Gynecomastia, or male breast enlargement, is an increasingly common reason that male patients schedule consultation in our practice. Gynecomastia may occur on one or both sides of the chest, may be localized primarily behind the nipple and areola or involve the entire pectoral area, and may arise in the teen years or in retirement years. As the manifestations of gynecomastia vary significantly from patient to patient, the surgical treatment must be carefully individualized.
Some enlargement of male breast tissue commonly occurs during puberty, and the incidence of noticeable (transient) pubertal breast enlargement has been reported to be as high as 60%. For most males this hormone-related breast enlargement is temporary, but for a few individuals the breast tissue proliferation will persist and in some cases even continue.
For the majority of patients with gynecomastia, no clear causative factor can be identified. However, because this phenomenon may be associated with endocrine (hormone) disorders, testicular tumors, and the use of some medications/drugs, a careful medical evaluation is an absolute necessity prior to surgical treatment.
