Gynaecomastia is a condition of the male breast which involves an overgrowth of fatty tissue, glandular tissue or more commonly a combination of both often results in the appearance of male chest enlargement which is also known as “man boobs”. Many men often suffer in silence with a Gynaecomastia, not aware that there is a very effective treatment option in the form of male breast reduction. For many men, gynaecomastia can result in significant anxiety and a substantial loss of self-confidence which may limit their activities of daily living.
It is important to bear in mind that gynaecomastia is much more common than what most people think and up to 70 to 80% of men may have gynaecomastia of some type at some point in their lifetime. It is not known what exactly causes gynaecomastia to occur although it is generally accepted that hormonal imbalance which then leads to excessive production of oestrogen is one of the most common causes of gynaecomastia.
Having said that, gynaecomastia presents in different ways depending on a man’s age and treatment may not be necessary depending on the point it presents in life. We thought it would be useful if we described the effects of gynaecomastia at different ages.
Gynaecomastia affecting babies
Gynaecomastia is extremely common in newborn babies with up to 90% of all boys having some form of gynaecomastia. When babies are in utero, oestrogen naturally gets passed from the mother to the baby and so this explains why the majority of baby boys have a mild form of gynaecomastia. Fortunately, this type of gynaecomastia settles down completely by itself by the time the baby becomes one year of age and does not require any treatment. In very rare cases when excessive breast tissue persists beyond the first year of life, it would be a good idea to get assessed by your GP to make sure it is not something more serious.
Gynaecomastia in adolescence
Adolescents are prone to developing hormonal imbalance and hormonal changes are the most common cause of gynaecomastia affecting teenagers. This is the stage of life when boys are going through puberty and puberty itself is a time that involves a significant imbalance in hormonal production with excessive production of oestrogen being an entirely normal phenomenon. Having said that, not every boy will develop male breast enlargement but statistics show that about 50 to 60% of teenagers may develop a milder type of gynaecomastia. During the teenage years, and once the hormonal changes stabilise with increased production of testosterone and then the condition should settle down by itself. In cases where gynaecomastia is persistent beyond 2 to 3 years then again we would advise a clinical assessment by your GP.
Gynaecomastia affecting adult men
Gynaecomastia is common in men over the age of 21. Between the ages of 18 to 50, up to 60% of men can be affected. The underlying causes for gynaecomastia can be more varied with this age group and it is not always due to hormonal influences. Causes of gynaecomastia in adult men include medical conditions including disorders of the thyroid as well as certain medications which may include antidepressants. Patients who drink excessive quantities of alcohol and those who take anabolic steroids may also be more prone to developing gynaecomastia.
When gynaecomastia presents in adult men, our surgeons would advise surgical treatment when the gynaecomastia is moderate to severe. The male breast reduction procedure is straightforward to perform and involves liposuction to remove excess fatty tissue followed by surgical removal of glandular tissue through a small incision positioned around the areola. This scar heals well and becomes relatively inconspicuous over time.
It is important to appreciate that the exact treatment for gynaecomastia depends on the clinical presentation and for gynaecomastia involving a specific cause such as anabolic steroid use then by removing the precipitating cause may result in the gynaecomastia to settle down completely without surgical treatment.
Gynaecomastia affecting older men
In men aged over 50, gynaecomastia becomes increasingly common with about 75% of men being affected. Hormonal factors become important in this age group and with the ageing process, testosterone levels begin to gradually reduce. This can result in an enlargement in the size of the breasts. It is important however to make sure that lifestyle factors, certain medications or medical conditions are not contributing to the development of gynaecomastia as these could be treated without the need for surgery.
The key to successful treatment of gynaecomastia is with an accurate diagnosis which can only be undertaken with a face-to-face consultation with a specialist plastic surgeon. If you believe you have gynaecomastia and it is causing you significant concern and affecting your ability to wear certain types of clothing then give us a call today to book a consultation with a gynaecomastia surgeon in London.
