What causes gynecomastia? - Ask the Expert

Cosmetic Surgery

Male Breast Reduction (Gynaecomastia)

Remove excess fat and male breast tissue to improve the cosmetic appearance of your chest.

Gynaecomastia is a common condition that causes male breast tissue to overdevelop, causing swelling and sometimes giving an appearance similar to female breasts. This condition is often rather unkindly referred to as ‘man boobs’.

Gynecomastia is caused by an imbalance of sex hormones, when oestrogen levels are higher than they should be, which causes the breast tissue to develop.

The condition may affect one or both sides, although it often develops unevenly. Gynaecomastia can range from a small amount of excess tissue around the nipple to the development of two prominent breasts. In some cases, the breast tissue may be tender, or even painful. The condition can be a great source of embarrassment and mental distress to those who have it and it may even affect their quality of life. Men with gynaecomastia may avoid swimming, wearing certain items of clothing or even forming intimate relationships because of it.

Gynaecomastia is most commonly found in teenage boys, older men and newborns, but it can affect men of any age and there are a number of gynaecomastia causes.

One or more of the following may be the cause of gynaecomastia:

Obesity

Obesity is a common cause of gynaecomastia. Being very overweight causes an increase in the levels of oestrogen, plus the excess fat can also cause an enlargement of the breast tissue.

Puberty

When boys go through puberty, hormone levels can fluctuate wildly, which can result in a degree of gynaecomastia. This can vary from person to person and often settles down once hormone levels have stabilised. This could take anywhere between six months and up to three years.

Age

As men age, their testosterone levels naturally fall, meaning they are more likely to develop gynaecomastia. Older men tend to gain weight more easily too, which increases oestrogen production and further increases the risk of developing gynaecomastia.

Newborns

It is common for newborn baby boys to show signs of gynaecomastia as the mother’s oestrogen passes through the placenta to the baby while in the womb. This is only temporary and usually settles down in the weeks following the birth.

Medications

Gynaecomastia can be a side effect associated with certain medications, including anti-ulcer drugs, antibiotics, chemotherapy, the medicine used to treat heart disease and antidepressants.

Illegal drugs

These include cannabis, heroin and anabolic steroids.

Certain health conditions

Excess male breast tissue can also be caused by certain health conditions, including thyroid disorders, liver disease, kidney disease, lung cancer or the presence of tumours on the pituitary gland or adrenal glands.

Genetics

Klinefelter syndrome, a genetic disorder where boys are born with an extra X chromosome, also causes gynaecomastia. However, it is worth noting that this is a rare condition that affects just one in 660 men.

Testicular problems

Testicular cancer, or any other lumps or infection in the testicles, can also be a gynaecomastia cause.

A state of the art, award winning clinic.

Founded in 2004 by world renowned plastic surgeon Mr Bryan Mayou, we now work with over 100 leading consultants and successfully treat over 20,000 patients each year. We have been winning industry awards since inception.

About Us

Best in Class Facilities

All of our treatments take place at our beautiful boutique premises in Chelsea. We have six consulting rooms and five operating rooms, as well as a dedicated pre and post-operative suite, and a full team of specialist nursing staff.

Our Clinic

A Strong Tradition of Innovation

We were founded in 2004 by world renown plastic surgeon Mr Bryan Mayou, best known for his pioneering work in the area of liposuction, lasers and microvascular surgery. We continue to collaborate with pioneers in our field.

Our History

At Home in Sloane Street, London

We are proud that our state of the art award-winning clinic is located in one of the best neighbourhoods in the country

Welcome to Sloane Street

Clinics Nationwide

We offer surgical consultations in London, Birmingham, Chelmsford and Bristol, and attract international patients from all corners of the globe such as as the USA, the Middle East and Europe.

Get in Touch

Sometimes other medical conditions can present in a similar way to gynaecomastia, so your doctor may want to carry out further tests to confirm a diagnosis. This may include blood tests, urine tests, a mammogram (breast x-ray) or a biopsy, where part of the breast tissue is removed and sent away for analysis. But often a diagnosis of gynaecomastia can be made without the need for these tests.

