The most obvious of gynecomastia symptoms is the enlargement of the male breast tissue. Accordingly, gynecomastia is defined as visible or palpable breast tissue development in boys or men. There are four types of gynecomastia, for which the gynecomastia symptoms may be a bit different.

Gynecomastia symptoms commonly occur at puberty and can effect up to sixty percent of pubertal boys. Breast enlargement occurring during puberty is characterized by the gynecomastia symptoms of tender discoid (disk-like) enlargement of the glandular breast tissue beneath the areola. This area of enlargement is commonly one to five centimeters in diameter. Gynecomastia symptoms that occur during puberty usually spontaneously resolve within a year or two.

Gynecomastia symptoms may also occur in adult males. The development of gynecomastia symptoms occur for a variety of reasons including obesity, hormonal imbalance, the use of several types of steroidal or estrogen-containing drugs, failure of the liver, and genetic causes. Gynecomastia symptoms may also be the first indicator of testicular cancer or other forms of cancer. When there is no evidence of underlying health problems, gynecomastia symptoms are usually not painful though breast tenderness can accompany gynecomastia symptoms.

Gynecomastia symptoms can also be the sign of pseudogynecomastia. Pseudogynecomastia is the development of excessive fatty tissue in the breasts, whereas true gynecomastia is excess glandular tissue. Patients presenting gynecomastia symptoms can be evaluated for the type of breast tissue causing enlargement. When the tissue is gently pinched together, glandular tissue will appear rubbery to firm with concentric circles around and beneath the areola. This tissue is often freely mobile and may be tender.

If a person is presenting gynecomastia symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention in order to determine the underlying cause of gynecomastia symptoms. The time of onset, duration of enlargement, personal and family medical history, medication/drug use, and weight change are all important factors in determining the cause of gynecomastia symptoms and subsequent treatment options.

People who suffer from gynecomastia symptoms may be eligible for gynecomastia plastic surgery to reduce the size and appearance of the breasts. This is becoming a very popular surgery for males because it is relatively safe and produces satisfying and permanent results. The average cost of this outpatient procedure is $2,500 to $3,200, but can vary depending on the details of one's particular plastic surgery needs.

If you have gynecomastia symptoms, you may wish to contact a gynecomastia plastic surgeon who can evaluate the underlying causes of your condition and determine your eligibility for gynecomastia surgery. If you would like to learn more about gynecomastia symptoms, please contact us to confer with a qualified plastic surgeon in your area.