Gynaecomastia Treatment for Children in London.
Honest, expert advice from a consultant paediatric plastic surgeon at Evelina London Children’s Hospital.
- NHS Consultant at Evelina London
- From birth to 18
- On the GMC Specialist Register, FRCS (Plast)
- Consultations in English and Spanish
Gynaecomastia means enlarged breast tissue, and it can be found in young people during puberty. In some cases it settles on its own. Miss Jana Torres-Grau, a consultant paediatric plastic surgeon at Evelina London Children’s Hospital, assesses each boy carefully and only suggests surgery when it is truly needed.
Your son is seen by Miss Jana Torres-Grau, a consultant plastic surgeon at Evelina London Children’s Hospital.
She has trained across the breadth of plastic surgery, including a specialist craniofacial fellowship, and she treats gynaecomastia as part of her work with children and young people.
This matters. Miss Torres-Grau treats it as a medical condition in a young person, with the care and patience that needs. She sees families in English and Spanish too.
Some young people’s gynaecomastia settles on its own
Some young people do not need surgery
Some parents assume that enlarged breast tissue in a young person means surgery. In some cases, it does not.
Gynaecomastia is the medical word for enlarged or swollen breast tissue. It is very common, and a large number of boys notice some degree of it during puberty.
Why it happens during puberty
It happens because of the natural shift in hormones as a boy grows, when the balance between testosterone and oestrogen changes for a while.
Sometimes it can be due to underlying medical reasons, and this can be explored. There are various endocrine pathological causes for gynaecomastia.
Why waiting is often the safest first step
The good news is that it can sometimes settle by itself. As hormones stabilise, the tissue often goes away on its own within a couple of years, which is also what the NHS says about gynaecomastia.
For this reason, surgery is not usually the first step, and it is rarely recommended before puberty has finished.
The emotional side is still worth taking seriously
We know it can still be hard while it lasts. Some boys feel self-conscious, avoid swimming or the changing room, or stop enjoying sport.
Those feelings are real and worth taking seriously, even when the gynaecomastia itself is likely to settle.
Why a proper assessment comes first.
Even though some cases settle, it is still worth getting gynaecomastia checked properly. An assessment does two things: it confirms what is going on, and it rules out anything that needs attention.
Puberty is the usual cause, but not the only one. Carrying extra weight can add fatty tissue to the chest. Some medicines can play a part. Now and then, there is an underlying cause worth looking into. A proper check takes all of this into account.
She will only recommend surgery when it is genuinely the right step.
If your son is finding it hard, she will talk through what can help in the meantime, and what the options are if it does not settle in time.
When surgery might be the right step
For a small number of boys, surgery is the right answer.
This is usually older people, where the gynaecomastia has clearly not settled over time and is causing real distress. However, sometimes younger children will also be candidates. Especially if it only affects one breast, for example.
In that case, the surgery removes the extra breast tissue and, where needed, some fat. It is done through a small cut around the edge of the areola, the darker skin around the nipple, so the scar is well hidden. Younger patients have it under general anaesthetic, which means your son is asleep and feels nothing.
As with any operation, it helps to have realistic expectations. The aim is a flatter, more natural chest, and Miss Torres-Grau will explain clearly what surgery can and cannot achieve for your son before any decision is made.
- Considered
- Surgery is usually considered when gynaecomastia has not settled over time.
- Targeted
- The operation removes extra breast tissue and, where needed, some fat.
- Explained
- Your son’s options and likely outcome are discussed before any decision is made.
The right place for a young child
-
Where your son is seen matters
Where your son is seen matters as much as who sees him. Miss Torres-Grau works at Evelina London Children’s Hospital, a setting built around children and young people.
-
Private and dignified care
For a young person, that means care that is private and dignified, from staff who are used to looking after this age group.
-
Children’s anaesthetic and hospital team
If surgery is ever needed, your son has a general anaesthetic given by anaesthetists who work with children every day, with a full children’s team and intensive care close by.
The hospital is regulated by the Care Quality Commission, which inspects healthcare in England.
-
Comfort and respect at every step
A child deserves to feel comfortable and respected at every step.
You can read more about the hospital where your son would be seen. Visit Evelina London Children’s Hospital.
Why Families Choose Miss Torres-Grau
- 13+
- Years across plastic surgery
- GMC
- Specialist Register
Miss Jana Torres-Grau
Consultant Paediatric Plastic Surgeon
A children’s specialist
She treats gynaecomastia as a medical condition in a young person, with more than thirteen years across the breadth of plastic surgery.
Honest about whether surgery is needed
She will tell you honestly if your son does not need an operation, and often he will not.
Care in a children’s hospital
Your son is seen at Evelina London with the dignity and safety that a young person deserves.
English and Spanish
Consultations are offered in both languages, so families feel at ease from the start.
What treatment might cost
Some boys never need surgery at all, because watching and waiting is the right plan. So the first cost most families meet is simply the consultation, which is £250.
If surgery does turn out to be the right step, the cost depends on what is involved, such as whether tissue, fat, or both need treating, and the hospital fees for your son’s care. You will be given a clear, written quote after the assessment, confirmed in writing before anything goes ahead.
Clear answers before you decide
Open any question to read more. At consultation, Miss Torres-Grau will explain the safest and most appropriate option for your son.
Is it just fat, and will losing weight fix it?
Not always. Some chest fullness is fat, which can improve with weight loss, but true gynaecomastia involves firm breast tissue that diet and exercise cannot shift. The assessment tells you which one your son has, so you know what will actually help.
Can gynaecomastia come back after surgery?
It is uncommon for it to return once the tissue has been removed. It can come back if there is an ongoing cause. Miss Torres-Grau will go through this with you so you know what to look out for.
Is there anything that helps while we wait?
Often the most helpful things are reassurance and time, since most cases settle on their own. Keeping to a healthy weight can reduce chest fullness. If your son is really struggling, that is worth raising at the consultation, because support matters as much as the tissue itself.
Does it mean something is wrong with my son’s hormones?
Usually not. The hormone changes of puberty are the normal cause, and they settle by themselves. Now and then there is another reason worth checking, which is one of the things the assessment looks at.
Will my son need more than one appointment?
Sometimes. If the plan is to watch and wait, a follow-up lets Miss Torres-Grau check that things are settling as expected. If surgery is the right step, there are appointments before and after to plan it and check healing.
Is the surgery painful?
Your son will feel nothing during the operation, as it is done under general anaesthetic. He will also have local anaesthetic, so will wake up with no pain. Afterwards, the chest can feel sore or tight for a few days, which settles with simple painkillers. Most boys are back to normal activities within a couple of weeks, with sport left a little longer.
Book a gynaecomastia treatment consultation
Fill in the form and the team will be in touch, usually the same day. There is no obligation, and I will always give you an honest view of whether gynaecomastia treatment is the right choice for your child.
- We aim to reply the same day
- A GP referral is not needed, though helpful if you have one
- Consultations in English and Spanish
- Honest advice on whether ear correction surgery is right for your child, and the best age to consider it
Send us a message
All fields marked * are required. Your details are kept private and never shared.
A clear answer, first.
Booking an assessment does not commit your son to anything. Often it gives a family the reassurance they were looking for, because the answer is that it will settle on its own. And if your son does need more, you will be in the right hands, in a hospital built for young people.
No obligation. We are happy to answer anything you are unsure about.