It is important to note that gynaecomastia is not associated with breast cancer, which remains a rare condition in men. However, if you do find a lump in your breast tissue, you should seek medical advice.

The treatment for gynaecomastia depends on what is causing the condition in the first place. In the case of newborns and pubescent boys, the condition should go of its own accord, leaving no trace behind. If a person is obese, then losing weight, through a combination of a healthy diet and exercise, will help with the appearance of gynaecomastia. As part of this course of action, we highly recommend that you cut fatty foods from your diet. The body is unable to convert fat into energy, so it is stored as fatty deposits around the body, including in the chest area. Exercises that target the chest area help to build up muscle. When this muscle becomes more defined, it can lessen the appearance of fat in the chest area. However, if a person has particularly severe gynaecomastia, bulking up these muscles may serve to accentuate the breasts by pushing them outwards.

So diet and exercise alone may not be enough to get rid of gynaecomastia entirely, particularly if there are other causes at play. It will effectively reduce chest fat, but not the more important glandular tissue, which will require medical intervention to make any meaningful change.

If you suspect that prescribed medication is the cause of your gynaecomastia, it is important that you do not stop taking your medication, but instead, book an appointment with your GP to discuss your options.

There is no evidence to suggest that herbal creams or remedies will be able to help with gynaecomastia.

Depending on the cause, your doctor may prescribe medication to adjust the hormone imbalance. In some cases, breast reduction surgery may be the best course of action.

Here at the Cadogan Clinic, we carry out many of these procedures on men who are suffering from gynaecomastia. The procedure usually involves liposuction to remove excess fat and fibrous breast tissue, tightening the chest skin while simultaneously sculpting the chest area.

In patients with predominantly glandular as opposed to fatty breast tissue, there may be a need for direct removal of the breast disc, which would be done in combination with liposuction. This specific surgery is called Webster's Procedure. During this particular procedure, our skilled surgeon will make an incision around the edge of the areola. It is highly effective and discrete, leaving minimal scarring behind.

Surgical male breast reduction is the only permanent solution to gynaecomastia.

Book a consultation with one of our expert surgeons here at the Cadogan Clinic who will be able to discuss the available treatments with you.

Words from our clients:

“I was treated with care and provided with thorough knowledge about the procedure I was undertaking. My surgeon was very methodical (a perfectionist) and I felt I received A class treatment."

Courtney O'Sullivan

"Outstanding experience from the first appointment to being discharged. Very professional, friendly and a fantastic outcome."

Gemma Stevenson

"There is nothing that I feel could be improved at Cadogan Clinic. I was treated and looked after very well the place was very clean. Perfect. Thank you."

Emma Grant

"The treatment was for my daughter and the aesthetic practitioner couldn't have been more helpful and informative all through the course of treatment, it was a great treatment with a brilliant outcome. The whole experience was very professional and any worries we went in with were soon taken away after the team greeted us and treated us."

Jessica Yates

"Reception staff very welcoming and efficient. Both nurses who I dealt with were fantastic, and the whole team (anaesthetist, surgeon etc) were friendly but professional, and really put my mind at ease. That I was able to stay later than I perhaps needed after my surgery to fit in with my husbands schedule was greatly appreciated."

Emma Davies

Treatments mentioned in this article

Liposuction is a surgical procedure to remove unwanted pockets of fat on the body and face.

View Treatment

Body Surgery

Liposuction

Liposuction is a surgical procedure to remove unwanted pockets of fat on the body and face.

Surgery For Men

Male Breast Reduction (Gynaecomastia)

Remove excess fat and male breast tissue to improve the cosmetic appearance of your chest.

View Treatment

Get in touch

One of our friendly staff will be delighted to help with your enquiry.

0207 901 8500

Or send us an enquiry

Meet Ellie

Our Lead Patient Advisor is here to support with any queries you may have