Gynecomastia is a benign condition affecting many millions of males who have the appearance of female-like breasts due to the overgrowth of breast tissue cause by the disturbance in the equilibrium between the human sex hormones testosterone and estrogen.
The mental and physical consequences of the gynecomastia burden include poor body self-image, low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, maladaptive behaviors and sexual dysfunction. The condition is the ultimate male Achilles heel. The embarrassing nature of the condition leads men to suffer in silence as the damage done accumulates with each passing year.
With Austin Gynecomastia Center (AGC), however, things have started taking a positive turn for this field. The founder, Dr. Robert Caridi, is an expert surgeon with over 35 years of experience, and the author of two revolutionary Gynecomastia papers. With effective consultations, which are virtually offered as well, and a high rate of successful outcomes and satisfied patients,the AGC has established itself as the world’s premiere gynecomastia authority.
Advent Of Austin Gynecomastia Center
A consultation session with a male patient with very significant gynecomastia years ago, led to the spark in the founder to create Austin Gynecomastia Center. Recalling the session with that patient, Dr. Caridi, shares, “The patient described a situation where his young daughters were at a school pool party and they wanted him to get into the pool like the other dads but he wouldn’t because of embarrassment with his gynecomastia. He started crying while sharing this and I couldn’t stop my tears as I had a long day, and also because I have two daughters, I could feel his pain.”
Dr. Caridi felt this man’s pain deeply and connected the dots with gynecomastia and its associated burden, which ultimately led to the creation of the AGC. As Dr. Caridi made the connection between the body and the mind, he found that Gynecomastia crushes the male psyche and with AGC, he thrives to cure it.
Evolution Of The Treatment Procedures
In sharing about the evolution of understanding and treatment of gynecomastia over his 35-year career span, Dr. Caridi explains, “Forty years ago gynecomastia treatment was discouraged because surgical results were worse than the condition. Fast forward to today, I have published two important scientific papers on the simplification of the diagnosis and treatment of gynecomastia and now patients expect their results to be perfect. This is the definition of progress.” The founder believes that the biggest challenge in this field is spreading the word to fellow surgeons on how to produce a masculine chest safely and predictably which will offer high patient satisfaction.
Historically, gynecomastia was a condition few new existed. Dr Caridi has worked for many years to educate the public on the existence of gynecomastia and to treat the condition with the respect and dignity that it rightly deserves. He believes that the condition is no longer a silent epidemic, but there’s still a long way to go. He shares, “Men need their moment in the spotlight to address a very common condition that has significant negative consequences.”
Approach To Treating Gynecomastia
While diagnosing gynecomastia consistently can be a challenge for plastic surgeons, AGC has a unique approach to diagnosing gynecomastia. The founder of AGC adds, “Gynecomastia is diagnosed by visual inspection—any male with female-like looking breasts has gynecomastia. Puffy nipples are something I consider pathognomonic of gynecomastia. At AGC, I consult with patients online from all over the world with a simple photograph and a brief history. A picture is worth a thousand words. It’s obvious to me when someone has gynecomastia.”
Historically, patients were generally told they had gynecomastia if they could feel a firm mass behind their nipples or had a particular tissue that is seen with radiology scans. Dr Caridi stresses that the diagnosis is made with a visual and manual examination of the chest. The concept of classifying gynecomastia into a grading system isn’t impactful on the diagnosis and treatment of gynecomastia. The founder of AGC reflects that many doctors don’t understand that gynecomastia is like an on-off switch and not a dimmer switch. “Either you have it or you don’t and if a patient thinks they have it, 99% of the time they have gynecomastia.” He adds.
Busting Common Myths With AGC
Misconceptions can be a common aspect in every industry, and when it comes to Gynecomastia, these misunderstandings are way more severe. The founder of AGC shares one such prevailing myth with us, which is that once gynecomastia is established, it is not going to go away on its own or in any other non-surgical manner.
