Man boobs or ‘moobs’ might sound like a joke or a made-up word even, but for many men, it is a real problem that’s far from being a laughing matter. This condition can also be an indication of underlying health problems. So why do men get them? Let’s explore some possible causes.
Obesity – Fat Is An Issue
Obesity as we know it, is the cause of many health problems, gynecomastia included. It lowers testosterone levels, causes havoc to your muscle-to-fat ratio and more estrogen hormones are produced resulting in the appearance of man boobs. So watch what you eat, when you eat and pen in some exercise time into your schedule. Seek help to combat obesity especially if it runs in the family.
Bad Diet – What You Eat And What You Don’t Eat
On the subject of food, a bad dietary habit is also a probable cause. Now the term bad dietary habit not only implies the kind of food you eat but equally important the ones that you don’t. What it means is – do not deprive your body of the essential nutrients it needs because when you do, your testosterone levels plummet resulting as already mentioned in man boobs.
Steroids – Let’s jack up the gains
In the pursuit to achieve that close to perfect physique, a man would at times do just about anything. Pumping iron and sweating it out in the gym is good but illegal steroids are not. The common uses of anabolic steroids are for bulking up and performance enhancement. While side effects such as roid rage seem to take center stage most of the time, other equally pressing side effects such as gynecomastia or man boobs should not be ignored. Note that this can occur with legal steroids as well so always remember that there are no shortcuts to success!
Natural Herbs And Oils – A Natural Disaster Waiting To Happen
With the increasing awareness of the importance of health, natural products are commonplace on the food shelves of supermarkets including the grooming section. While going au naturel when it comes to the latter is commendable – do read the ingredients label. When applied topically in large amounts, products such as lavender and tea tree oils can lead to the appearance of man boobs. These are commonly found in shampoos, lotions and soaps, and while the notion may seem far-fetched to the uninformed individual, it can happen. These and some other plant oils contain estrogen-like properties which dull the effects of the androgen hormones, resulting in gynecomastia.
Bad Habits – Alcohol And Cigarettes Are Not The Best Of Pals
Arguably two common bad habits among people are drinking and smoking. While it is fine to indulge in some alcoholic bevvies once in a while but binge and excessive drinking are not. Alcohol affects the liver’s ability to get rid of excess estrogen and when it can’t function effectively, it may also start converting androgens into estrogens resulting in man boobs. Smoking also causes hormone imbalance and like excessive drinking will eventually result in gynecomastia.
Because Your Dad & Grandpa Might Have Them
The cause of gynecomastia or man boobs may be due to to hormones. There are steps and precautions that you can take to help your body produce the right amount and balance like a healthy diet and lifestyle for example. It is important to take care of your body as after all, when you help it to stay well, it reciprocates by helping you to feel and look well, and avoid the dreaded man boobs.
You probably love breasts, as long as you’re not the one sporting them. More and more men are lining up to get rid of their man boobs or “moobs.”
When The Bench Press Isn’t Enough To Reduce The Moobs
If those hours of cardio and bench-presses don’t seem to be helping, perhaps you might have a medical issue. Meet clinical gynecomastia, the enemy of every guy’s dream chest. It can result from a hormonal imbalance or elevated levels of estrogen and lowered levels of testosterone. It’s usually not a serious problem and may go away on its own.
However, if you think you have man-boobs gynecomastia and it continues to persist, you should visit a doctor. If it’s not your chest that’s bothering, it must be your gut. The trouble with trying to lose weight is the whole process can be pretty stressful when it’s not working out – and stress actually sparks cravings for carbohydrate-rich snack foods.
Despite your best efforts, areas such as the hips, buttocks, and thighs are more resistant to weight loss, which is usually more obvious on the face and upper body. In addition, fat can be unevenly distributed causing certain areas to be more out of proportion than others.
Gynecomastia is frequent during three phases in the age distribution curve: the neonatal period, pubertal period and adulthood. Affecting nearly 70 percent of adolescent boys and 65 percent of middle-aged and older men, man-boobs gynecomastia is a common medical condition referring to the occurrence of enlarged glandular tissues. Adult men who are typically diagnosed with gynecomastia may experience swollen enlarged male breasts, chest tenderness, fibrous tissue beneath the nipples (in one or both breasts).
What are the causes?
Man-boobs gynecomastia often happens due to hormonal imbalance. Triggered by different factors, breast tissue can develop when a man’s testosterone level decrease and estrogen level increase. Age and massive weight loss are also commonly linked to gynecomastia.
Another cause is the use of medication, which results in 10 to 25 percent of such cases. This is commonly seen in bodybuilders, where anabolic steroids are commonly used to improve athletic performance and build muscles. This results in a chemical reaction where the anabolic steroids convert to estrogen-like (female-like) compounds. Using anabolic steroids may also reduce the average testosterone production, leading to hormonal imbalances that can stimulate the development of female-like breast tissue.
Continuous use will cause glandular tissue to develop, and unfortunately, once this tissue is formed, it is irreversible even if the steroids are stopped completely.
WILL EXERCISE CUT IT?
Unfortunately, it is not possible to get rid of gynecomastia just from working out. Most of the time, no amount of exercise or healthy eating can eradicate excess glandular tissue. In fact, many men have reported that as they lose the weight, the condition actually looks worse because the fatty tissue around the gland shrinks and the gland subsequently stands out more, making the flab more prominent than before.
IS THERE A SOLUTION?
The predominant way to treat man-boobs gynecomastia is through gynecomastia surgery. Depending on the clinical condition of the patient, the doctor will perform glandular tissue excision and liposuction to completely remove the enlarged glandular tissue and excess fat. The aim is to permanently remove the tissue and sculpt the chest area for a more defined physique.
