Gynecomastia is a scientific term that comes from the Greek words for ‘women-like breasts’. Gynecomastia itself is not physically harmful, but in some cases may be an indicator of other more dangerous underlying conditions. Gynecomastia is the enlargement of the male breast resulting in what is sometimes called ‘man boobs’.

These breast formation in males is most commonly caused by hormonal changes that can occur at puberty or as part of the aging process. Breast development due to being overweight is referred to as pseudogynecomastia or false gynecomastia. Breast tissue growth in guys can appear on one or both sides of the chest, and the breast area can feel tender. Though certain drugs and medical problems have been linked with male breast overdevelopment, there is no known cause in the vast majority of cases.

Hormone changes that occur with normal aging can cause gynecomastia, especially in men who are overweight. One of the several glands that produce hormones can malfunction for reasons other than chromosomes. If the balance between the hormones estrogen and testosterone is changed, breast development can occur.

For men who feel self-conscious about their appearance, breast-reduction surgery can help. Surgery can remove fat and or glandular tissue from the breasts, and in extreme cases removes excess skin, resulting in a chest that is flatter and firmer. Surgery may be discouraged for obese or overweight men who have not first attempted to correct the problem with exercise or weight loss.

When male breast-reduction surgery is performed by a qualified plastic surgeon, complications are infrequent and usually minor. Once a patient is deemed a good candidate for male breast reduction, their physician should give them an explanation of the procedure as well as an overview of what type of results they should expect from the surgery. However, surgery is usually expensive and should only be taken into account when other attempts have failed. Surgery may be an option for certain patients when other treatment methods fail or there is breast tissue that remains and has hardened, since other treatments may have no effect in this case short of removal of the tissue.

Men over the age of 50 tend to produce fewer androgens such as testosterone or gain fat tissue that converts androgen into estrogen.

Men with gynecomastia have an overall risk for malignant tumours similar to that in the reference population. Also a non-significantly increased risk for esophageal cancer was noted while no cases of male breast cancer was seen. For men with a gynecomastia diagnosis a after 50 years of age the risk of testicular cancer is negligible whilst a gynecomastia diagnosis before and after 50 years of age may both indicate an increased the risk for skin cancer. Risks of surgical correction for Gynecomastia BleedingInfection and poor healingAllergic reaction to anesthesiaSores around the nipple that can be treated by antibiotic creamScars from surgery which fade away as time goes by.

There are several natural treatments known for gynecomastia. If male breasts are tender as a result of gynecomastia, cold compresses may be applied. Many American insurance companies deny coverage for surgery for gynecomastia treatment on the grounds that it is a cosmetic procedure.

Obese or overweight men who have not first attempted to correct the condition with exercise and weight loss are discouraged as the condition may be able to be treated without surgery in these individuals. All you have to do to treat obesity related Gynecomastia is to simply go on a diet and get plenty of specific exercise.

Are you suffering from gynecomastia? Gynecomastia or commonly know as “man breast” came from a Greek phrase meaning “women-like breast”. Many males, young and old will at one time or other be afflicted with this male breast syndrome.

Yes, gynecomastia is actually quite common and it is thought that 30-50 percent of males would have experienced this condition. It may affect only one breast or both. Men with gynecomastia can feel a button like growth under the nipple area.

Fortunately, most male will lose their man breast naturally. Why?

This is because young boys, until they hit puberty will have a small amount of breast tissue under the nipple or the areola area. Upon puberty male, hormones produced by the testicles prevent further growth of breast tissue.

Unfortunately for some men, the man breast condition remains and continues into adulthood or if it occurs when the male is already an adult, it is also due to hormone inbalances.

Other causes of gynecomastia can be due to over production of estrogens (female hormones) through liver diseases and obesity which can alter the testosterone and estrogen balance in the body. Similarly, men who smoke marijuana or consume alcohol regularly may also develop gynecomastia.

Because of these breast tissues in men, men too can develop breast cancer. This came as a surprise isn’t it? That is why when men developed breast cancers, it will usually be at the advanced stage because men simply don’t check themselves for breast cancer as this is a predominantly female disease.

