What you should know about enlarged male breasts

Men who have enlarged breasts may feel self-conscious, but they should know that they aren’t alone. Breast enlargement, or gynecomastia, affects nearly half of adolescent boys and up to two-thirds of middle-age and older men. Here’s what you should know about gynecomastia and how you can get rid of it.

1. Gynecomastia is characterized by excess localized fat, excess glandular tissue development, and can be present in one or both breasts. Some patients have excess breast skin that needs removal.
2. Hormonal changes, heredity, obesity and the use of certain drugs are linked to enlarged or overdeveloped breasts. Drugs such as steroids, antibiotics, heartburn treatment drugs, and tricyclic antidepressants are all possible influences. Heavy drinking, weight gain and aging all potentially contribute as well.
3. Gynecomastia can hurt your self-confidence and cause emotional discomfort. Some men avoid taking off their shirt at the beach or when working out and may avoid other physical activities because of enlarged breasts.
4. Your breast development needs to stabilize before surgery can be considered. While adolescents could benefit from surgery, they may need future procedures if their breasts continue to develop.
5. If your condition can’t be corrected with medical treatments such as over-the-counter supplements to regulate hormones, you may be a candidate for surgery for gynecomastia. You should be in good physical health and not smoke.
6. The best treatment option is to surgically remove excess fatty and glandular tissue. For excess fatty tissue alone, liposuction may be the only thing necessary. For patients who have more severe gynecomastia, liposuction and tissue excision may be necessary.
7. Incisions are designed to be hidden. Incisions are made around the areola, which is the darkened area around the nipple. This allows the scar to form at the natural border of the areola.
8. Gynecomastia shouldn’t reoccur after surgery, but steroid or drug use or major weight gain could cause the breasts to grow again.

If you have enlarged male breasts and are bothered by their appearance, call (203) 453-6635 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Price.