Dr. Caridi mentions, “Too many patients with gynecomastia have been told that they need to give it time and it will go away when itsown when it won’t. Being told that it will just go away is a very common misconception among adolescents with full-blown gynecomastia. It won’t. The patient is the one who suffers bullying, low self-esteem, and other maladaptive behaviors without treatment.”
The most common statement that comes from gynecomastia patients is that they wished they had sought out treatment sooner. He further mentions, “I consider all my patients to be my disciples, with their duty and obligation to spread the word in person, digitally or any other modality to educate others silently suffering with gynecomastia. Together we will elevate gynecomastia to a recognized and accepted condition that is treatable.”
Incorporating Mental And Emotional Well-being
Understanding and appreciating the psychological impact of gynecomastia stands as a major focus of AGC’s approach. Dr. Caridi shares, “Unfortunately, I have tried to work with experts in the field of psychology to study the mental consequences of gynecomastia without success. The major consequence of gynecomastia is that it gets into one’s psyche and does damage on many levels, sometimes over many years until they seek treatment.
Explaining the treatment process, Dr. Caridi shares, “The process starts with their new normal-looking chest and good posture then expands from there to the positive self-image and engagement in daily life activities. The experience brings confidence and successful interactions that result in a healthy and improved mental state, a transformation of sorts, a new life.”
Embracing Digital Transformation
Dr Caridi pioneered the use of a virtual consultation for appropriate and accurate assessment of the gynecomastia condition. From the submission of standard photos and a brief history, he can communicate with gynecomastia patients from all over the world. It is a very effective and efficient way to engage gynecomastia patients while being personal and private.
Dr. Caridi shares, “I have used our virtual consultation submission forms for many years with great results. Patients love convenience and privacy. Most, but not all procedures I perform can be properly assessed with a photo and medical history alone. Fortunately for gynecomastia, the diagnosis is made on visual inspection, so a photo of your chest alone is enough. I’m even able to evaluate the quality of chest skin with a photo in most cases. There are many clues for me to observe with a photo. I remind everyone that I have also been doing this for over 35 years and have successfully performed over 6000 cases of gynecomastia so you can say I’m somewhat of an expert.”
Helping Hands For Gynecomastia Patients
The concept of the “Gynecomastia Brotherhood” is central to the formation of the AGCThe AGC Brotherhood was its founder’s idea of everyone working for each other. Gynecomastia is not something well-known among the general population and patients who have it are not often open to talking freely about it. Dr. Caridi adds, “Gynecomastia as a men’s condition has not had its ‘Oprah’ moment. It is up to all my peeps to share the love and help each other out. Brothers take care of each other. There is a tremendous satisfaction gained from helping others with something that has been a big and often secretive burden for them for many years.”
A Surgeon’s Perspective: Key To Successful Gynecomastia Surgery
As a surgeon who has treated thousands of patients from all over the world, Dr. Caridi believes that a successful surgery and recovery in gynecomastia starts with a qualified, experienced surgeon who has proven results and is respected in the field. He further shares, “Any surgeon who treats gynecomastia needs to ‘get it.’ You are expected to understand the mental anguish associated with gynecomastia and should be able to effectively communicate with men who have gynecomastia. Being honest and frank is a must. If you know your stuff, the patient will be able to pick up on this as many of them have done their homework about gynecomastia.”
Recovery is also a major part of the gynecomastia treatment. The founder of AGC guarantees that he will take care of his patients’ gynecomastia treatment, but the hand-off is when the patient is responsible for doing what is necessary to obtain the very best result. Emphasizing the care required after treatment, Dr. Caridi shares, “This means taking it easy for the first two days after treatment, wearing your compression garments, getting your posture right, mentally owning your result, and massaging your chest for quite some time to avoid scar tissue formation. It’s a team effort and not a spectator sport.”
Find Austin Gynecomastia Center at https://austingynecomastiacenter.com/