Some commonly prescribed medicines can sometimes cause gynecomastia, too. Some of these medications are for treatment of ulcers, heartburn, heart diseases and high blood pressure. If you have gynecomastia and are taking these medications, do check with your doctors whether your conditions are caused by the medications and if so, see if there are any alternative medicines that will not cause gynecomastia.

There are surgical procedures that can correct gynecomastia satisfactorily. However, if you do not wish to be put under the knife of a surgeon, you can take simple steps to reduce men’s breast or even cure gynecomastia completely.

•Take natural health supplement – Supplements which can help boost your body’s natural production of male hormones (testosterone) such as Tribulus. Avoid all forms of steroids unless medically prescribed by your doctor.

•Chest (Pectoral) muscle exercises – Exercise your chest muscles so that your strong muscles will pull up and tone your chest so it won’t look droopy or saggy like female breasts. The target exercise area is the upper chest which can be exercised with various types incline presses.

•Weight loss program – Go lose some weight. With less body fat, your male breast will look less obvious. Further more, if your weight loss program includes weight lifting, it will cause your body to produce more testosterone and in turn suppresses the creation of estrogen.

•Avoid alcohol and marijuana – Both substances are known to increase production of estrogens. They are bad for your health anyway.

After a while, when you are getting results from the steps mentioned above, you may happily realize that your male breast condition may have improve so much that you may not need surgery to correct your gynecomastia after all.

A large population of men are affected by puffy nipples. Though there are many causes of puffy nipples, gynecomastia surgery is the only surefire treatment plan available to these affected men. Treating puffy nipples with gynecomastia surgery has been around for quite a while, and over the years has reached a stage where surgeons are able to quickly and inexpensively perform the surgery with a very high rate of success, and little down time.

The cost of gynecomastia, puffy nipple surgery, varies greatly depending on the skill of a surgeon, location of the surgeon, and the surgeon’s specialty. Surgeons who specialize only in men’s plastic surgery will tend to have lower rates than more generalized plastic surgeons. Newer more inexperienced surgeons will also tend to charge lower prices for gynecomastia surgery. When shopping around for the surgery is important not to use cost as the sole consideration for picking a surgeon. Instead the patient will want to look at the surgeons history, and evaluate their previous patients. To help you with the decision most if not all surgeons will have a portfolio of patients that they have treated in the past including before and after pictures, as well as pictures taken several months after the surgery showing the entire process from start to finish. It is important to evaluate pictures taken several months after the surgery to see how well the patients healed, check for any noticeable scars, and evaluate the surgeons general sculpting of the chest region.

In performing gynecomastia surgery on puffy nipples the surgeon must not only remove the tissues causing the puffing nipples, but also sculpt the entire chest region to maintain the proper aesthetic. Should the surgeon improperly sculpt the chest, or not sculpt it at all, the patient will be left with a sunken in appearance around their breasts. This is highly unattractive, and more off-putting than the puffy nipples were in the first place. Surgeons performing gynecomastia surgery on the puffy nipples will use liposuction to sculpt the chest region providing sufficient and natural looking contours. This is why an experienced surgeon is necessary. Gynecomastia surgery is much more an art form than a straight step-by-step textbook surgery. Every man’s chest is different and will require on-the-fly decisions about how to sculpt it appropriately. Choosing an inexperienced surgeon, though cheap, will often times lead to sub par results.

There are two types of tissues that can be removed with gynecomastia surgery to correct the puffy nipples. The man will either have increased fat deposits behind his nipples, or enlarged glandular tissue. To remove fat deposits the surgeon will simply use liposuction and suck out the excess fat. If the problem stems from glandular tissue the surgeon will go in with a scalpel in and remove the gland. There are also cases where the puffy nipples are caused by a combination of the two tissues intermingling. In this case the surgeon will use a combination of the two techniques to remove the offending tissue and reduce puffiness in the nipple. No matter which surgical procedure takes place the surgeon will go in thru a small incision located around the areola. The advantage of this is that any small scar will be nearly invisible because it is located around the natural ring surrounding the nipple.

Recovery time for gynecomastia, puffy nipple surgery, is quite quick although may require some specialized equipment. The surgery itself takes only an hour or two, and recovery time can be as quick as two days. Once the patient finishes with their bed rest they will then have to wear a compression vest to protect to the surgical area. This vest is nearly invisible under clothes and resembles a body shaper. The vest is designed to help reduce swelling of the breast and damage to the stitches.

