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DR ALBIN HAS BEEN PERFORMING THIS TYPE OF SURGERY FOR OVER 20 YEARS    Gynecomastia is the medical term for enlarged male breasts (either one breast or both) and while it still is not commonly discussed, it affects an estimated 40 to 60% of men. There is no known cause in the vast majority of cases, though the condition usually becomes apparent at puberty and never goes away. There are a few medical problems and drugs (such as anabolic steroids) which have been linked to this condition.   When gynecomastia exists in teenage boys or young men, it often causes embarrassment because of teasing by peers. Males will ‘cover’ themselves or slouch to hide the condition, resulting in poor or a permanently hunched posture. For this reason alone, surgery to correct the condition should be considered. With age the condition gets worse because more fat is deposited in the breast. Some men try to hide the condition by lifting weights which makes the condition more obvious because now there is a larger underlying muscle which makes the overlying excess tissue even more obvious.   Corrective surgery is relatively straightforward and safe; it consists of removing fatty tissue with liposuction and/or glandular tissue which is cut out. Ultrasonic liposuction has made the surgery even more effective because more tissue can be removed safely and smoothly. Very occasionally, there is excess skin, which can be removed by excision. The incisions are small, placed at the edge of the areola and skin almost always shrinks up well. A compression binder is worn for four weeks after surgery to decrease swelling, minimize bruising and help the skin shrink and assure the smoothest possible contour.   To get the best possible result from this type of surgery, you should be sure to interview your surgeon carefully and choose a plastic surgeon who has a lot of experience with this type of surgery, has results that you like and with whom you communicate well.