Gynecomastia is a medical term for enlarged breasts in men. Gynecomastia can happen at any age and can be the result of heredity, hormonal changes, obesity or the use of certain prescription drugs. Gynecomastia is characterized by localized fat deposits in the male breast area.
Surgical approaches to gynecomastia may consist of liposuction alone or in addition to direct excision of dense breast tissue and/or redundant skin of the breast. Incision patterns vary depending on the amount of excess breast tissue and skin.
If surgical excision of breast tissue is required, a drain is likely to be placed and is removed commonly at the first post operative visit. After surgery, the chest will be wrapped to compression to help reduce swelling and discomfort.