Male Breast Reduction

Male breast reduction (gynaecomastia surgery) removes excess glandular tissue and fat from the male chest. SAFElipo™ liposuction, periareolar gland excision, and skin reduction for grade 3–4. Day-case under TIVA. CQC-regulated Baker Street facility. From £3,500.

Male Breast Reduction (Gynaecomastia Surgery) in London

Male breast reduction — also known as gynaecomastia surgery or gyno surgery — removes excess glandular breast tissue and fat from the male chest to produce a flatter, firmer chest contour. It is appropriate for men with true gynaecomastia (excess glandular tissue), pseudogynaecomastia (excess fatty tissue), or a combination of both — with the technique selected accordingly.

Gynaecomastia affects men of all ages and body types. It is not exclusively a condition of overweight men — many men with gynaecomastia are otherwise lean and physically active. Where a glandular component is present, exercise and diet cannot resolve the condition; surgical removal is the only effective treatment.

At Centre for Surgery, male breast reduction is performed by consultant plastic surgeons on the GMC Specialist Register at our CQC-regulated Baker Street facility under TIVA (Total Intravenous Anaesthesia) as a day-case procedure. A two-week cooling-off period applies after consultation.

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What is Gynaecomastia?

Gynaecomastia is the enlargement of breast tissue in men, caused by an imbalance between oestrogen and testosterone — leading glandular breast tissue to proliferate in the male chest. It can affect one or both sides and is graded from grade 1 (mild) to grade 4 (severe) based on the degree of tissue excess and skin laxity.

Gynaecomastia is common and can affect men at any age. It frequently occurs during puberty due to natural hormonal fluctuations and in most adolescents resolves spontaneously within 6–18 months without treatment. When it persists into adulthood, spontaneous resolution is uncommon and surgery is the most effective treatment.

True gynaecomastia involves excess glandular breast tissue — a firm, disc-shaped mass beneath the nipple-areola complex that cannot be reduced by diet or exercise. Surgical excision is required.

Pseudogynaecomastia involves excess fatty tissue only — soft, diffuse chest enlargement without a discrete glandular component. It responds well to liposuction alone.

Many patients have a combination of both — requiring liposuction for the fatty component and surgical excision for the glandular disc. Clinical examination distinguishes the two.

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What Causes Gynaecomastia?

Gynaecomastia results from a relative imbalance of oestrogen and testosterone. Common causes include:

Where a secondary cause is identified — particularly medications or medical conditions — this should be addressed before surgery is considered.

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Diagnosing Gynaecomastia

The diagnosis of gynaecomastia involves a combination of medical history, clinical examination, and where appropriate, diagnostic tests.

Your surgeon will take a full medical history including current medications, recreational drug use, alcohol consumption, and any relevant systemic conditions. A history of when the breast enlargement began, how quickly it developed, and whether it is tender or painful provides important diagnostic information.

Physical examination of the chest assesses the size and character of the breast tissue — distinguishing firm glandular tissue from soft fatty tissue, and confirming whether one or both sides are affected. The genitals and testicles may also be examined where a hormonal cause is suspected.

Where a hormonal or medical cause is suspected, blood tests assess hormone levels (testosterone, oestrogen, LH, FSH), liver function, kidney function, and thyroid function. These help identify underlying conditions requiring treatment before surgery.

Ultrasound, mammography, or MRI may be requested to characterise breast tissue, rule out breast cancer, or assess glandular extent prior to surgical planning.

In rare cases where imaging raises concerns, a biopsy may be required to exclude malignancy. Male breast cancer is rare but is included in the differential diagnosis of unilateral breast enlargement.

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Before & After Results

All patients whose photographs appear below have given full written consent for the use of their images for educational purposes. Individual results vary depending on grade of gynaecomastia, technique used, and each patient’s anatomy.

Case 1 — Grade 2 combined gynaecomastia. Liposuction and periareolar gland excision. Multiple views showing anterior and lateral chest contour improvement.

Case 2 — Pseudogynaecomastia. Liposuction only — no gland excision required. Improved chest contour with minimal scarring.

Case 3 — True gynaecomastia. Periareolar gland excision and liposuction. Flat, firm chest contour with discreet periareolar scar.

Case 4 — Grade 1 gynaecomastia. Periareolar gland excision. Minimal scarring at areola border.

Case 5 — Grade 2b combined gynaecomastia. Liposuction combined with gland excision. Anterior and lateral views.

Case 6 — BodyTite-assisted gynaecomastia correction. Radiofrequency-assisted liposuction for improved skin retraction alongside gland excision.

Case 7 — Combined gynaecomastia with liposuction and gland excision. Lean patient with predominantly glandular component.

Case 8 — Grade 2 gynaecomastia. SAFElipo