever since high school despite exercise and weight loss?

A: Gynecomastia is abnormal persistence of breast tissue after puberty. It represents the most common breast abnormality in men. Most pubertal breast enlargement resolves on its own while most post-pubertal cases require intervention. Before surgery is considered, a thorough medical workup should be performed to exclude any pathological causes of the gynecomastia. In the vast majority of men, the workup is negative at which point direct treatment can be safely recommended.

Gynecomastia is staged according to its severity as well as the tissue composition. Breast enlargement can be composed of both breast tissue and fat. The amount of each will determine what type of treatment will work best for you. In over 85% of cases ultrasonic-assisted liposuction is all that is necessary to correct the problem. In some cases breast tissue must also be removed by direct surgical excision and in a small percentage of cases a true breast reduction must be performed. Based on a thorough examination and consultation, the appropriate procedure will be selected to correct the problem with the least amount of incisions and scarring. For a complimentary consultation call my office or log onto my website at www.drhainer.com.

Plastic Surgeon Versus Cosmetic Surgeon

Q: I’m confused…what’s the difference between a cosmetic surgeon and a plastic surgeon?

A: Comparing a board-certified plastic surgeon to a cosmetic surgeon is like comparing a diamond to a cubic zirconium. From a distance, they may look the same, but when closely scrutinized, the diamond is rare and priceless while the zirconium is worth very little and fabricated. Board-certified plastic surgeons, roughly 6500 in this country, are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), one of only 16 specialty boards recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties, a branch of the AMA. Once certified by the ABPS, a surgeon is eligible to become an active member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the world’s premiere plastic surgery society. Continued membership requires extensive Continued Medical Education (CME) as well as uncompromised ethical conduct.

A “cosmetic” surgeon is essentially a meaningless term. The American Board of Cosmetic Surgery is one of over a hundred “self-designated” boards in this country. It is not recognized by the AMA and is therefore a “meaningless” board. It simply validates those physicians trying to appear to be plastic surgeons but who really have no formal training in plastic surgery. Any physician can become a “cosmetic surgeon” without any true formal training. Do you really want an ENT or oral surgeon performing your tummy tuck or breast augmentation? Well, it’s happening more than you may think.

Be safe, be discriminating, do your homework and above all…be selective. Remember, you have only one face and one body. For more information, log onto my website at www.drhainer.com and read my section on “Choosing a Plastic Surgeon”” or log onto the official ASPS website at www.plasticsurgery.org to get a list of all board-certified plastic surgeons in your area.