Male breast enlargement, or gynecomastia, is a fairly common condition in men. The enlargement may be a result of certain medication side effects, use of marijuana, liver disorders, elevated estrogen and/or lowered testosterone levels, or certain hormone-secreting tumors. However, the majority of cases are developmental during puberty: Up to 33% of boys in puberty will develop a transient enlargement of the breast; however, in a portion of these boys, the tissue will not regress and persists. Another common source of breast enlargement, as may also occur in women, is weight gain.
Depending on the severity and cause of the gynecomastia, a male breast reduction may be addressed by liposuction alone, or may require actual excision of the glandular tissues through a small incision at the base of the areola ("nipple").