Are your breasts abnormally large? Uncharacteristically large breasts often caused by gynecomastia are an embarrassment for many men. It affects their self-confidence and body image.
However, there are several treatments you can opt for if you want to treat gynecomastia. However, you need to consult a gynecomastia specialist before considering any treatment.
Below is everything you need to know about the type of doctor you should consult for gynecomastia.
First Things First Consult Your General Practitioner
If you suspect you have gynecomastia, you should first visit your general practitioner. Your general practitioner will help you identify the root cause of your problem.
Some of the most common causes of gynecomastia include hormonal imbalance, side effects caused by medication or drugs, or underlying health problems. It’s also possible that your enlarged breasts result from increased weight.
Once your general practitioner identifies the problem, they’ll provide two solutions.
- They’ll recommend you to a gynecomastia specialist.
- Or they’ll prescribe a solution for your enlarged breasts, which may include
- Ask you to quit taking alcohol or drugs like heroin and amphetamines.
- Ask you to eat a more balanced diet and exercise more.
- Stop you from taking medication whose side effects include breast enlargement.
Consult A Gynecomastia Specialist
Suppose your general practitioner believes your case needs the help of a specialist. In that case, they’ll recommend you to one who, in most cases, is usually a plastic surgeon. Plastic surgeons are doctors who treat gynecomastia through surgical procedures.
The surgical procedures used include
- Liposuction: It’s sed to remove the excessive fat in the breast.
- Surgical incisions around the areola area: Surgical incisions help remove the excess glandular breast tissue or excessive loose skin.
You can allow the plastic surgeon recommended by your general practitioner to handle your gynecomastia procedure. However, if you feel this plastic surgeon isn’t right for you, you have every right to select another surgeon to work with.
What To Consider When Selecting A Plastic Surgeon
Selecting a plastic surgeon experienced in gynecomastia surgery isn’t an easy process. If you choose the wrong surgeon, they could end up doing you more harm than good. Therefore, it’s important to vet which potential gynecomastia surgeon is the best fit for you.
Below are several factors for you to consider.
The Gynecomastia Specialist Must Be Board-Certified
Proof of board certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) signifies that your shortlisted plastic surgeons are qualified to perform surgical procedures. A surgeon must pass rigorous training and uphold standard patient safety measures to earn certification.
You can also ask if the surgeon is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
The ASPS isn’t a certification organization. However, it’s a well-respected organization in the plastic surgery field with high qualification requirements that members must pass before earning membership.
Board certification is important because today, many untrained plastic surgeons claim to be ‘cosmetic specialists.’
Confirm The Plastic Surgeon Is A Gynecomastia Specialist
Plastic surgery is a wide field. So, a plastic surgeon can’t specialize in all areas of plastic surgery.
Therefore, you have to ensure your shortlisted plastic surgeons have specialized in gynecomastia surgery. And aside from specializing, you must ensure they’re experienced and knowledgeable in this field. To confirm their skills, you can ask the following questions
- Have you trained in gynecomastia surgery?
- How many years of gynecomastia surgery experience do you have?
- How many successful gynecomastia surgeries have you performed?
Vet The Plastic Surgeon’s Staff
Aside from making sure your surgeon is the right fit for you. You have to be 100% sure you’re comfortable with the surgeon’s support team. You’ll have some safety and privacy concerns during the whole surgery process. So, it’s important to vet whether
- You’re comfortable interacting with the support staff.
- You feel comfortable sharing your personal and medical history when necessary.
- You feel your physician and their support staff are paying attention to any safety and privacy concerns you have.
- Is their customer service satisfying? Are they friendly and helpful? Do you receive immediate replies if you have any questions?
The above points should help you determine the character of your plastic surgeon’s team.
Vet The Facility Where Your Surgery Will Take Place
Your safety and health during and after your gynecomastia surgery largely depend on the state of the operating facility. You must ensure that your plastic surgeon runs an operating facility that maintains the highest standards in quality patient care and safety.
Therefore, you should ask whether they’re licensed to run the operating facility by the
- American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAASF)
- State
- Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)
- Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC)
The doctor you consult for gynecomastia will determine the type and quality of treatment you consult. So, you must always ensure you can trust the advice of the gynecomastia specialist you consult. Call us now if you’d like to consult one of our gynecomastia specialists.