Gynecomastia

Confidence returns when your chest reflects your natural shape, not when gynaecomastia alters your appearance. The cause of gynecomastia is most often an imbalance between estrogen and androgen, where an increase in estrogen or changes in the estrogen to androgen ratio leads to breast development and breast growth within glandular tissue or excess fatty tissue, producing enlarged male breasts. Gynecomastia occurs in many stages of life: pubertal gynecomastia usually happens during changes during puberty and often goes away within 6 months to 2 years without treatment, while cases of gynecomastia in older men, obese men, or patients with prostate cancer receiving androgen deprivation therapy as part of treatment for prostate cancer may develop gynecomastia that persists. Medications like spironolactone or therapies used to treat prostate cancer may cause gynecomastia, while idiopathic gynecomastia develops without a clear reason.

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Symptoms of gynecomastia include glandular tissue under the nipple, breast pain caused by rapid breast growth, and in some men with gynecomastia, anxiety about breast size or chest contour. Although most gynecomastia cases are benign, men with gynecomastia should be evaluated carefully, since gynecomastia and breast changes can rarely be associated with gynecomastia and breast cancer, and the risk of breast cancer—though low—requires attention.

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Gynecomastia and pseudogynecomastia must be distinguished by a physical exam to confirm the diagnosis of gynecomastia and plan the right evaluation and management, sometimes with endocrinology input. For persistent or severe gynecomastia, gynecomastia treatment includes surgical removal of glandular tissue or liposuction to address excess fatty tissue, often called male breast reduction. At Gruber Plastic Surgery, gynecomastia surgery is performed either awake with local anesthesia or under general anesthesia, offering cosmetic surgery solutions that treat gynecomastia safely. Treatment options range from lifestyle changes that may develop gradual improvement, to cosmetic breast reduction procedures designed to treat gynecomastia and restore a flatter, more masculine chest contour.

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Whether addressing painful gynecomastia, true gynecomastia with firm glandular tissue, or gynecomastia due to hormonal changes, our plastic surgeon ensures the evaluation and management focus on enhancing your natural form. With expert care, gynecomastia and breast pain are relieved, breast tissue in men is reshaped, and patients regain confidence knowing their chest looks natural.