Where to Find the Best Resource on Gynecomastia
The internet allows us to find information on almost
anything in a matter of seconds, but you need to know what name to put in the
search engine. Only a few years ago, most people hadn’t heard of gynecomastia, much less what
it meant. Today on television there are; talk shows, plastic surgery shows,
news broadcasts and situation comedies that have addressed gynecomastia, most
people are now aware that it means female type breasts on a man. Previously,
men didn’t realize how common this affliction is and would try to hide their
chests in shame. They would avoid situations where they might have to remove
their shirt such as pool parties, sports activities, a day at the beach, and
intimate relationships. Eventually, the humiliation may cause severe
psychological damage.
As one who suffered from enlarged male breasts, Merle Yost a
psychologist in the San Francisco Bay Area specialized in counseling men with
gynecomastia. Yost had male breast reduction surgery years ago and was amazed
at how much it changed his life; he wanted to offer hope and solutions to the
men he was treating. As his practice and his reputation grew, he wanted to find
a way to help men beyond the scope of his practice. Yost came up with the idea
of creating an educational website that could reach men all over the world. He
approached Miguel Delgado, M.D. to collaborate with him in the creation of www.gynecomastia.org.
In 1996, gynecomastia.org was launched, and the positive
response it received showed there was a definite need.
In 2010, Yost decided to sell the website as it became too
time-consuming for him to maintain. Dr. Delgado was the obvious choice to take
the reins; he realized the great service the site provided and wished to
preserve its integrity. Miguel Delgado, M.D.
updated the site and gave it a fresh look.
Almost 20 years later, gynecomastia.org is one of the top
listings in all of the search engines. What makes this website so valuable are
the forums that allow men to interact with each other. There are many different
forums, with the most popular being “gynecomastia talk.” Every day there are
new threads started with men asking questions or sharing experiences. There are
several Board Certified Plastic Surgeons who specialize in gynecomastia that
donate their time by answering many of the forum member’s questions.
In addition to the forums, there are sections on the website
that show before and after pictures of male breast reduction patients; there
are videos, blogs, FAQ’s and scientific articles. One of the most important
features is the section called, “Find a Surgeon.” Many men, who have decided that they want surgery,
have no idea where to find the right surgeon. There are thousands of Board
Certified Plastic Surgeons, but not all are well trained in up to date
gynecomastia procedures, some surgeons choose not to do the procedure at all
and some attempt to reduce the chest by liposuction alone resulting in most
cases for the patient to have revision surgery. The directory has a listing
categorized by state and some beyond the United States; all of the listed
surgeons have a special interest in male breast reduction. These surgeons do
pay a fee to be in the directory, and these fees help maintain the site. To
participate in the forums, members must register however there is not a fee for
them. Registration allows the website administrators to protect member’s
privacy and monitor any abusive content.
