Causes of gynecomastia in puberty

The human body is a miracle! It starts as a single cell and ends up into this amazing machine capable of doing so many things. The body typically follows a growth trajectory, which is determined by the genes. However, men and women typically follow a different path in this regard, with many changes in the body apparent around puberty.

Development of the breast gland is normal in girls with hormonal changes which start just before they hit puberty. That is not the typical case with boys. However, many boys experience a level of hormonal imbalance during puberty. This is the same set of changes which girls experience, and which leads to development of the breast gland. Boys experiencing these changes end up with the same breast development, which is referred to as gynecomastia.

Causes of gynecomastia in Puberty

Around puberty, hormones are in a state of flux. The body undergoes many changes – this is true irrespective of gender. In boys, sometimes there is an imbalance between androgen and estrogen, which mimics the hormonal change in girls, causing the development of breast tissue during puberty. This is a fairly common occurrence but is the cause of self-consciousness and can be quite disheartening.

Even though causes of gynecomastia in puberty have been well-established, diagnosis if often delayed.

1. Many times the breast tissue is mistaken for fat deposits, especially among boys who are dealing with weight issues. Therefore, they try to get rid of that development with diet and exercise, or sometimes, it just ends up getting ignored for a significant period.
2. Lack of knowledge on the subject often leads to delay in consulting a doctor, sometimes for years on end. By the time the patient does approach the doctor (even 10 years after the first appearance of the breasts), the hormone levels are back to normal, which can add to the confusion in addition to being disheartening.

How can gynecomastia be treated?

Gynecomastia can only be treated via surgery which must be performed only by a board-certified plastic surgeon. While people often approach a general physician or general surgeon to treat gynecomastia, it can cause more damage, as they are ill-equipped to handle this surgery. Gynecomastia surgery must be performed using a certain set of techniques, with access to the relevant infrastructure, for it to be safe and effective. Sometimes, plastic surgeons end up having to fix the results of a botched-up effort when the surgery is performed by a non-expert.

Dr Rajat Gupta is a board-certified plastic surgeon who has not only mastered the art of treating gynecomastia but has patented his own procedure for minimally invasive and painless gynecomastia treatment. This technology is called PURE, and is a combination of 3 techniques –

1. Power assisted liposuction using MicroAire.
2. Ultrasound assisted liposuction using Vaser.
3. Radio frequency enhanced contouring using Arvati.

With this procedure, the excess fat is removed, and the breast gland is broken down so it can be removed through small incisions, which Dr Gupta makes on the lateral chest wall to avoid visible scarring. Arvati enables skin tightening and contouring to give a chiselled and toned appearance to the chest.

When in doubt, consult the expert. Meet Dr Rajat Gupta to understand the condition and procedure.