Causes and Treatment of Male Breast Enlargement

Posted on September 29, 2012 | by

A recent post on WebMD provides an overview of the topic of male breast enlargement and its treatments. Affecting millions of men and boys, it is also known as gynecomastia. Although embarrassing, “man boobs” are not necessarily a permanent condition.

Causes of Male Breast Enlargement

One cause of male breast enlargement can start in puberty when a person’s hormones are shifting. This cause typically ends when the hormones settle down.

Enlargement can also occur in adulthood, especially as weight is gained. As a man ages, his testosterone levels decrease and he will typically gain weight. The extra weight causes fatty tissue to be placed under the breasts.

Dr. Elliot W. Jacobs specializes in treating gynecomastia and has lived with it since his teenage years. “My own breasts became enlarged when I was a teenager,” he told WebMD. “It was very embarrassing.”

While it can be embarrassing, it isn’t typically a health threat.

Breast Reduction for Men

It all depends on the cause of the breast enlargement. Certain medications can be the cause of enlargement, however, by discontinuing the medication the effects should be reversed.

For many men the cause of their breast enlargement is weight gain. The first step is to loose the weight. If there is a lot of weight to be lost then the size of the breasts my not be reduced fully because of the skin stretching.

The treatment for this is cosmetic surgery. In a procedure that lasts between 60-90 minutes, excess fat and glandular tissue is removed from the breasts. The procedure results in a flatter, more masculine chest.

Speaking of the men he’s helped with this problem, Dr. Jacobs said, “For the first time in years, these men are standing up straight and wearing tight shirts. Literally and figuratively, a weight has been lifted off of their chests.”

If you’re interested in exploring or learning more about the available male breast reduction options, contact Dr. Fouad Samaha online, or at his Quincy, Massachusetts location.