Gynecomastia surgery for puffy nipples is a great option for a man suffering this embarrassing problem. A qualified surgeon is essential for the successful completion of this operation, so do your homework shop around and ask opinions from other men who have gone through the same procedure.

Gynecomastia is a condition that is prevalent among 20 to 30% of adult males and 30 to 60% of adolescent males. Gynecomastia in Greek is defined by “female breasts” and usually means that the enlarged male breast will often consist of female glandular tissue.  According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeon, approximately 18,000 male breast reduction procedures were performed last year by board certified plastic surgeons. Of those, the breakdown of men affected by Gynecomastia condition is, as follows:

Adolescents: An adolescent severe gynecomastia condition may psychologically affect the adolescent and a surgical intervention may be found to be appropriate to avoid difficulty with the daily living activities. In order to make such an important decision about a surgery for children and adolescents, many aspects should be taken into consideration.

Body Builders: Gynecomastia in body builders is usually found due to the use of anabolic steroids and is manifested as sub areola lumps .When it is not treated it may grow to be a very prominent and unnatural looking mass. This esthetic defect may be an impediment to the professional body builder by interfering with wining in body building competitions.

Obese or Bariatric: Obese male patients that have lost weight as a result of diet or bariatric surgery will commonly have residual enlarged and saggy breasts that may be embarrassing and uncomfortable. Gynecomastia surgery can relieve these concerns.

Fitness has become increasingly more important to the adult population nowadays and increasing. Individuals are more conscious about looking and feeling fit. Surgical correction of large male breasts relieves concerns for many males today.

Gynecomastia is a known medical condition which causes men to have abnormal breast enlargement and growth – sometimes in just one breast and sometimes in both. The actual condition tends to affect young boys going through puberty, and elderly men – because hormones tend to be out of balance in both stages of life.

When true Gynecomastia is happening to boys or men, there is about one and a half inches of area just under the nipple that tends to swell. It’s often tender in this area as well, and sometimes even milk can be secreted.

The problem often goes away unaided on it’s own, within 1-3 years. Sometimes however, Gynecomastia is caused due to the man using certain drugs which can cause the problem. It’s a rare side effect of the drugs, but men can usually get rid of Gynecomastia by simply changing the types of drugs they’re taking, or using alternatives.

Recreational drugs such as marijuana and alcohol are known to cause Gynecomastia in rare cases for instance, so you can get rid of the condition sometimes by simply stopping use of these.

If you’re taking certain prescription drugs however, such as anything which produces extra estrogen, steroids, certain Cardiovascular drugs, and ulcer treatments such as Tagamet, Prilosec, and Zantac – speak to your doctor or medical care provider about using alternatives. You can usually get rid of Gynecomastia problems by simply stopping the use of those medications, or changing to different kinds.

Now Gynecomastia is also referred to as “man boobs”, and more often than not that particular problem is actually caused by weight gain and obesity. This is not true Gynecomastia though, instead this condition is known as Pseudogynecomastia ie False Gynecomastia.

When a man has what appears to be “boobs” on his chest from simple weight gain, it’s fairly quick and easy to get rid of if you’re willing to put in a bit of work. You can’t simply get rid of Gynecomastia or Pseudogynecomastia just by building up your chest muscles though. In fact, you can make the problem more evident by building up the muscles.

Since the fat and glands which are making your boobs appear large sit between the muscles and your skin, building up the underlying muscles will simply push the “boobs” out further.

When the Gynecomastia is actually the false variety caused by extra fat on the body, the best way to get rid of it is to start a fat burning routine. You will burn additional fat by toning up your muscles, but you’ll need to choose a diet and exercise plan which is specifically designed to help burn excess fat from your body, then get started with it. With a bit of dedication and commitment, you’ll find yourself easily able to get rid of the Gynecomastia within just three to six weeks.

It’s not easy for most of us to simply burn the extra fat from our bodies though, so if this is something you’ve tried unsuccessfully -or you want a quicker way to solve the problem – there is one other option for getting rid of either Pseudo or Standard Gynecomastia and that is Gynecomastia surgery.

