It’s an odd fact that many medications that treat major medical disorders cause other problems. For example, some drugs that treat prostate cancer and other cancers, HIV medicines, antidepressants, and antianxiety drugs cause men taking them to develop gynecomastia, a condition that causes breasts to develop. Switching medications may alleviate further development in the chest area, but gynecomastia surgery corrects the problem.
According to Dr. Joel Aronowitz, hormonal imbalances cause gynecomastia. A drop in the production of testosterone, whether natural or caused by medication, allows gynecomastia to develop if estrogen levels remain steady or rise. Its surgical correction, using a surgery similar to breast reduction surgery, has become common plastic surgery for men.
Medications that Can Cause Gynecomastia
Many medicines cause testosterone levels to drop, which can lead to the development of breasts on a man, according to MSD Manuals. Check this list for medicines you take:
- Valium (diazepam)
- Adderall
- Efavirenz
- Methotrexate
- Cyclophosphamide
- Saquinavir
- Lopinavir
- Casodex (bicalutamide)
- Haldol (haloperidol)
- Aldactone (spironolactone).
Although other alternatives for each medicine exist, in some cases, your primary care physician may want you to remain on the current medicine.
What Gynecomastia Surgery Entails
Plastic surgeons conduct reduction mammoplasty to reduce the size of breasts by removing chest tissue through an incision around the nipple. In closing the procedure, the surgeon re-tailors the overlapping skin. The surgery results in a more natural chest appearance that’s flatter and more firm. Sometimes, the surgeon can use liposuction to excise the excess tissue, which reduces the incision size.
Most patients undergo this surgery as an outpatient procedure under general anesthesia. Despite that, most patients need to take one to two weeks off from work. For at least one week, the patient wears a protective dressing. They cannot lie on the chest area for four to six weeks, or engage in vigorous activity, such as running or exercise. The nipples of the chest may seem numb in the months following the surgery, but this dissipates with time, says Joel Aronowitz MD.
How to Find Out if Gynecomastia Surgery Could Help You
How do you learn if reduction mammoplasty could help treat your gynecomastia? Contact your local board-certified plastic surgeon. Ask your general practitioner for a referral or search the online database of the American Board of Plastic Surgery. This surgery isn’t for everyone, but it can help many men who want to regain their original appearance after prescription medication causes testosterone changes.