Gynecomastia Surgery (Male Breast Reduction)

When deciding whether you may need surgery for prominent male breasts or excess chest skin, what Gynecomastia Symptoms should you look out for?

Symptoms of gynecomastia

The main symptom associated with Gynecomastia is enlarged male breast tissue. Typically, men suffer from prominence in both breasts but it is not uncommon to find asymmetry (one breast larger than the other). Gynecomastia can also occur on just one side (Unilateral Gynecomastia).

Puffy nipples are common Gynecomastia symptoms, where glandular tissue is enlarged just in the area of and around the male areola causing a swollen, protruding look to the nipples.

Gynecomastia in puberty

It is quite common for males to develop prominent breasts during puberty as increasing hormone levels cause one or both breasts to develop unevenly. As many as 90% of adolescent males experience this but the problem usually settles down with maturity. In approximately 10%, however, the condition continues into adulthood as Gynecomastia.

Do you have ‘true’ gynecomastia?

True Gynecomastia condition is made up of mainly glandular rather than fatty tissue. (To be diagnosed with Gynecomastia, a man must have breast tissue greater than 0.5 cm in diameter). Male chest fat or excess skin (i.e. after weight loss or through ageing) is not technically considered to be Gynecomastia. However, if you do suffer from excess skin on your chest, you may still be a good candidate for Cosmetic Surgery to treat this problem. Male Breast Reduction surgery at Aurora Clinics uses a variety of techniques and Excisional techniques are particularly good for dealing with excess skin. Fatty tissue causing Gynecomastia-type symptoms may respond better to Liposuction techniques (after an initial program of exercise). ‘True’ Gynecomastia symptoms, of enlarged glandular tissue tend to require a combination of Liposuction and Excision. Your surgeon is the best person to advise you about the best course of treatment for you during your consultation.

Does gynecomastia cause pain?

A small lump of tissue may be felt under the nipple or surrounding area, which can cause tenderness. It is unusual to experience severe pain due to Gynecomastia.

Gynecomastia as a symptom

Gynecomastia can, itself, be a symptom of other underlying health issues or (rarely) more serious syndromes. Presence of Gynecomastia can be a sign of kidney, liver or thyroid problems, for example. Klinefelter’s Syndrome (a condition where a male has an extra X chromosome) also features enlarged male breast tissue as a symptom. For this reason, it is recommended to see your GP for diagnosis and assessment of your Gynecomastia symptoms before considering Gynecomastia Surgery to remove your male breasts. This will allow you to rule out the slim possibility of a more serious condition and rest assured that you are rectifying a distressing but purely aesthetic problem.

IS GYNECOMASTIA LINKED TO BREAST CANCER?

Gynecomastia is a completely benign condition i.e. it is not associated with male breast cancer. However, any swelling in the chest area (particularly if it appears or gets larger suddenly) should be checked immediately by your doctor in order to rule out the chance of misdiagnosing these conditions.