What’s on this page

About Gynaecomastia Treatment
Gynaecomastia Before & Afters
What to Expect
Gynaecomastia FAQs
Gynaecomastia Clinics
Things to Consider
Gynaecomastia Patient Stories
Why the Private Clinic
Meet the Surgeons
Related Blogs & News

Medically reviewed by Lorcan Sheppard BSc MBBS FRCA, Chief Medical Officer for The Private Clinic of Harley Street, London.
Last Reviewed February 25th 2025

Male Chest Reduction / Gynaecomastia

Breast fat can be very hard to shift, even if a weight loss plan has worked for the rest of the body, and the resulting ‘man boobs’ can cause embarrassment and can undermine confidence. The good news is there are safe, effective ways to tackle this problem, depending on your needs and the results you’re looking to achieve.

Over 35% of our liposuction patients are male, with the chest being one of the most common problem areas.

Male Chest Reduction / Gynaecomastia surgery consultations can take place in our clinics in London Harley Street, Birmingham, and Northampton

What is gynaecomastia?

Gynaecomastia or Gynecomastia is more commonly known as man boobs – affects around 30% of adult men in the UK and is caused when excess fat develops in a man’s breast area which can result in an enlarged breast appearing and/or puffy nipples or pointed nipples.

Many young individuals develop gynecomastia using drugs for bodybuilding in the gym and some require male breast reduction after weight loss. The Private Clinic offers a range of male breast reduction treatments including gynecomastia surgery to help reduce excess fat on the male chest. These include both non-invasive Lipo – VASER Liposuction, MicroLipo and Surgical Liposuction.

Each patient has to be evaluated individually to see what’s best for him; his medical history has to be evaluated and an ultrasound scan should be performed in certain cases to rule out any lumps or malignancies which, although extremely rare, can still occur even in male breast tissue.

Massive weight loss patients may require a more complex procedure which is similar to a female breast reduction with skin incisions and scars.

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Male Chest Reduction/ Gynaecomastia Removal treatment at a glance

Procedure Time
1 – 2 hours

Hospital Stay
Day case / Overnight

Back to work
1 week

Washing
1 week after dressing removal

Anaesthetic Type
Local with sedation or general

Up & Mobile
4-5 days depend of the wound

Driving
24-48 hours

Exercise
6 weeks

Travel
6 weeks

Sexual Activity
3-4 weeks

Full Recovery Time
6 weeks

Sleeping
Avoid sleeping on stomach for 6 weeks

Support Garments
Chest compression garment for 6 weeks

Final Results
6 months

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Male Chest Reduction Before and After Photos

View our before and after photos to see how we can reduce the appearance of gynecomastia.

Vaser Liposuction for Gynecomastia / Male Chest Reduction

Area: Chest

Time of after photo: 4 weeks

Vaser Liposuction / Male Chest Reduction

Time of after photo: 6 weeks

Vaser Liposuction / Male Chest Reduction

Time of after photo: 6 weeks

What to expect

The Private Clinic has been treating patients for over 40 years with thousands of people placing their trust in us each year. We pride ourselves on being able to offer a personalised service. We have a team of friendly nurses and expert surgeons who understand the importance of this decision and will support you throughout your journey with us.

Consultation
Pre-Operation
The Procedure
Aftercare

Consultation

The Consultation

We have a team of expert plastic surgeons and liposuction doctors who are very experienced in reducing the appearance of gynecomastia. We offer a range of different male chest reduction techniques to suit everyone including vaser liposuction, micro liposuction, and surgical liposuction.

You will start your journey with a consultation where our surgeons or doctors will:

Discuss the techniques available
Your medical history
Your expectations from surgery
Examine and measure you and note any irregularities
Recommend the treatment most suited to your needs and to achieve your aims
Detail the risks and complications of male chest reduction surgery
Go through the aftercare and recovery process

You will then be allocated a dedicated patient coordinator who will be your point of contact should you wish to go ahead with the procedure.

Pre-Operation

Pre-Operative Appointment

In the interests of patient safety, all our patients are assessed against our patient selection criteria. Following your male chest reduction consultation your medical history will be reviewed and the pre-operative nurse will advise on pre-operative tests.

Most male chest reduction pre-operative assessments include a blood test, MRSA swabs, urine test and a blood pressure test.
They will also advise you of any precautions you need to take in the days or weeks leading up to your male chest reduction procedure and advise on any medication that you should stop taking before your procedure.

The Procedure

Male Chest Reduction Surgery

You will arrive at the hospital usually an hour ahead of your scheduled surgery time. The time taken for surgery and the type of anaesthesia used will vary from patient to patient depending on the technique used.

On arrival:

The nursing team will record your blood pressure and prep you for surgery.
You will meet with the surgeon or liposuction doctor who will go through the procedure again and answer any questions.
Pre-operative photos will be taken.
Your chest will be marked up ready for surgery.

The Procedure:
There are several techniques that the surgeon or liposuction doctor could use, but generally the operation involves:
Administering either general anaesthetic or local anaesthetic with sedation.

The surgeon makes an incision around the nipple
Liposuction is used to suck out excess fatty tissue.
In the occurrence of excess glandular tissue, this will need to be surgically removed and may require a larger incision.
Excess skin from the chest is removed.
The nipple and areola may be relocated to be more in proportion to the chest.
The incisions are closed with absorbable stitches and tape is put in place to protect them.
A compression garment may be applied to the area.
You will then be taken back to your room where you may be required to stay overnight for observation.
Once the surgeon and nursing team are happy that you are safe you return home, you will be discharged and allowed to leave accompanied by a family member or friend.

