New Experiment?

[puffynipples]

What I am about to propose might be absurd, but forgive me for my ignorance. I was watching an episode of the TV series House, in which Dr. House uses an alcohol injection to shrink a tumor. After googling it, I see that it is called a Percutaneous ethanol (alcohol) injection (PEI). My question is why can't we use such method to shrink the breast tissue as well?

This seems like a very affordable solution, compared to some $10,000 in total surgery. I believe that we need to find a cheaper solution, if gynecomastia is so common. I have had this condition since I was 10, and I am currently 19. I don't know if I will be able to afford surgery for years to come. I feel this has affected my entire life as a youth, and will continue to do so.

Please pardon me for my ignorance, if this sounds absurd, as I do not have any medical knowledge; but I strongly feel that we need to find a cheaper alternative so no one has to live with this condition. Thank you for any responses. 

[Dr. Elliot Jacobs]

I don't know of any doctor in his right mind who would do such a thing -- I know I wouldn't.

Dr Jacobs

[DrPensler]

Aside from the fact it would not work, anyone who did try it would be subject to disciplinary measures .

[Litlriki]

Because management of gynecomastia is primarily a cosmetic issue, you want to approach it in a way that is controlled and most likely to give you the best outcome.  Injecting something into a mass of tissue with the hopes that it will get rid of it lacks the sort of control that surgical technique in well-trained hands can provide.  There would be uncertainty as to whether the material being injected would have the desired effect, how much of an effect it would have, and whether or not it would cause any visible deformity or scarring.  I am not aware of anything that would be effective in eliminating gynecomastia tissue in such a controlled manner, as compared to surgery, which, while not perfect, does result in a good outcome in most cases.

It is unfortunate that addressing gynecomastia is expensive, and many of us try to work with patients to make the procedure affordable.  Nonetheless, most patients find that it's worth the effort of saving for it in order to resolve this problem.

Rick Silverman