A man's breast becoming too large is a surprisingly common condition. It may be due to an abnormal amount of breast tissure or fat. Normally, though, it is a combination of the two. The problem is that it may give a womanly appearance, and so be highly embarrassing. While this condition has nothing to do with femail traits, it can still be troubling to the considerable number of men who are affected.

This build-up of excess tissue (called gynocomastia and meaning female brest) can occur simply as an uncomfortable fullness in the breast area. But it can also be so excessive that it begins to hang as in the true female breast. It may be due to hormonal imbalances--such as excessive estrogen in the body--but most likely it happens because there is an unusual amount of breast tissue not normally found in men.

Because there is no medical treatment, the deformity can be corrected in only one of two ways, liposuction or excision.

The direct excision procedure is carried out by making a small incision just under the nipple and removing the excess breast and fat tissue. Your incision will be small even if the amount of breast and fat tissue removed is extensive. Fortunately, the resulting scar is not likely to be very visible. Certainly, a large scar under the breast is never necessary. You may find the results of this surgery less than satisfactory, because your surgeon will need great skill in knowing exactly how much tissure to take out. If your surgeon fails to "feather out" the incision toward the edge of your breast, it will stop abruptly and leave an unsightly saucer-like depression that wil never be correctable. This method will usually result in your losing nipple sensation also.

Now that there is liposuction, excision is almost never used. It is far better to choose liposuction. A small incicion is made below your armpit or in the nipple and the liposuction is performed. Although your breast tissue is much more dense than fat--and therefore harder for the suction cannula to penetrate-- a special modification of the instrument makes it possible.

No matter which way you choose to have this corrected, you will be sore--but not in severe pain-- for a few days. You can resume normal activity almost immediately. Vigorous exercise should be discouraged for two weeks after your surgery. To reduce your swelling, you will wear a compression vest for at least a week, although some doctors recommend several weeks with the vest. Most of your swelling will be gone in two to three weeks, but small amounts may continue for a few mvonths.

Once corrected, your excess tissue is usually gone forever, since your fat cells cannot mutiply. Your minimal amount of remaining breast tissue could only enlarge again if a condition such as a tumor or liver disease caused an excess of estrogen in the body, in which case medical treatment could reverse the condition.