Gynaecomastia (male breast enlargement)

Gynae­co­mastia is a benign enlar­ge­ment of the male breast gland. It can affect one or both sides and should be distin­gu­is­hed from a pure build-up of fat, known as pseudogynaecomastia.

Cau­ses

It is usual­ly cau­sed by an imba­lan­ce bet­ween male and fema­le hor­mo­nes. It often occurs tem­po­r­a­ri­ly during puber­ty or in later life. Other trig­gers include excess weight, cer­tain medi­ci­nes, ana­bo­lic ste­ro­ids, liver or thy­ro­id dise­a­se and, rare­ly, hor­mo­ne-pro­du­cing tumours.

Sym­ptoms

A typi­cal sign is a pal­pa­ble, firm gland behind the nipp­le, some­ti­mes accom­pa­nied by a fee­ling of ten­si­on or ten­der­ness. The chest looks more femi­ni­ne and the areo­la may pro­tru­de. Many men the­r­e­fo­re avo­id tight clot­hing, sport or swim­ming pools.

Tre­at­ment

Pos­si­ble cau­ses are inves­ti­ga­ted first and trea­ted whe­re neces­sa­ry. If the enlar­ge­ment per­sists, the gland is remo­ved through a small incis­i­on at the edge of the areo­la. Excess fat is usual­ly redu­ced at the same time by lipo­suc­tion. A com­pres­si­on gar­ment is then worn for seve­ral weeks.

Matching tre­at­ment at Swiss Der­ma Cli­nic: Male breast reduc­tion (gyneco­mastia)