A simple cosmetic surgery procedure from a qualified plastic surgeon can remove the extra fat and tissue on your chest area, effectively removing the “boobs” that are so embarrassing and bothersome.

Gynaecomastia is the development of large mammary glands in males in the breast tissue which can look in similarity to female breasts. This is more commonly called ‘Man Boobs’. This can cause a large amount of distress for young men in their teens but is not restricted to them only, as men from all ages are susceptible. It should be noted that there are different types of causes for increased breast tissue and that a proper diagnosis to see if you actually suffer from Gynaecomastia is very important.

The first thing you should do is go and see your local Doctor to have a check up, they are going to be best able to tell you if you suffer from Gynaecomastia. Many of the times this is a false alarm and what the patient actually suffers from is extra fat tissue.

If you are overweight than this can give the impression of ‘Man Boobs’ but this may be excess body fat which is very commonly stored around the waist, hips, as well as the pectoral area. The best thing to do then is to lose some weight through eating nutritiously and a proper exercising program. Some light weight training and cardiovascular exercises targeting these areas will be beneficial.

If you are slim or feel that you are not overweight now then perhaps in your past you were overweight and have since lost the weight. This can cause loose skin around the body including the pectoral areas. You should see a personal trainer or your Doctor for further advice on what can be done such as targeted training or surgery to remove the loose skin. Bodybuilders who have not trained properly may have over developed lower pectoral muscles and then neglected to effectively workout the inner or upper pectoral muscles which can cause a ‘drooping’ effect on the chest. This can be ‘fixed’ by placing more emphasis on working the upper pectoral muscles. For example, less flat bench and more inclined bench presses.

If you are not overweight and have always been slim/ slender and feel that you do in fact suffer from Gynaecomastia then you must believe me when I say that you are not alone. Thousands and thousands of men are afflicted by this once thought of embarrassing condition. Not knowing what T’shirt to wear and always sticking to wearing sweaters. Not wearing tighter fitting shirts as you feel this just makes it looks worse. Worried about going shirtless on holidays on the beach.
The problem is that the condition is just as much Psychological as it is Physical.

Notoriously hard to get rid of, plumps of fat gathered in the male breast area – popularly referred to as “man boobs” – are becoming more and more common in the male population of the western world.

These unsightly collections of fat can give men the appearance of having breasts which, for many people and prospective partners, is off-putting to say the least. What’s more is that they’re hard to hide. T-shirts don’t cover them, and jumpers often show off two perky mounds, which can cause embarrassment and shame.

Man boobs don’t occur to every man, but they can often be a sign of too little exercise and a poor diet. In this instance, working to get rid of the problem shouldn’t be too hard: start working out more often and try to eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, slow-release carbs and healthy proteins, which you can get from pulses like beans and chickpeas.

However, some men can find themselves with man boobs when they do exercise and eat well. This is an unfortunate case where the problem could be a result of genetics or a condition called gynaecomastia causing poor luck when it comes for the body to store fat – and we all need to store fat. These cases are the ones where getting rid of man boobs can prove exceptionally hard. The fat collects in a place of the body that is difficult to work out, and spot training – where you exercise just one part of your body – is an unreliable method anyway. Like cellulite for many women, man boobs are barely possible to shift.

That’s when you might want to consider other options for treating the problem. Since the late 2000s, it is becoming more and more socially acceptable for men to undergo cosmetic surgery operations that make them look and feel better. Treatment for “man boobs” is one that has soared in popularity. Thousands of men from those with sedentary lifestyles to those constantly on the move who have been stricken with this problem are turning to surgery which can remove the fat stored and have you looking in peak form within weeks. It is an incredibly speedy, effective and safe solution to a long-standing problem that many men find incredibly damaging to their confidence.

As you can see, there are ways of losing man boobs – from a change in diet to male breast reduction – all of which can help see you shed the man boobs once and for all.

Men often talk of their love for women’s boobs, but it seems that most men are not too keen on their own. In fact, according to figures released by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), more men than ever are turning to cosmetic surgery in a bid to banish their man boobs, also known as ‘moobs’.

