Could the gyno come back after gland excision?

[crossfit99]

Another Q for you Docs..

The two Dr's I visited said they remove a portion of the gland, not the whole thing to prevent a concave-like chest/nipple. My question is, can you get gyno again while taking something like pro hormones or androgenic anabolic steroids? I HAVE taken PH&AAS in the past, but this is not the reason for surgery as I have had gyne since about 11-12 years old. Out of curiosity, more so because I see professional BBers getting the surgery done and wonder to myself, why bother if they are going right back on the sauce and could get the gyne back again?


Is so much of the gland removed that it makes it very unlikely? Or is there only parts of the gland susceptible to estro? Thanks in advance!

[Dr. Elliot Jacobs]

Properly performed gyne surgery will usually leave a little breast tissue to support the areola -- those surgeons are correct.

And if the patient then goes back to supplements, anabolic steroids or anything else that could possibly stimulate breast growth, then the small amount of residual breast tissue could indeed grow in size.

If you are going through surgery, why tempt fate again??  It's not worth it!

Dr Jacobs

[crossfit99]

I see, so its like 90-95% removed most the time? I had one doc say 60%, other made it sound like pretty much the whole thing is removed. I pretty much asked him the same question as this thread, and he made it sound like it was a real long shot to come back..in fact he pretty much said it wouldn't (and this is the most reputable doc I have found down here in so cal).


I agree 100%. After surgery there is NO chance in hell i'd ever mess with anything. That would be beyond devastating if it was to come back!

[Litlriki]

The majority of the gland is usually removed, as you've observed.  Many bodybuilders develop gynecomastia early on, when they lack sophistication in their use and fail to take precautions to avoid gynecomastia from developing. Professional bodybuilders are generally more savvy in their drug use, using drugs to help to avoid recurrence. This is not fool-proof, and some do recur.  My personal opinion is as you've mentioned--Why take a chance?

Rick Silverman

[crossfit99]

Thanks a lot for the response, appreciate all the solid info and knowledge from you guys. Great stuff

[Miguel Delgado MD]

Gynecomastia surgery is not a cancer procedure it is a cosmetic one, therefore we want our chest to look good.  To achieve this one may take out 80 to 90% of the gland.  The remaining gland can still be stimulated by steroids,ect.  I have found that adolescent male in which surGery is performed at a young age can recur because the hormones are still stimulating over growth.  I most cases it is to see recurrence.

[crossfit99]

Gynecomastia surgery is not a cancer procedure it is a cosmetic one, therefore we want our chest to look good.  To achieve this one may take out 80 to 90% of the gland.  The remaining gland can still be stimulated by steroids,ect.  I have found that adolescent male in which surGery is performed at a young age can recur because the hormones are still stimulating over growth.  I most cases it is to see recurrence.

Ok, great.

Seems risky for the bodybuilders to go get surgery then continue usage, but I guess thats just the risk they run.

[DrPensler]

To remove all of the glandular tissue the nipple would need to be removed. So removal of "all" the breast tissue is only performed for cancer treatment which is rare.A small amount of retained tissue is typically not an issue in the overwhelming majority of patients.

[crossfit99]

To remove all of the glandular tissue the nipple would need to be removed. So removal of "all" the breast tissue is only performed for cancer treatment which is rare.A small amount of retained tissue is typically not an issue in the overwhelming majority of patients.

Thanks for the response. I had pretty much figured that, my question was more-less what is the likelihood it the gyne could return with usage of AAS or Marijuana or other substances that are known to irritate or create tissue growth?

[Litlriki]

Many bodybuilders accept gynecomastia as a potential "rite of passage" if they chose to use anabolic steroids, and in some cases, they will risk recurrence with continued use.  In most cases, they take precautions after the surgery to try and avoid steroids which are more prone to aromatization, or they will use drugs to block estrogenic effects. 

RS