Gynecomastia
(Male Breast Reduction)

There are several potential causes of gynecomastia, including the effects of a man's hormones or the effect of hormone medications. In some cases, this is caused by genetics. In others, it is linked to prescription medication, steroids (often used by bodybuilders or athletes), or excessive alcohol intake. The most common cause of fullness of the male breast is the accumulation of fatty tissues in the area (pseudogynecomastia).

Yes. There are varying degrees of severity when it comes to male breast development, and puffy nipples are often part of the gynecomastia problem. The goal of surgery is to provide reduction and contour for a more masculine-looking chest, which can involve making changes to the nipples.

The tissue removed through male breast reduction surgery will not come back on its own, and in this sense, the surgery is permanent. However, should the patient not make lifestyle changes, and continues to engage in habits that can prompt gynecomastia or pseudogynecomastia, the problem could reoccur. Weight gain later on could also compromise the results of the surgery, if fat accumulates in the chest area.

While it would be nice if there was a magic pill to resolve problems like gynecomastia, the reality is that these products are a gimmick and a waste of money. At this time, the only effective treatment for male breast development is surgery with a skilled plastic surgeon.

All surgery produces some scarring, but the majority of patients can have their chest fullness addressed with only small incisions through which liposuction is performed. In other cases, male breast reduction procedures may include only a very small (1 inch) incision at the bottom of each areola (skin surrounding the nipple). This scar is generally very discreet and should become less prominent over time. For more extensive gynecomastia surgery, additional incisions may be required to tighten the skin, but all scars are minimized as much as possible.

Many people are surprised to hear that performing chest exercises in order to make gynecomastia less noticeable can actually make the problem worse. This is because gynecomastia has nothing to do with the chest muscles, and building out those muscles can increase the volume in the chest that is already overdeveloped from unwanted breast tissue. Following surgery, however, men who build up the chest muscles can expect nice, masculine “pecs” instead of “man boobs”.

The goal of male breast reduction is always a natural appearance and a masculine contour to the chest. Only excess breast tissue is removed since all men have some breast gland tissue. Removing additional tissue would affect the chest contours negatively and make the result appear unnatural. When performed by a skilled plastic surgeon, male breast reduction results are typically very symmetrical and natural-looking.

It’s always hard to say whether gynecomastia is a passing phase or not, but the fact is that the problem is usually only temporary in newborns and adolescents. Adult men with gynecomastia shouldn’t expect the problem to go away on its own, as once breast gland tissue has formed, it can only be resolved with surgical excision. Furthermore, if gynecomastia is triggered by prescription or illegal drug use, including anabolic steroids, breast growth can reappear after surgery if the drug use is not ceased.

Male breast reduction patients are usually anxious to hit the gym after surgery, but it’s important that you take it easy for a while and allow your body to heal before you get back to any strenuous activity. This is especially true for exercises that affect the chest and pectoral muscles, such as weight training. Light activity can be resumed after the initial healing period (about two weeks), but strenuous exercise should wait at least 4-6 weeks on average. Your surgeon will give you specific instructions, depending on the nature of your procedure and incisions.