Male Breast Tissue

Gynecomastia is overdeveloped or enlarged breast tissue in men, most often caused by an imbalance of testosterone and estrogen, and can also relate to heredity, weight, puberty, and certain medications. Because true gynecomastia is glandular tissue, it does not shrink with diet and exercise. Male breast reduction combines liposuction of excess fat with surgical removal of the glandular tissue for a flatter chest.

What it is

Gynecomastia is a specific thing, and one distinction matters most.

• Glandular, not just fat. True gynecomastia is an increase in the firm glandular tissue beneath the nipple, sometimes with excess fat. This is different from fat alone.
• Why diet does not fix it. Because glandular tissue is not fat, losing weight will not remove it, though it may reduce a fatty component.
• Common and benign. A large share of men have some palpable breast tissue, and it is usually harmless, if unwanted.

Understanding that the core problem is glandular tissue is what explains why the effective treatment is surgical removal, not more time in the gym.

What causes it

Gynecomastia usually comes down to a hormonal balance. Male bodies make both testosterone and estrogen, and when the ratio shifts toward relatively more estrogen, breast tissue can grow. This shift happens naturally at puberty (where it often resolves on its own) and again with age, and it can be influenced by heredity, weight, certain medical conditions, and a range of medications, including anabolic steroids, some used in bodybuilding.

Because the growth is glandular tissue driven by hormones, it behaves differently from fat and stays put through diet and exercise. That is why, for persistent adult gynecomastia, surgery is the consistently effective option.

What it is, and what helps

This is what a discreet consultation clarifies, because the right answer depends on what the tissue is.

The value is not the list. It is that a board-certified surgeon examines the chest, distinguishes glandular tissue from fat, rules out anything that needs medical evaluation first, and tailors the removal so the chest looks naturally flat and masculine.

Why Santa Barbara Face & Body

For many men this is a sensitive subject, so it matters to be treated privately, respectfully, and by a surgeon who does this well. Dr. Polynice is a Mayo-trained, board-certified plastic surgeon focused on breast and body surgery, and he approaches gynecomastia with discretion and without judgment, removing the glandular tissue and any excess fat through small, well-placed incisions for a natural, masculine contour. Doing it right, and doing it privately, is the point.

When it is worth a consultation

Worth coming in if you

• Have firm tissue under the nipple that will not go with diet or exercise
• Feel self-conscious about the shape of your chest
• Are at a stable weight and in good health
• Want a flatter chest with a discreet, natural result

Better to talk it through first if you

• Are a teenager, since puberty-related gynecomastia often resolves on its own
• Use anabolic steroids or medications that can cause it, worth reviewing
• Notice a new, hard, one-sided lump, which a physician should evaluate first

What to expect from a visit

Dr. Polynice examines your chest to determine whether the fullness is glandular tissue, fat, or both, and reviews your health, weight, and any medications. If anything warrants medical evaluation first, he will say so. He then explains the approach, typically liposuction for fat plus removal of the gland through a small incision at the areola, and what recovery looks like. You leave with a clear, private plan and realistic expectations for a flatter chest.

What we offer for this

Men come in quietly frustrated by their chest and leave with a discreet plan for a flatter, firmer contour. Male breast reduction removes the tissue for a lasting result.