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Gynaecomastia (aka ‘Man Boobs’) is a medical condition that causes the breast tissue in males to enlarge. This can happen due to a variety of factors, including hormonal imbalances, medications, and lifestyle choices. While gynaecomastia is not usually a life-threatening condition, it can sometimes cause emotional distress and self-confidence issues. It commonly occurs at puberty but will often settle once adulthood is achieved. In some men, being overweight can result in excess fatty tissue of the chest. Although not the same as breast tissue enlargement the appearance can be similar.

Why Does Gynaecomastia Happen?

There are a variety of factors that can contribute to the development of gynaecomastia. Some of the most common causes include:

  • Hormonal imbalances: Gynaecomastia can be caused by imbalances in the hormones testosterone and oestrogen.
  • Medications: Certain medications can cause gynaecomastia as a side effect.
  • Medical conditions: Certain medical conditions, such as hyperthyroidism, liver disease, and kidney disease, can cause gynaecomastia.
  • Lifestyle choices: Using drugs such as marijuana, drinking alcohol excessively, or using anabolic steroids can cause gynaecomastia.

Treatment Options for Gynaecomastia

There are several treatment options available for gynaecomastia, depending on the severity of the condition and the underlying cause. If you think there may be a hormonal or pharmacological cause for the condition it might be sensible to speak to your GP about changing your medication or investigating things further. Sometimes gynaecomastia surgery is recommended to remove the excess tissue and restore a flatter contour.

At LASE Cosmetic in Newcastle, our surgeons are experienced at reducing gynaecomastia. This is most commonly performed under local anaesthetic and as a day case but more severe cases might require a general anaesthetic with overnight stay. Liposuction is the most common procedure to remove volume from the chest through small incisions (and scars). Sometimes tissue needs to be removed from behind the nipple area and this can often be done through semi-circle or doughnut incisions which usually heal discretely, occasionally larger incisions (and scars) must be considered. As well as liposuction and tissue excision, at LASE Cosmetic we are Newcastle and the North East’s only provider of Renuvion skin tightening which can be used to flatten and tighten the chest chest contour even more. Downtime is usually acceptable, we recommend 5-7 days off recovery after which time most people can return to work. For physical jobs time off might be longer and we usually recommend a month pass before returning to very physical activity such as the gym or weights.


Please contact us if you would like to know more about gynaecomastia treatment or male chest reduction surgery or to arrange a consultation with one of our expert surgeons.


About LASE Cosmetic

LASE Cosmetic is a luxury cosmetic clinic operating in the North East specialising in surgical and non-surgical procedures.  Our ethos is to offer the very highest standards of patient care and service while, at the same time, adopting evidence-based cosmetic treatments that allow our patients to benefit from modern techniques and perhaps avoid the need for traditional general anaesthetic-based, overnight surgery, providing the best plastic surgery in Newcastle.

At LASE’s clinic in Jesmond in central Newcastle-upon-Tyne, you can expect the very best in advanced cosmetic treatments, many of which are exclusive to us in the North East.

At the heart of everything the clinic offers is the welfare of the patient – the team will always cross-refer between our surgical and non-surgical capabilities to ensure the patient is given the best advice on cosmetic surgery in Newcastle upon Tyne.