A big concern of men contemplating male breast reduction surgery is, “will the male breast return after being surgically removed?” Note the multiple questions on this site regarding this issue.
The answer is that it is very rare, but it can happen. When seeking a consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, you will be asked detailed questions by the surgeon to try to determine what the cause of your male breasts might be to prevent recurrence.
When boys go through puberty, 65% will have some breast development due to their fluctuating hormones. Within a few months and up to 2 years, all but about 5% will see their chests return to normal without any intervention. For the remaining 5%, surgery will be the only option.
When boys have severe psychological repercussions from the developed male breast, surgery may be warranted. If surgery is done before the end of puberty, there is a small risk of regrowth.
Weight gain is also a possible reason for recurrence of the male breast. During surgery, most of the fat cells will be removed, but some remain to sculpt the chest. If the patient should gain a lot of weight, the remaining fat cells may expand.
Other possible sources for regrowth of breast tissue may be:
• Marijuana and other recreational drugs
• Some prescription medications
• Anabolic steroids
• Hormone imbalance
• Decrease in testosterone
• Psychological stress
• Scar tissue build-up
In all cases, the chance of regrowth is so low that it should not be a factor in a man’s decision to make the life-changing decision of having a normal chest.