Gynecomastia Treatment Options

There are a number of Gynecomastia treatment options available in the UK if you are embarrassed by enlarged male breasts. However, due to the complex nature of diagnosing Gynecomastia, identifying your unique breast tissue composition and selecting the best course of treatment for you, it is always recommended that Gynecomastia treatment is undertaken following a consultation with an expert.

diagnosis and gynecomastia treatment

Identifying the composition of your individual Gynecomastia is vital to treating it successfully. Enlarged male breasts vary greatly between individuals, both in terms of severity and the ratio of glandular to fatty tissue. Some men requesting Gynecomastia Surgery suffer predominantly from excess skin in the area, as a result of weight-loss or decreased skin elasticity through ageing. How much fatty tissue, glandular tissue or excess skin you have present will directly effect which treatments may be effective for you.

consult your gp

Although the cause of Gynecomastia  is often impossible to find, in some cases it does have a direct underlying cause. Factors such as:

• Malnutrition


• Liver, kidney and thyroid problems


• Use of certain medications


• Steroid use


• Alcohol, marijuana and heroin abuse


• Being obese


• Certain rare syndromes i.e. Klinefelter’s Syndrome

Have all been directly linked to Gynecomastia (amongst others). For this reason, it is always best to rule out underlying issues and attempt to resolve them before taking further action to remove your Gynecomastia. Your GP should be able to advise initially about this.

Non-surgical gynecomastia treatment

• Unfortunately, non-surgical techniques have not proved to be very successful in treating true Gynecomastia.
• Changing medication (under your GP’s guidance) could have a positive impact if this is found to be the cause, as could treating any underlying health conditions. 
• If your male breasts are identified as being composed mainly of fatty tissue and you are overweight, certain Gynecomastia exercises may be of benefit. Gynecomastia Surgery is not suitable for men who are above their recommended BMI, so if you are overweight it may be worth trying these exercises to see whether you notice any improvement before considering further action.
• Compression garments can hide chest deformity and stabilize bouncing tissue, bringing some emotional relief and physical comfort.
• If your male breasts are tender as a result of Gynecomastia, cold compresses may be applied. Pain relievers may also be taken. If experiencing pain, it is recommended that you contact your GP for a clinical evaluation.
• Other than reaching your optimum physical health, trying to hide the problem and pain relief, for those with true Gynecomastia, surgery is often the only option.

what are the gynecomastia surgery options?

Most cases of Gynecomastia are caused by a combination of fatty cell accumulation and breast tissue. These amounts vary significantly in individuals and treatment varies accordingly.

Treatment for mainly fatty Gynecomastia with little breast tissue and no skin excess
If your Gynecomastia is mostly composed of fatty tissue without a significant central area of breast tissue and you are of a normal weight, it is likely that it is caused predominantly by an accumulation of fatty cells. The best treatment for this is liposuction to remove the fatty tissue. The advantage of liposuction is it involves minimum scarring and there is a relatively quick recovery.

Treatment for Gynecomastia with both fatty and breast tissue elements
Gynecomastia without skin excess but with a significant central area of breast tissue is best treated with liposuction to reduce the fatty element to the breast, combined with an incision underneath the nipple to access and remove the central area of breast tissue.

Excess skin and Gynecomastia composed of fatty tissue and breast tissue
If you have loose skin in the chest area combined with fatty and excess gland tissue the best treatment is to remove the fat with liposuction, the gland with excision and to tighten up the skin by removing a segment through excision.