The tuberous male breast

Management of Nipple-Areola Deformity

BACKGROUND

Herniated or pseudoherniated nipple-areolar complex (NAC), also called protuberant or "domed nipple," is an entity that can be present both in males and females and represents a therapeutic challenge. It can be an isolated deformity, but in most cases is found within another breast deformity, such as tuberous breast or can appear following pregnancy. Its diagnosis and appropriate treatment become important when patients search for correctional breast surgery.

OBJECTIVE

To review some common techniques for the treatment of tuberous breasts that address the nipple-areola problem as well, but also to present our experience with some newer and less invasive surgical techniques that could be useful for isolated treatment of herniated or pseudoherniated nipple.

METHOD

We performed a retrospective study that included all patients operated from December 2013 to December 2018. We reviewed existing techniques which in addition to our personal experience helped us to create an algorithm to assist surgeons in this matter.

RESULTS

A total of 125 patients with herniated or pseudoherniated NAC were treated. There were 87 women and 38 men. The average age of the patients was 30, 8 ± 8.1 years (ranging from 20 to 63). We analyzed the results of four following techniques: periareolar mastopexy (52 patients), release of fibrous tissue in combination with lipofilling (19 patients), resection of herniated breast tissue (23 patients) or controlled electrocoagulation of relaxed erectile muscle (31 patients). The minimum follow-up for all cases was 4 months.

CONCLUSION

The achievement of a successful aesthetic result is possible in a single-stage procedure with initial surgery. It depends on careful individual preoperative evaluation of anatomical features and a surgical approach chosen accordingly.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine Ratings, please refer to Table of Contents or online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

Male Tuberous Breast: A Rare Variant of Gynecomastia. Clinical Considerations and Personal Experience: Tips and Tricks to Maximize Surgical Outcomes

INTRODUCTION

Tuberous breast deformity, even rarely, might be observed in the gynecomastia population. It can clinically appear very similar to tuberous breast in females, including a footprint resembling a feminine inframammary fold (IMF). Because of its anatomical characteristics, its correction could benefit from particular surgical measures and therefore it should be careful diagnosed. A clear footprint defining a very feminine inframammary fold is very difficult to correct and renders very difficult the management of the extra skin. Transection of the fibrous constrictions at the level of inframammary fold is not sufficient to obtain a satisfactory result, and adjunctive surgical measurements are required.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From January 2007 to December 2015, twenty-one patients, affected by gynecomastia with tuberous breast deformity, underwent surgical correction consisting of parenchyma debulking and transection of the stenotic fibrous ring of the footprint. The recontouring of the chest profile was optimized using parenchymal flaps which helped to maximize the surgical correction with minimal scarring.

RESULT

The mean age at surgery was 28.8 years. The average follow-up period was 32 months. The average hospitalization stay was 1.28 days. Routine laboratory tests and histological examinations did not demonstrate any anomalies. No major complications and no recurrences of the disorders have not been observed. No major complications were reported: one seroma, one skin depression, two scar revisions and three cases of bilateral minimal crescent ptotic skin appearance were observed.

CONCLUSION

Although tuberous breast in the gynecomastia population is a rare clinical entity, it should be taken into consideration because it could benefit from some specific surgical measures. The use of glandular flaps showed a satisfactory reshaping of the pectoral area.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

Correction of Tuberous Nipple Areolar Complex Deformity in Gynecomastia: The Deformity That Can Get Forgotten

The desired end point of surgical reduction of gynecomastia is a masculine breast appearance and symmetry. This article concentrates on the tuberous deformity of the nipple areolar complex (NAC) that can present in gynecomastia and is sometimes overlooked at surgical correction.This deformity can be corrected at primary surgery if it is recognized preoperatively. If missed, or not adequately corrected, the postoperative result of primary reduction may be deemed incomplete by the patient and they will request revision.The deformity involves overprojection of the NAC in an anteroposterior direction, yet the base diameter may be close to normal. Correction involves reduction of the herniated breast bud, excision of excess areolar tissue, and careful radial scoring to flatten the NAC to a normal level of projection.For the NAC to have a masculine appearance, the areolae need to be symmetrical, of normal male size, and slightly oval in a transverse direction. The projection of both areola and nipple needs to be low, but present: not flattened. This article presents an operative technique to address primary or residual tuberous NAC deformity in the treatment of gynecomastia.

