Gynecomastia is a male breast enlargement. Men affected can sometimes experience pain in the breasts and may feel embarrassed. Usually, there is no known cause and, although rarely talked about, it is a fairly common condition. Infants, adolescent boys and older men may develop breasts as a result of normal changes in sex hormone levels.

More than half of male newborns have enlarged breasts caused by their mother’s estrogen. Usually, the enlarged breast tissue goes away within the first month.

Gynecomastia brought on by hormone changes in boys during puberty is relatively common. The breast tissue will disappear without treatment within two years, in most cases. However, by adulthood approximately 8 percent still have this problem.

The prevalence of gynecomastia rises again in men after the age of 50. More than three in ten men are affected in mature age.

Gynecomastia can sometimes be caused by medicines (e.g. antihypertensive drugs, drugs for treatment of prostatic enlargement or cancer), drugs such as marijuana and anabolic steroids, several health conditions, and some extremely rare congenital endocrine disorders.

For the most part, gynecomastia isn’t a serious problem, but it can be tough to cope with the social stigma. Part of the reasons women refer to man as “the opposite sex” is a flatter appearance of the body.

If you feel enlarged breasts bother you physically or/and psychologically, you should seriously consider surgery. There is no need to undergo this procedure if you are well adjusted to the situation.

In general, we recommend you wait until the age of 18 years before opting for surgery. There can be exceptions to this, but you and your parents will have to consult a Plastic Surgeon. Socially active mature men will often want to get rid of curvy chests. Bodybuilders and athletes are often very conscious about this condition as their bodies are scrutinized on regular basis. Men of all ages might benefit greatly by this procedure.

The breast is made up of two main structural components, firm glandular tissue and soft fatty tissue. The ratio of glandular to fatty tissue in any breast varies from person to person and in gynaecomastia there may be an excess of both. If there is mostly a diffuse fatty enlargement of the breast (pseudogynecomastia), liposuctionis the usual treatment. If redundant glandular tissue is the main cause of breast enlargement, it may need to be excised. This will leave a small scar, usually at the lower pole of the areola. We usually combine this procedure with liposuction to obtain an even contour and unoperated look. Major reductions that involve the removal of a large amount of tissue and skin may require longer incisions that result in more noticeable scars. Most operations for Gynecomastia are performed under general anesthesia, or under local anesthesia with sedation.

After the surgery the chest is sometimes swollen or bruised for couple of days. To reduce the swelling it is advisable to wear an elastic pressure garment for approximately two weeks. In this period patients should refrain from strenuous exercise. In general, it takes about four weeks before one can return to normal activities. The potential complications of the surgery include: hematoma or seroma collection, temporary reduced nipple sensation, inadequate or excessive removal of tissue, and an uneven contour with areola or breast depression. We will evaluate the final result during an appointment after six months.