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Over development of the male breast is a common problem. Frequently, it begins
during puberty, but may occur at any time during adulthood. Usually, there are
very few symptoms, but sometimes men complain of tenderness and discomfort
within the breast. Most commonly, men describe feeling self-conscious about
their breast size and are uneasy about exposing their chest in public.

There are two types of gynecomastia. The first type, primary gynecomastia, is
the most common. Men with primary gynecomastia usually develop excess breast tissue during puberty. There is no underlying cause for this type of gynecomastia. On the other hand, secondary gynecomastia develops because of a detectable underlying cause. Some examples of this would include obesity, or the use of certain drugs such as steroids or marijuana.

Treatment of gynecomastia includes treating any correctible underlying causes (i.e. weight loss when appropriate, discontinuing steroids). Otherwise, treatment usually requires surgery. Most commonly, the surgery is performed through a small incision near the nipple and the excess tissue is removed. Liposuction is usually performed around the edges of the treated area to ensure a smooth and natural final result. Patients are typically back to normal daily activities within one week but are restricted from heavy physical activity for approximately one month.