This Confidence-Boosting Surgery for Men Is on the Rise

The most popular surgery for men is liposuction. The runner up? Male breast reduction, or gynecomastia surgery. The Aesthetic Society reported a 66 percent increase in the procedure last year compared to 2020. It makes sense that large breasts are of a concern for men as the National Institutes of Health state that somewhere between 50 and 60 percent of adolescent males suffer from gynecomastia. Here, a look at who is a good candidate for the surgery and what goes into it. 

Gynecomastia is generally due to higher-than-normal levels of estrogen in the body related to puberty. While for many men the chest begins to flatten out as they enter adulthood, for some the problem persists. “The cause of male breast enlargement is multifaceted,” says Arcadia, CA, plastic surgeon Art Yu, MD. “Almost all boys at puberty could be affected. Luckily, for most of them, it only lasts a year or two. After reaching adulthood, obesity could be an obvious cause, because the fat could turn some testosterone into estrogen. The combination of breast tissue growth and local fat accumulation could create what is sometimes called ‘manboobs.'”

What Causes Male Breast Enlargement

According to Concord, CA plastic surgeon Eric Mariotti, MD a hormonal imbalance can be caused by medications, certain medical conditions, marijuana, steroid use or excessive alcohol use. “In my practice the number-one reason for gynecomastia is simply genetics, but these other causes have to be ruled out,” he explains. 

The Surgery

To reduce the size of the breasts and flatten the chest, Encino, CA plastic surgeon George Sanders, MD says the combination of liposuction and excision of the excess breast tissue and skin is done. “Typically, the scars are minimally detectable. In most cases, there are two one-eighth-inch scars on each breast that usually fade nicely,” he explains. “If skin removal is required, the scars are longer.”

The scars can vary depending on the surgery and for more extensive cases an anchor scar will be used, explains Dr. Mariotti: “From imperceptible liposuction scars to a small scar around the areola and a larger scar in the fold of the chest depending on what type of surgery is indicated.”

Who It’s Best For

“Gynecomastia surgery candidates are those men who are post puberty, healthy, who have excess male breast tissue who are looking to have a flatter, and more masculine appearance to their chest,” says Dr. Mariotti. “My best advice is to find a qualified plastic surgeon with experience to tell you what type of surgery is best to achieve your desired result. There is so much variability as to what type of surgery could, or should, be done, that trying to navigate your options without an expert is nearly impossible.”

Technique Matters

To start the gynecomastia journey, the experts recommend finding a board-certified plastic surgeon with experience performing your procedure. “Choose a surgeon who has done many gynecomastia corrections with minimal scars,” adds Dr. Yu. “More importantly, the surgeon should be facile with high-definition liposuction techniques.”

Recovery Time

How quickly one heals depends on how extensive the surgery is. “Typically, it takes two weeks before exercise is permitted, although driving and light activities are possible within a few days,” shares Dr. Sanders.

For men with larger breasts that feel held them back from enjoying many activities, this surgery can be life-changing. “Anyone who feels embarrassed about the condition shouldn’t hesitate to have a consultation with a qualified surgeon,” says Dr. Yu. “It’s an extremely common condition that can be corrected.” 

It's Personal

At NewBeauty, we get the most trusted information from the beauty authority delivered right to your inbox

Find a Doctor

Find a NewBeauty "Top Beauty Doctor" Near you

Select a state State AL AR AZ CA CO CT DC FL GA HI IA IL IN KY LA MA MD MI MN MO NC NE NJ NV NY OH OR PA SC TN TX UT VA WA WI Select a state Specialty Cosmetic Dentist Dermatologist Facial Plastic Surgeon Hair Restoration Specialist Oculoplastic Surgeon Periodontist Plastic Surgeon Prosthodontist Vein Specialist Select a state Treatment Abdominal thread lifts Accent your Body Acne Treatments Alexandrite Laser Arm Lift Asclera Bellafill Belotero Blue Light Body Body Lift Botox Botox Browlift Brachioplasty Brazilian Butt Lift Breast Augmentation Breast Augmentation with Fat Grafting Breast Implants Breast Implants with Saline Breast Implants with Silicone Breast Lift Breast Lift with Implants Breast Reconstruction Breast Reduction Browlift Butt Enhancement Carboxytherapy Cellulite Treatment Cheek Augmentation Cheek Augmentation with Fat Grafting Cheek Implants Cheek Lift Chemical Peels Chin Augmentation CO2 lasers Cool Lipo CoolSculpting CoolTone Crowns Dental Bonding Dental Implants Dimpleplasty Diode Laser Dysport embrace Active Scar Defense Emsculpt Endermologie Endoscopic Browlift Endoscopic Facelift Endoscopic Tummy Tuck Erbium Lasers Exilis Ultra 360 Eyelift Eyelift with Fat Grafting Face Facelift Facelift with Fat Grafting FaceTite Fat Melters and Fat Reducers Fat Transfer Forma Fractional CO2 lasers Fractional Resurfacing Lasers Fractora Glycolic Peels Glytone Enhanced Brightening Cream Gum Dermabrasion Gum Lift Hair Hair Removal Hair Transplant Hair-Loss Treatment Injectables & Fillers for Cheek Augmentation Injectables & Fillers for Eyelift Injectables & Fillers for Lip Enhancement Injectables And Fillers Injectables and Fillers with Fat Grafting Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Invisalign Isolaz Juvéderm Juvéderm Volbella Juvéderm Voluma Kybella Lactic Acid Peels Laser Liposuction Lasers Lateral Tension Tummy Tuck Limited Incision Facelift Lip Enhancement Lip Enhancement with Fat Grafting Lip Implant Lip Lift Liposculpture Liposuction Liquid Facelift Long Pulsed N: Yag laser Lower Blepharoplasty Lower Body Lift Lower eyelid surgery Lower Facelift MACS Lift Mandelic Peels Microdermabrasion Microinjection Microneedling Microwave Laser Treatment Mini Tummy Tuck Mini-Facelift Mommy Makeover Nd: Yag Neck Liposuction Necklift Nonsurgical Facelift Nonsurgical Rhinoplasty Obagi Blue Peel Otoplasty Perlane Phenol Peels Photobiomodulation Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) Photofacial PiQo4 Plasma Resurfacing Lasers Power Assisted Liposuction Prevelle Pulsed Dye Radiesse Radio Frequency with Microneedling Radio Frequency-Assisted Lipolysis Red Light Restylane Restylane Defyne Restylane Lyft Restylane Refyne Restylane Silk Revision Rhinoplasty Rhinoplasty Salicylic Peels SculpSure Sculptra Aesthetic Selphyl Silhouette Instalift Skin Skin Tighteners Skin Treatments Slim Lipo Smart Lipo SMAS facelift Smile Smile Makeover Smoothshapes Straightening Stretch Mark Treatments TCA Chemical Peels Teeth Whitening Thermage ThermiTight Thigh Lift Titan Tooth Contouring Traditional Facelift Tumescent Liposuction Tummy Tuck Ulthera Ultherapy Ultrasound Assisted Liposuction Umbilicoplasty Upper Blepharoplasty Upper eyelid surgery Vanquish ME VASER Lipo Vein Treatments Velashape Velasmooth Veneers Xeomin Search