Introduction
The doping nightmare of the sports world has been practiced since ancient times, but effective doping substances emerged after the advent of modern pharmacology. Moreover, not only a group of athletes focused solely on winning use these substances. According to a study conducted in 2014, 6.4% of men and 1.6% of women have taken such substances at least once in their lives. With the aim of increasing muscle strength and performance, the majority of these substances are anabolic androgenic steroids, substances with effects similar to testosterone.
Anabolic Steroids and Breast enlargement in men
Studies conducted on gym regulars have shown that these substances are usually obtained from a known doctor or pharmacy. Sales on the internet have been increasing in recent years. Sometimes these substances, hidden in food supplements, are delivered to your door. Since they are not developed as drugs, their ingredients, effectiveness, and side effects are often unknown. Some of these anabolic steroids turn into testosterone, while some can turn into both testosterone and estrogen.
This situation can lead to double-sided side effects: with the effect of testosterone, the testicles that stop working shrink, sperm count decreases, acne appears, and hair starts thinning and falling out; on the other hand, with the effect of estrogen, erectile dysfunctions and breast enlargement (gynecomastia) occur. Most of these side effects resolve on their own after discontinuing the substances. However, the emerging breast tissue can lead to permanent gynecomastia.
Gynecomastia for Six-Pack?
Breast enlargement in men is not a rare occurrence. During puberty, temporary breast enlargement can be observed in 25% of male children. Except for 10% of cases, these types of gynecomastias resolve on their own. Obesity can also result in gynecomastia, as excess fats are a source of estrogen. Regardless of the cause, gynecomastia creates significant psychosocial pressure. Tests have shown that 65% of men are affected in terms of body perception and sexual performance. Gynecomastic men have lower scores in terms of erection, orgasm, and satisfaction in relationships.
Given this, correcting gynecomastia becomes crucial. However, this requires a surgical intervention under general anesthesia. To understand how much of the enlargement in the breasts is fat and how much is glandular tissue, performing an ultrasound is beneficial. If the glandular tissue is minimal, liposuction alone is sufficient. But if there is even 1-2 cm of glandular tissue, it cannot be removed with liposuction as this tissue is very hard; not even vaser or laser can melt it. In such cases, the glandular tissue is removed through a small incision made under the nipple. Excess fat in the surrounding tissues is also removed with liposuction.
The two most common problems in gynecomastia surgeries are the breasts still looking too large due to the breast tissue under the nipple not being fully removed and the opposite: if the area below the nipple is emptied too much, it adheres to the chest muscles and becomes concave. In very large and sagging breasts, skin excess can be another problem. Tightening the skin to some extent with laser liposuction is possible. However, if the sagging is too much, it may be necessary to perform skin excision and leave noticeable scars.
If you want to achieve a six-pack without too much effort, opting for high-definition vaser liposuction might be a better choice than taking anabolic steroids.
