Gynecomastia is a technical term for abnormally large breasts on men. Gynecomastia affects an estimated 40 to 60 percent of men. It may affect only one breast or both. The condition is relatively common in adolescent boys, and approximately 90% of the time, symptoms disappear in a matter of months, or, as adolescence wanes, a few years later. However, the remaining 10% of adolescent boys grow up with permanent fat and or glandular tissue in the breast area.

• This condition can be caused by a number of reasons including:
  -Puberty
  -Steroid abuse
  -Obesity
  -Tumors
  -Genetic disorders
  -Chronic liver disease
  -Side effects of many medications
  -Castration
  -Klinefelter Syndrome
  -Gilbert's Syndrome
  -Aging

In cases of obesity, weight loss can alter the gynecomastic condition, but for many it will not eliminate it. For all other causes, surgery is the only known physical remedy.

For men who feel self-conscious about their appearance, breast-reduction surgery can help. The procedure removes fat and or glandular tissue from the breasts, and in extreme cases removes excess skin, resulting in a chest that is flatter, firmer, and better contoured.

Your plastic surgeon may, in extreme cases, also recommend a mammogram, or breast x-ray. This will not only rule out the very small possibility of breast cancer, but will reveal the breast's composition. Once your surgeon knows how much fat and glandular tissue is contained within the breasts, he or she can choose a surgical approach to best suit your needs.