Correction of the tuberous breast deformity in a prepubescent male patient: A surgical approach to an unusual problem

Purpose

The management of the tuberous breast deformity in the female patient is well described. However, the presence of this variant in male patients is particularly rare, and few reports on the management of this condition are available.

Case presentation

A 12-year-old prepubescent male with bilateral gynecomastia and tuberous breast deformities was referred to our department for treatment. Our surgical management, including free nipple areolar complex harvest, mastectomy, removal of excess skin and subsequent nipple grafting, is presented in detail. We observed a cosmetically acceptable result with restoration of a masculine-appearing nipple-areolar complex and good patient satisfaction at 6-month follow-up.

Conclusions

Tuberous breast deformities in male patients are rare. Our treatment of a prepubertal male patient with this deformity using mastectomies and free nipple areolar complex grafting provided a cosmetically acceptable result. Here, we review the current literature on tuberous breast deformities in males and describe our approach to treatment.

Gynecomastia associated with herniated nipples: an optimal surgical approach

INTRODUCTION

Gynecomastia is a common disorder observed in male plastic surgery patients. Treatment options may include observation, surgical excision, or liposuction techniques. Congenital herniated nipple is a more rare condition, especially in male patients. We present the case of a 12-year-old boy with bilateral gynecomastia and herniated nipple-areolar complexes.

METHODS

A staged repair was undertaken in this patient with grade 2 gynecomastia. The first operation was ultrasonic liposuction bilaterally, yielding 200 mL of aspirate from the left and 400 mL on the right, to correct the gynecomastia. The second procedure, performed 6 months later, was a bilateral periareolar mastopexy to repair the herniated nipple-areolar complexes.

RESULTS

The result of the first procedure was flattened and symmetrical breast tissue bilaterally, essentially a correction of the gynecomastia. The herniated nipples were still present, however. Bilateral periareolar mastopexies were then performed with resulting reduction of the herniations. There were no complications with either procedure, and a good cosmetic result was achieved.

CONCLUSIONS

A staged surgical approach was successful in correcting both conditions with an excellent aesthetic result and the advantage of decreased risk for nipple complications.

Gynecomastia: physiopathology, evaluation and treatment

Gynecomastia (GM) is characterized by enlargement of the male breast, caused by glandular proliferation and fat deposition. GM is common and occurs in adolescents, adults and in old age. The aim of this review is to discuss the pathophysiology, etiology, evaluation and therapy of GM. A hormonal imbalance between estrogens and androgens is the key hallmark of GM generation. The etiology of GM is attributable to physiological factors, endocrine tumors or dysfunctions, non-endocrine diseases, drug use or idiopathic causes. Clinical evaluation must address diagnostic confirmation, search for an etiological factor and classify GM into severity grades to guide the treatment. A proposal for tailored therapy is presented. Weight loss, reassurance, pharmacotherapy with tamoxifen and surgical correction are the therapeutic options. For long-standing GM, the best results are generally achieved through surgery, combining liposuction and mammary adenectomy.

Cross-chest liposuction in gynaecomastia

BACKGROUND

Gynaecomastia is usually treated with liposuction or liposuction with excision of the glandular tissue. The type of surgery chosen depends on the grade of the condition.

OBJECTIVE

Because gynaecomastia is treated primarily as a cosmetic procedure, we aimed at reducing the invasiveness of the surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The technique complies with all recommended protocols for different grades of gynaecomastia. It uses liposuction, gland excision, or both, leaving only minimal post-operative scars. The use of cross-chest liposuction through incisions on the edge of the areola helps to get rid of all the fat under the areola without an additional scar as in the conventional method.

RESULTS

This is a short series of 20 patients, all with bilateral gynaecomastia (i.e., 40 breasts), belonging to Simon's Stage 1 and 2, studied over a period of 2 years. The average period of follow-up was 15 months. Post-operative complications were reported in only two cases, with none showing long-term complications or issues specifically due to the procedure.

CONCLUSIONS

Cross-chest liposuction for gynaecomastia is a simple yet effective surgical tool in bilateral gynaecomastia treatment to decrease the post-operative scars. The use of techniques like incision line drain placement and post-drain removal suturing of wounds aid in decreasing the scar.