I developed gynecomastia after taking hair loss medication (the relationship between hair loss medication and gynecomastia)
Patient Registration Info
| Age | Weight | Height | BMI |
|---|---|---|---|
|
in their 30s |
85kg |
170cm |
30 |
Surgical site
gynecomastia
2-A
The main cause of gynecomastia (male breast enlargement) is hormonal imbalance.
Many patients come in with concerns about the development of gynecomastia due to taking hair loss medication.
While not everyone who takes hair loss medication will develop gynecomastia, it is true that some hair loss medications contain ingredients that suppress male hormones, which could increase the possibility of developing gynecomastia.
As a result, hair loss medication can lead to hormonal imbalances, causing an increase in estrogen levels in the body, which may lead to the development of glandular tissue in the chest, resulting in gynecomastia.
If, after taking hair loss medication, you notice changes in the shape and size of your chest, similar to that of a woman’s breasts, or if you feel lumps or discomfort, an ultrasound test can be performed to check for glandular tissue development. If diagnosed with true gynecomastia, surgery may be needed to remove the tissue.
However, as mentioned earlier, not everyone who takes hair loss medication will experience this side effect, and gynecomastia does not occur in all cases.
If you are currently undergoing hair loss treatment or are considering taking hair loss medication, it’s important to discuss the potential side effects and precautions with your healthcare provider.
[before gynecomastia surgery]
I will explain in detail by showing the before-and-after photos of the patient’s gynecomastia surgery.
This patient is in his mid-30s and became aware of his gynecomastia symptoms after reaching adulthood. He had been experiencing continuous discomfort in his daily life.
Despite attempting to solve the issue through exercise, diet, and weight control to reduce the volume in his chest, he did not notice any changes in his chest size after several attempts.
Ultimately, he came to our clinic seeking gynecomastia surgery to correct the protruding chest size.
[before gynecomastia surgery]
In this patient’s case, upon visual inspection, there was a clear development of overall chest size.
The patient was diagnosed with gynecomastia at Simon Grade 2-A. An ultrasound examination revealed an increase in chest size due to glandular development, along with an enlarged areola, indicating typical gynecomastia. Additionally, there was significant fat accumulation in both the front and side chest areas, making this a complex form of gynecomastia.
When wearing thin t-shirts or dress shirts, the chest would noticeably protrude, causing the patient to habitually hunch forward due to discomfort.
Therefore, the surgical plan was to excise the overgrown glandular tissue to address the volume issue that could not be controlled through exercise or weight loss, and to perform liposuction on the lower chest and side areas to remove excess fat. At the same time, tissue repositioning was planned to give the chest a firmer, more masculine appearance.
However, it’s important to note that this patient was taking hair loss medication, and I informed him beforehand that there is a possibility of gynecomastia recurrence due to continued use of the medication after surgery.
Next are the before-and-after photos taken 4 months after the gynecomastia surgery.
[before&after gynecomastia surgery(Taken under the same conditions 4 months after gynecomastia surgery.)]
After the gynecomastia surgery, you can see that the protruding chest and the uneven chest line caused by excess fat have been corrected, resulting in a smoother chest contou
[before&after gynecomastia surgery(Taken under the same conditions 4 months after gynecomastia surgery.)]
In the side view, you can see that the volume in the lower chest and the protruding chest volume around the areola have been well corrected, resulting in a more masculine chest shape.
[gynecomastia surgery(Image for better understanding.)]
[gynecomastia surgery(Image for better understanding.)]
In the before-and-after photos with a t-shirt, the improvement is clear.
Now, the patient no longer needs to hunch their shoulders or feel self-conscious about their chest protruding when wearing clothes. They can maintain an upright and confident posture.
Initially, the patient was concerned about bruising, swelling, and pain from the surgery, but with consistent follow-up care, the recovery was stable. By the 4 month mark,
not only had the chest volume improved, but the chest shape itself had transformed into a firm, more masculine appearance, almost as if the patient had been working out.
However, as previously mentioned, since the patient is taking hair loss medication, it’s important to be aware that there is a possibility of recurrence of gynecomastia, even after surgery. Therefore, continuous monitoring is necessary.
While taking hair loss medication after gynecomastia surgery does not necessarily mean that gynecomastia will recur, if the patient must continue taking hair loss medication,
it is crucial to consult with the medical team regularly.
