Gynaecomastia is an excessive enlargement of the male breast and may be present in one breast (unilaterally) or in both breasts (bilaterally). Male breast development in not uncommon in teenage boys for no obvious reason.
Sometimes it results from a specific cause:
- Hormonal changes
- Weight gain
- Hereditary conditions
- Disease, such as liver disease
- Certain medication
- Use of non-prescription or recreational drugs, including anabolic steroids and marijuana
Gynaecomastia can cause emotional discomfort and may affect a man’s self-confidence. Excess breast tissue can also cause a man’s breasts to sag and stretch the areola (the dark skin surrounding the nipple).
In some cases, gynaecomastia can be improved with non-surgical treatments, such as changing a medication or by medically treating the cause of the abnormal hormone levels. For some men, however, surgery to remove the excess breast tissue may be the best treatment option.
Surgery to correct gynaecomastia can involve either liposuction or excisional surgery through incisions and the choice varies from patient to patient depending on various factors. Sometimes treatment is a combination of both of these procedures.