A photograph recently surfaced of Rocker Steven Tyler’s chest. I am writing this blog, not to poke fun at Steven Tyler, but as an opportunity to discuss a very common problem among men. Gynecomastia, or male chest enlargement, is a complaint of men of all ages, from Steven Tyler’s age all the way down to adolescent boys. It can develop on any man including Steven Tyler, anywhere from puberty to the 80’s. It can range from only mild chest enlargement or severe chest enlargement resembling female breasts.
I have seen countless patients like Steven Tyler who report that they have not taken their shirt off in public for years, because of embarrassment. Whether or not Steven Tyler has felt this sort of concern is up for debate. Imagine being a teenage boy and being so embarrassed that you will not go to the beach or the pool, or even change in the locker room. To correct this is an example of how plastic surgery can so often have an incredible impact. Maybe Steven Tyler could benefit from this life changing procedure. Surgical correction by way of plastic surgery is possible and is life-changing!
Who is Steven Tyler?
For those of you who do not know who Steven Tyler is, Steven Tyler (born Steven Victor Tallarico) was the lead singer of Aerosmith and a judge on American Idol. Steven Tyler has had a long history in the music industry as a lead singer and frontman. Throughout the years people have speculated about whether or not Steven Tyler has had plastic surgery. Has Steven Tyler admitted to plastic surgery? Even though plastic surgery has become more widespread and popular, many still express surprise when men undergo plastic surgery. This is even the case for a music genius like Steven Tyler. When the photo of Steven Tyler’s chest emerged, I had an idea of what might be going on.
The only way for me to understand what is going on with Steven Tyler and his chest is to sit down with him. If I was able to sit down and speak with Steven Tyler I would be able to get a clearer idea of his situation and if plastic surgery is right for him. Ultimately this isn’t about Steven Tyler. It is only this photo of Steven Tyler that has served as a great opportunity to talk about gynecomastia.
Some have wondered if Steven Tyler has had a nose job and botox injections. Whether Steven Tyler has had a nose job, facial surgery, botox injections or any other kind of plastic surgery we can’t know. A nose job is often the answer to years of embarrassment, gynecomastia surgery is often the answer to years of embarrassment as well. What we are focused on today is gynecomastia and drawing attention to this common issue that many men around the world struggle with.
What Causes Gynecomastia
So what is gynecomastia and what is the cause? Does Steven Tyler have gynecomastia? It is the enlargement of the male chest as a result of breast tissue growth. Yes, it is actual breast tissue, not simply fat. You might not be able to tell based on the photo of Steven Tyler but it is not simply fat. Like Steven Tyler, all men have some small amount of breast tissue normally and on some of them, it can grow larger than desired. Hormonal imbalances can cause an increase in the level of estrogen (also normally found in men but in much lower levels than women) to rise, signaling breast tissue to enlarge. The hormonal imbalance can occur from prescription medication such as many anti-depressants, psychiatric medications, and weight loss medicines. It can also occur from anabolic steroid use or chronic marijuana smoking. Whether it is Steven Tyler or any other man, it can be hard to nail down what exactly the cause of gynecomastia is.
Interestingly enough, when the offending medication or drug is eliminated, the chest may decrease in size but rarely goes away entirely. Plastic surgery may be necessary. If I was to speak with Steven Tyler I would ask him all of the things I normally ask a patient to understand whether or not surgery is right for him. Obesity triggers the conversion of testosterone to estrogen and can result in male chest enlargement. Steven Tyler has never been obese, so that is less likely in his case. A more rare cause is tumors, such as those found in testicular cancer that can secrete abnormal hormones. Enlargement of both sides is most common, although one may become larger than the other. If there is enlargement of only one side, the possibility of male breast cancer must be considered although it is rare.
If you suffer from male chest enlargement like Steven Tyler, you should be evaluated by a physician. Your physician will perform a history to determine the possible causes. This will include a detailed history of all drug use, both legal and illegal. Also, a physical exam may help determine whether tumors or cancer is a cause. Your physician will also test your blood for hormone levels and possibly inquire if you have been seen by an endocrinologist. Approximately 80% of the time, there is no detected cause for this and it is termed “idiopathic” – a fancy medical term for “we have no idea why”. All of this goes into learning if plastic surgery is the right course of action.
After treating any underlying medical condition or in the case of “idiopathic gynecomastia”, you may be referred to a plastic surgeon for discussion of the plastic surgery options for correction. Plastic surgeons will tell you that gynecomastia reduction surgery is one of the most common plastic surgery procedures among my male patients.
How Can You Treat Gynecomastia?
Although non-surgical options can be beneficial, gynecomastia surgery is often the sole effective solution. To know what is the right course of action for someone like Steven Tyler, I would have to speak with him directly. Plastic surgery ensures immediate and permanent removal of excess breast tissue and fat, enhancing the chest’s appearance. Like a nose job, an eyelid lift, or any number of other surgical procedures, gynecomastia is an outpatient procedure.
The cosmetic surgery will revolve around removing the excess tissue. This plastic surgery may be done with liposuction to suction out the breast tissue and fat. Often, there is a hard lump of breast tissue that is felt under the nipple and areola. This is called the “breast bud” and is very resistant to liposuction.
The tissue is just too dense to be removed by suctioning alone and needs to be removed through an incision around the areola. In severe cases, there is excess skin as well as underlying breast tissue. In these cases, reduction usually involves removal of breast tissue with a combination of liposuction and excision, as well as removal of the excess skin.
Before undergoing plastic surgery for gynecomastia your plastic surgeon will go over everything you need to know about recovery and returning to work.
Contact Us Today
Gynecomastia is extremely common and a major source of embarrassment, no matter what the age. Whether you are an adolescent or Steven Tyler, gynecomastia has the potential to be embarrassing. There are plastic surgery options that can help with correction. You should see a board certified plastic surgeon to learn about these options and learn if plastic surgery is for you. To see some of my before and after gynecomastia pictures Click Here.
To learn more about this plastic surgery, or to schedule your consultation, contact me or call 212-289-1851.
