What is gynaecomastia?
Gynaecomastia occurs when there is an increase in the amount of breast tissue in males. There are several reasons why the amount of male breast tissue may increase. Gynaecomastia can result from normal physiologic changes, medical conditions, or medications.
Normal physiologic gynaecomastia occurs in newborns, adolescents, and the elderly. It occurs due to hormonal alterations at these life stages. Normal physiologic gynaecomastia does not usually require any treatment.
Medical conditions causing gynaecomastia include liver disease, testicular cancer, kidney disease, lung cancer, ulcerative colitis, amongst others.
Medications that may cause gynaecomastia include anabolic steroids, testosterone deprivation medications used to treat prostate cancer, spironolactone, verapamil, nifedipine, risperidone, amongst others.
Does gynaecomastia need to be treated with surgery?
Not all cases of gynaecomastia require surgery. If the cause of gynaecomastia is a medical condition or medication, then management will be directed toward addressing this. Physiologic gynaecomastia is usually self-resolving and often requires no treatment. Gynaecomastia may be treated surgically if it cannot be treated medically, is not self-resolving, or is causing body image issues or discomfort.
What is gynaecomastia surgery?
The operation to treat gynaecomastia is a subcutaneous mastectomy. This surgery involves the removal of breast tissue to return the chest to its normal flatter shape. An incision is made around the nipple areolar complex and breast tissue is removed from below the skin. In severe cases of gynaecomastia, excess skin is also excised.