Aftercare

After your male chest reduction procedure

When your surgeon discharges you from the hospital you will be given a post-operative instruction sheet explaining what to do and what to avoid doing following your operation. You will also be given details on how to contact us should you feel worried or concerned at any stage of your recovery, we are available 24 hours, 7 days a week.

We advise taking at least a week off work to recover from your gynecomastia correction procedure. Exercise can gradually be built up from 2-3 weeks post-surgery, but upper body workouts should be avoided for 6 weeks. You must also continue to wear your compression support garment as advised by your surgeon.

A follow-up appointment with a clinic nurse will be made to check your wounds which usually takes place approximately 4-14 days following your surgical or liposuction procedure. You will then be asked to return to see your surgeon around 6 weeks following your procedure at this stage you should be back to your everyday activities, but your surgeon will be able to advise you on anything that you are unsure of or have questions about.

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The Private Clinic have collaborated with Chrysalis Finance to offer 0% finance for our patients.*

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*Acceptance is subject to status. Terms and conditions apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is male chest reduction?

A male chest reduction is a cosmetic surgery procedure that aims to reduce excess fat and glandular tissue to leave patients with a firmer, flatter and more masculine contour to the chest. Male breast reduction procedures are most suited to men who are suffering with gynecomastia or enlarged male breasts and treatments include liposuction or surgical removal. To find out more about male chest reduction procedures click here to book a consultation.

What is gynecomastia?

Gynecomastia, more commonly known as man boobs is a common condition that causes the chest tissue to swell and appear larger than normal. The excess tissue can feel rubbery or firm and often extends outwardly from the centre of the nipples affecting either one or both breasts.
Gynecomastia must first be distinguished from other similar conditions such as pseudogynecomastia which can all give the same appearance of an enlarged chest of a male. Pseudogynecomastia can greatly be reduced with weight loss whereas true gynecomastia can only be helped with a surgical procedure.
To find out more about gynecomastia click here to book a consultation with one of our surgeons who will be able to assess your suitability for surgery.

What are man boobs?

Man Boobs is essentially a slang name or common terminology for an enlarged male chest. The term man boobs seems to have first originated in the early 2000’s quickly gaining popularity and being used in media across the Western world.

It is when excess fat or glandular tissue forms around the male chest which gives the appearance of breasts.

Gynecomastia, or man boobs is a condition that causes an excess of glandular tissue in the male chest which can give the appearance of an enlarged chest. This appearance can often be similar to that of a women’s breast which is how the name ‘man boobs’ was created.

At The Private Clinic, we can treat Man boobs, the best place to start is to book a consultation with one of our surgeons.

What is Pseudogynecomastia?

Pseudogynecomastia also known as lipomastia is when the appearance of male breasts is because of fatty deposits and not glandular breast tissue. This is most commonly seen in overweight men. Usually a routine of regular exercise and healthy eating will eventually reduce the appearance of Pseudogynecomastia but in some cases the fat can be stubborn and cosmetic surgery such as vaser liposuction may be suitable to help improve the appearance of the chest.
If you are struggling to tell the difference between pseudogynecomastia and true gynecomastia then please contact us to book a male chest reduction appointment with one of our experienced surgeons.

What causes gynecomastia?

Gynecomastia is caused by a hormonal imbalance between the hormones testosterone and oestrogen. When a male lacks testosterone the increase in Oestrogen causes breast tissue to grow. Gynecomastia is common in newborn baby boys, puberty and older age due to the change in hormones. In rare cases gynecomastia can be caused as a side effect from medication, illegal drugs, excessive alcohol consumption, Klinefelter’s syndrome and health abnormalities such as kidney failure or liver disease.
It is best to book a consultation with our Plastic Surgeons to discuss your situation and what can be achieved.

View More FAQs

MALE CHEST REDUCTION is Available in these Clinics

Things to Consider

Our advice on what to consider when deciding to have a chest reduction (Gynaecomastia) procedure:

1. When choosing a clinic, you should always do your research, and only go to an established, reputable clinic.

The Private Clinic has been in the cosmetic surgery industry for over 40 years. We are here to answer all of your questions and give you peace of mind.

2. When choosing a surgeon, make sure you know who you’ll be seeing. Their expertise, qualifications and patient satisfaction rate are important factors to take into consideration.

At The Private Clinic, we only source the most experienced and specialised surgeons. Find out more about our plastic surgeons here.

3. Price should never be the deciding factor when choosing where to have your treatment. Safety should be your number one priority and feeling confident that they will look after you – not only before, but also after your procedure

4. When it sounds too good to be true, it often is. Always find out what your clinic’s reputation is.

Our excellent reputation for patient safety and satisfaction, honest advice and outstanding care means your journey with The Private Clinic will be an exciting experience to a newfound shape.

Male Chest REduction Patient Stories

Outstanding care, patient satisfaction and results mean everything to The Private Clinic Team

Vaser Liposuction Gynecomastia – Alex

Why Choose The Private Clinic

The Private Clinic has been treating patients for over 40 years with thousands of patients placing their trust in us each year.
Expert Plastic surgeons who are very knowledgeable in Gynaecomastia and male chest reduction surgery.
Dedicated care with your expert surgeon and nursing team, and a 24 hour help line.
We have state of the art hospital facilities.
Competitively priced for our expertise and experience.
0% Finance Available
As many post-operative care appointments with your surgeon, doctor and nursing team as required.
5 Star Trustpilot Rating.
Find out more about Gynaecomastia and Male Chest Reduction Surgery in our informative blogs.