Gynecomastia at age 17. My doctor told me it will resolve on its own. Is he right, or should I go for surgery? (Photo)

There are several common factors which contribute to gynecomastia. These include excessive levels of #estrogen, natural #hormone changes, use of recreational drugs or alcohol, medications and their associated side effects, and, various health conditions. Also, there are different types of #gynecomastia. Particularly, Normal Gynecomastia is usually apparent in males between the ages of 12 to 15 years old. It is also common for older men 65 years old or more who experience a drop in their testosterone levels. #Normal Gynecomastia takes approximately one to two years to naturally regress on its own.Adolescent Gynecomastia is hereditary and usually appears in 30% to 60% of boys between the ages of nine to fourteen. Many cases of adolescent gynecomastia resolve on its own as the boy grows into adulthood. Some with #Adolescent may choose to undergo surgery to correct the situation, this usually happens at the age of 18 or above. In severe cases in young boys, the physician and child development specialists will need to speak to the parents regarding the severity of the gynecomastia and if surgery is an option before the age of 18.

There is no way to know whether your chest appearance will change over time.  Provided your doctor has already ruled out a concerning process there is no harm in waiting a few more years.  If there is no improvement, consider seeing a plastic surgeon at that time.

I would have to examine you to give you the best recommendation. Look at
reviews and before and after pictures as well as credentials to select
your surgeon.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA

In general for most patients in my experience is that after puberty has ended for a few years, gynecomastia usually remains and surgical treatment is required.

I would be comfortable performing a gynecomastia reduction at this time.  I would consider a combination of liposuction and direct excision.  Good luck and be safe.John T. Nguyen, MD, FACS, FICSDouble Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Although there is not any proven statistics on the matter I do not believe that gynecomastia will resolve on its own after puberty is complete or nearly complete. If it is really causing a lot of distress I would suggest you speak to your parents and consider a consultation. 

If it hasn't resolved after 2 years, it probably won't. If it is pseudogynecomastia, you can try losing weight and see if it helps reduce the fat in your breasts. As to the timing of gynecomastia surgery, you should consider it when it impacts your social life. If you have it done when you are younger, your skin has more elasticity usually giving a better result. Good luck!

Nothing wrong with getting a couple opinions on this. At 17, the chance of significant improvement is limited. It looks from the picture like liposuction might resolve the situation. Good luck

It is true that transient gynecomastia can occur around the time of puberty, it may or may not resolve once puberty is complete.  At 17 your hormones should be beginning to stabilize and it would not be unreasonable to seek consultation regarding surgery.  I suggest discussing this with your parents first and asking them to help you find a board certified plastic surgeon who is experienced in this procedure.  It appears form the limited photo that you may benefit from liposuction. Good luck

Thank you for the question and picture. I would suggest that you seek consultation with your primary care physician and/or  board-certified plastic surgeons. Physical examination will be key when it comes providing you with an accurate diagnosis. Based on your description, it is possible that you are dealing with gynecomastia. "Gynecomastia" comes from the Greek meaning "gyne" meaning woman and  "mastos"  meaning breasts.  It refers to abnormal development of large mammary glands in males. Although there may be many “causes”, most cases are idiopathic (no specific cause). The use of certain medications, drugs, organ dysfunction (kidney or liver), hormonal imbalances etc. may also be causative.  Persistence gynecomastia is often best treated with  partial excision of the prominent glandular tissue  as well as liposuction surgery of the peripheral chest area.  If the prominence of the chest wall is caused by adipose tissue liposuction  surgery may suffice. If/when the time  comes for surgical intervention, please make sure that you seek consultation with board certified plastic surgeons who can demonstrate significant experience achieving the types of outcomes you would be pleased with.You may find the attached link, dedicated to gynecomastia concerns, helpful to you as you learn more. Best wishes.