Moobs are caused by a condition called gynaecomastia, which develops for a number of reasons. Nigel Mercer, BAAPS president and a consultant plastic surgeon, explains: “We have been seeing more men with gynaecomastia in recent years. There are a variety of reasons for male breasts getting bigger, these include a rise in obesity, a rise in drinking and potentially, more female hormones in the environment.” Indeed, ‘gender pollution’ has often been cited as a result for this condition, which is caused by too many female hormones working their way into the water system, mainly due to the contraceptive pill.

Moobs can be distressing and hard to shift through diet and exercise, so male breast reduction surgery can often be the only solution. Celebrity sufferers include Simon Cowell, Jack Nicholson and Michael Douglas, and they are regularly mocked in the press when they are unfortunate enough to be photographed shirtless on holiday.

The BAAPS statistics showed that there was a 27 per cent increase in the number of men having breast reduction surgery last year, along with an overall increase in male plastic surgery of 18 per cent. The reason for this rise is attributed to a general acceptance of cosmetic surgery, making procedures less taboo. Dalia Nield, a plastic surgeon with the London Clinic, said: “In the past men probably put up with having strange shaped bodies, or developing breasts. Now men know there is a solution. They regard operations as a way of giving them a better quality of life.”

Source:

The Times

The Observer

Research by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) shows that more men are turning to liposuction in a bid to banish their beer bellies and ‘moobs’.

The research shows that 18 per cent more men had the fat removal surgery in 2007, making it the second most popular male plastic surgery procedure after nose reshaping. Other procedures such as facelifts and breast surgery also gained popularity this year. The figures suggested a 61 per cent increase in the number of men undertaking tummy tucks, and demonstrated that 27 per cent more men were turning to breast surgery to have their ‘moobs’ – a slang term for man boobs – reduced.

Nigel Mercer of BAAPS believes an increasing number of men are suffering from obesity and gynaecomastia, the medical term for male breast growth. He said: “We have been seeing more men with gynaecomastia in recent years. There are a variety of reasons for male breasts getting bigger, these include a rise in obesity, a rise in drinking and potentially, more female hormones in the environment.”

The actual number of men opting for liposuction procedures rose from 494 in 2006 to 582 in 2007. Doctors attribute this significant increase to society’s emphasis on maintaining bodily perfection and a youthful appearance. Dalia Nield, a consultant plastic surgeon at the London Clinic, said: “In the past men probably put up with having strange shaped bodies, or developing breasts. Now men know there is a solution. They regard operations as a way of giving them a better quality of life. It is rare for men to come to me because they want to look like one of the Chippendales.”

The increase in liposuction could also be attributed to the development of new, less invasive procedures such as Smartlipo.

Although men are undertaking more plastic surgery procedures than ever, 91 per cent of all procedures are still performed on women.

Sources:

Daily Telegraph

Sunday Times

Men often talk of their love for women’s boobs, but it seems that most men are not too keen on their own. In fact, according to figures released by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), more men than ever are turning to cosmetic surgery in a bid to banish their man boobs, also known as ‘moobs’.

Moobs are caused by a condition called gynaecomastia, which develops for a number of reasons. Nigel Mercer, BAAPS president and a consultant plastic surgeon, explains: “We have been seeing more men with gynaecomastia in recent years. There are a variety of reasons for male breasts getting bigger, these include a rise in obesity, a rise in drinking and potentially, more female hormones in the environment.” Indeed, ‘gender pollution’ has often been cited as a result for this condition, which is caused by too many female hormones working their way into the water system, mainly due to the contraceptive pill.

Moobs can be distressing and hard to shift through diet and exercise, so male breast reduction surgery can often be the only solution. Celebrity sufferers include Simon Cowell, Jack Nicholson and Michael Douglas, and they are regularly mocked in the press when they are unfortunate enough to be photographed shirtless on holiday.

The BAAPS statistics showed that there was a 27 per cent increase in the number of men having breast reduction surgery last year, along with an overall increase in male plastic surgery of 18 per cent. The reason for this rise is attributed to a general acceptance of cosmetic surgery, making procedures less taboo. Dalia Nield, a plastic surgeon with the London Clinic, said: “In the past men probably put up with having strange shaped bodies, or developing breasts. Now men know there is a solution. They regard operations as a way of giving them a better quality of life.”