Gynaecomastia surgery (male breast reduction)

What is gynaecomastia surgery?

Gynaecomastia surgery, or male breast reduction, is a plastic surgery procedure to reduce excess breast tissue in boys and adult men with gynaecomastia (enlarged male breasts). It can also help after significant weight loss, which has resulted in loose skin around the chest.  

During the procedure, our consultant plastic surgeons may use liposuction or surgical excision to remove excess breast tissue. They may also need to reposition your nipples or remove excess skin depending on the type and extent of your gynaecomastia.  

Our plastic surgeons at Evelina London Children’s, Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospitals are specialists in gynaecomastia surgery for boys and adult men. Our consultants are highly experienced and are committed to helping you achieve a natural-looking result. 

What causes gynaecomastia?  

Gynaecomastia, or male breast enlargement, is a condition where one or both breasts become larger than usual due to an increase in breast tissue and fat. This condition often develops around the time of puberty due to changes in hormone levels, such as high oestrogen, which can stimulate breast tissue growth.   

Sometimes, gynaecomastia can be caused by being overweight. The reason is that being overweight may increase oestrogen sensitivity and production. Gynaecomastia can also be caused by certain medications or by using anabolic steroids (for example, in bodybuilding). More rarely, it may be linked to underlying medical conditions that affect hormone levels.

Signs of gynaecomastia can include:  

• painful, swollen breast tissue 
• tender breasts 
• sensitive nipples

Who is suitable for gynaecomastia treatment?

Gynaecomastia surgery is usually considered once breast development is complete, which is usually around age 18. In some cases, it may be offered at a younger age depending on the underlying cause. Our consultants assess each patient individually and will provide a personalised recommendation. 

If you are considering gynaecomastia surgery, our specialist surgeons will determine whether you are a suitable candidate during a comprehensive consultation. Get in touch with our team to book an appointment.  

Preparing for gynaecomastia surgery 

We will provide tailored preparation based on your unique needs.  

Preparation advice can include:  

• changing or stopping certain medications 
• fasting  
• arranging transport home from the hospital  

We’ll let you know what you must do before your gynaecomastia surgery so you can be confident when attending your appointment.

What happens during gynaecomastia surgery?

First, our team will administer general anaesthetic, so you will be asleep throughout your surgery and won’t feel anything during it. There may be some cases where we can use local anaesthetic, but our consultants will discuss this at your appointment.  

Sometimes, only liposuction is needed to treat gynaecomastia. To perform this, our plastic surgeons will make small incisions (cuts) around the breast through which a thin suction hose is inserted to remove excess fat. This is a minimally invasive procedure with a faster recovery time.  

If you have a larger amount of breast tissue, glandular tissue or excess skin that also needs removal, surgical excision may be recommended. Usually, this will involve an incision below the nipple to remove the excess breast tissue. If needed, our plastic surgeon will reposition your nipple and remove excess skin for a natural looking result.  

In some cases, our surgeons will use a combination of surgical excision and liposuction. Each procedure is personalised based on your circumstances and desired results.  

After completing your gynaecomastia surgery, one of our surgical team members will take you to the recovery room, where we will monitor your initial recovery. Gynaecomastia is generally treated as a day case operation, although larger cases may need to stay overnight.

How long does gynaecomastia surgery take? 

On average, gynaecomastia surgery takes between 90 and 150 minutes to complete. However, this varies based on the complexity of your needs.

What is the recovery time for gynaecomastia? 

Recovering from gynaecomastia surgery can take several weeks. Most patients take 10 to 14 days off work to manage their initial recovery. Children will need to take some time off school. It’s usual for your breasts to be sore, swollen and bruised for a few weeks. 

We’ll give you an elasticated compression garment that you’ll need to wear 24 hours a day for the first 2 to 6 weeks after surgery, depending on the type of procedure you have. The garment helps to minimise swelling, reduces the risk of fluid or serum collection, and supports healing. 

You must keep the dressings over your wounds until our surgeons advise otherwise. Your stitches may dissolve on their own. If not, you’ll need to return to the hospital to have them removed. 

For the first 3 weeks, you must avoid heavy lifting or strenuous exercise. It can take around 6 weeks before you can return to your normal activities and 2 to 3 months for high intensity sports. Our consultants will provide a personalised recommendation to best suit your recovery.    

If you would like to discuss gynaecomastia surgery with one of our consultant plastic surgeons, we can help. Get in touch with our customer care team to arrange an appointment.  

Benefits of gynaecomastia surgery 

Gynaecomastia surgery has many benefits, including:  

• a toned chest  
• enhanced confidence when wearing tight clothing 
• boosted self-esteem 
• minimised discomfort caused by swelling or sensitive nipples 

Our expert gynaecomastia surgery is effective and provides you with natural-looking results.

How successful is gynaecomastia surgery? 

Gynaecomastia surgery is generally safe and successful. In rare cases, your condition can return, but factors like weight gain and ageing generally cause this.

Our team of plastic surgery consultants ensure you receive the best care throughout your treatment and practical aftercare advice so you can support the success of your treatment.

Risks of gynaecomastia surgery

Most cases of gynaecomastia surgery do not result in complications. However, every surgical procedure has risks.  

These risks can include:  

• scarring around your breast area 
• lumps in your breasts 
• changes in breast and nipple shape 
• nerve changes in your nipples (they can become more or less sensitive or completely numb) 
• bleeding inside your breast tissue 

Our plastic surgeons will inform you of the risks of gynaecomastia surgery before your appointment. However, they take every possible precaution to minimise risks wherever possible.   

If you would like to speak to one of our plastic surgery consultants about gynaecomastia surgery, contact our customer service team to book an appointment.

Alternative treatments of gynaecomastia  

Gynaecomastia doesn’t always need surgery right away. Instead, we might prescribe certain medications that help to balance your hormones.  

If you’re overweight, our surgeons may advise you to lose weight first to see if it helps your condition.