PROFESSIONAL HELP REQUIRED!

[Expatlad]

Dear Doctors,

Firstly id like to thank whoever created this much needed and very informative website! You've clearly helped hundreds of thousand of people around the world!

So here's my story. I've been suffering with these 'moobs' for over a decade now and quite frankly i'm FED UP of being insecure. It's effected me socially, emotionally and intimately! I'm 27 years old, 6.4ft, 85kg and having done a fair bit of research i think its safe to say that i might have gynecomastia. Naturally, i've never approached family, friends or partners about my condition simply because its just too embarrassing. However, i did visit a GP back in the UK over 7 years ago and was told not to worry about it?? The attitude of the GP was very poor and I think he just wanted me to get out to be honest and stop wasting his time. He didn't even touch my chest? As i'm sure you can imagine, this was very disheartening and i've never been back. It's now got to the stage where i'm seriously considering taking matters into my own hands and getting surgery from a specialist who can empathise with my condition.

My questions are as follows;

1. From the pictures, does it look like I have gynecomastia? If so, how severe?

2. During my teens, i had glandular fever and i'm curious to know whether this could have increased the size of the gland in my chest for any reason?

3. I currently live in the UAE and am considering flying back to the UK for the op and was wondering could I fly back one day after the op?

4. If possible, could you recommend any specialists in the UAE?

Any feedback would be much appreciated.

Many thanks.

[Expatlad]

FRONT VIEW

[Expatlad]

LEFT BREAST LARGER THAN THE RIGHT

[Dr. Elliot Jacobs]

Based on the few photos you provided, it would appear that you do indeed have gyne with the left side larger than the right.

Since you have had this for over a decade with no changes, you would probably benefit from surgery.

Best to consult a gyne specialist, who would certainly be more understanding than your former doctor experiences.

Sorry, don't know of any specialists in the UAE.  There are, however, some very good gyne specialists in the UK and the US.

Good luck!

Dr Jacobs

[Litlriki]

I agree with Dr. Jacobs.  You do have gynecomastia, which is moderate.  I don't think anyone can say if it was related to your previous illness, but I don't believe so--It's just something that happens commonly during puberty, and while it resolves in 95% of individuals, the 5% of men in whom it doesn't go away are still a significant number.  I am not aware of any surgeons in the UAE who do this surgery, and indeed, one of the nurses who sometimes takes part in our surgical missions to South America was working in the UAE and tried to get me to go over for a couple of weeks to do gynecomastia surgery...so I'm guessing that there isn't really anyone who specializes in it there.

Do your research before you travel, since I've also had patients from the UK come here complaining of difficulty finding someone there who did a lot of these procedures. If you're going to travel, you might as well stack the deck in your favor.  You would not be able to return to the UAE a day after the surgery.  Although I allow my patients to travel by air after 3 - 4 days, you might plan for at least a week, in the event you have to deal with any problems post-operatively, and also to reduce your risk for blood clots in the legs or lungs, which can be a problem after surgery related to long flights.

Rick Silverman

[Expatlad]

Dr. Rick & Dr. Elliot, thank you so much for your feedback!

Your expertise and knowledge is invaluable. If I could fly to the US for the op, i'd do it tomorrow but unfortunately financial circumstances prevail.

All the best and thanks again for your support.

I visited a doctor in the UAE recently and whilst they showed me 'one' photo of their personal work and assured me that they do it all the time i think i'll reside to getting the op in my home country, UK. The doctor also informed me that the cut would be a full half moon and that i'd need drains?? It took me by surprise considering the majority of posts I see from you professional in the US highlight that drains are rarely used and as for the incision, it's generally much smaller?? Please correct me if i'm wrong? 

[Litlriki]

I almost never use drains. The peri-areolar incision is about 1/3 the way around along the lower part of the areaola. 

RS