Performed under local anesthesia in under two hours, patients can return home and resume normal activities within two to three days. Post-treatment, the area may feel sore but most patients are able to manage the discomfort level. A compression garment is advised to be used for the next four to six weeks, and patients are to avoid all forms of heavy lifting, gym works such as bench presses, push-ups and water activities that may hinder the recovery process.
If you have gynecomastia — the medical term for “man boobs” — you’re far from alone. In fact, an estimated 30% of men experience gynecomastia in their lifetime, according to a 2014 study.
Man-boobs gynecomastia is frequent during three phases in the age distribution curve: the neonatal period, pubertal period, and adulthood”, he shares, adding. The prevalence of asymptomatic gynecomastia in neonates is estimated to be between 60 and 90%. The second physiological peak of occurrence is at puberty between the ages of 10 and 16 years.
In fact, approximately 50–60% of adolescents have been estimated to have gynecomastia. Fortunately, most cases in the above 2 groups regress spontaneously, but then it seems to return, with the last peak in incidence of gynecomastia seen in men 50–85 years of age, with a reported prevalence of up to 70%.
But even though gynecomastia is common, many men still find it embarrassing — particularly during the summer months, when you’re more likely to hit the beach or poolside BBQ.
That may be why, per a new report from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, breast reduction surgeries are on the rise among men. According to the report, male breast reduction surgeries have increased by 30% over the past five years, more than any other plastic surgery procedure for men.
Why are men having more plastic surgery?
In general, cosmetic surgery among men is on the rise. According to the ASPS report, more than 1.3 million men went under the knife in 2017 — an overall 30% increase from the number of men who got work done in 2000.
Guys seem to be most interested in body contouring procedures: liposuction procedures have increased by 23%, and tummy tucks increased by 12%. And surprisingly, men between the ages of 20 and 29 account for 35% of male cosmetic surgeries, says Jeffrey Janis, MD, president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. “More men in their younger years are taking up a larger share of the total number of procedures,” Janis told MensHealth.com.
As MensHealth.com previously reported in an investigation on the rise of Brotox (a.k.a. botulinum toxin injection for men), the rising rates of plastic surgery among men could have something to do with our social media-obsessed culture, which puts equal pressure on men and women to look young and fit. It could also stem from the increasing lack of stigma surrounding plastic surgery in general, says Janis.
“As more men talk about it amongst themselves and with their significant others, it becomes less stigmatized,” says Janis. “When you see your colleagues, friends and family looking better, feeling better, and talking about their results, it can open the door to you envisioning how you can benefit from the procedure.”
What is gynecomastia?
While plastic surgery rates are increasing across the board among men, male breast reduction surgeries have had the biggest spike, increasing by 30% over the past five years. Janis says this could be due to an increase in diagnoses in recent years of gynecomastia.
Gynecomastia, or man breast reduction surgery is defined as benign proliferation of glandular tissue of the breast in males, resulting in a concentric enlargement of one or both breasts. The most common cause of gynecomastia is physiological with no specific identifiable factor. However, it can also be caused by hormone imbalance, drugs, and medical illness such as tumours, liver disorders and others.
In many cases, losing weight or taking prescription medication can help reduce the appearance of breasts. But surgery is one of the more permanent ways to treat the condition.
That’s why many guys are opting for the procedure, says Marwan Khalifeh, a D.C.-area cosmetic surgeon.
“They want to migrate toward what’s considered the ideal male figure, which does not include overdeveloped breasts,” Khalifeh told the Chicago Tribune earlier this year.
What is breast reduction surgery?
Also known as reduction mammoplasty, breast reduction surgery is an outpatient procedure that’s typically performed with local anesthesia. It involves a surgeon making an excision around the nipple and removing excess tissue and fat from the breasts.
Like any surgical procedure, breast reduction surgery doesn’t come without risks, such as bleeding, infection, or an adverse reaction to anesthesia; patients may also have reduced nipple sensitivity and scarring after the surgery.
But Janis says breast reduction surgery is among the more permanent ways to treat gynecomastia, as well as the most successful: according to a 2017 study in the Annals of Plastic Surgery, which followed a group of more than 300 men who had been surgically operated on for gynecomastia, 100% of patients in the study reported no recurrence of gynecomastia and had high levels of satisfaction post-surgery.
What to do if you’re considering plastic surgery
If you have man-boobs gynecomastia and you’re thinking about going under the knife for breast reduction surgery or any other type of procedure, make sure to do your research.
“The most important factor in plastic surgery – the one that determines your safety and outcome – is your choice of plastic surgeon,” says Janis. “Get a second and third opinion. Review before and after pictures. And find a plastic surgeon that listens well and communicates clearly.”
That’s why you can never be too careful in choosing your surgeon or procedure.
“Plastic surgery is real surgery. It’s important to do your homework,” says Janis.
You should also find out about the doctor’s experience in treating your condition, as well as treatment options offered that best suit your needs. And don’t forget about the after-care treatment available to ensure a good recovery.
Man boobs aka gynecomastia may seem like a joke to many. However, for the 3 in 10 men who suffer from this condition, the term man boobs hits too close to home. Truth is, gynecomastia isn’t merely an aesthetic issue that is a deterrent to that firm and a chiseled body that every man dreams of, but instead, maybe an indication of serious underlying health issues.
So, for a condition with such a serious undertone, gynecomastia may not be something to be joked about. Yet, little light has been shed on the facts behind gynecomastia, and it is high time we cleared the cloud of myths surrounding this condition. Just what are the causes behind gynecomastia?
How can we rid ourselves of this dreadful condition?
Is gynecomastia a condition that is curable?
The truth versus the myth. Today, we tell it all.
Gynecomastia Myth #1: Excess Fat Is The Culprit Behind Man Boobs
One common myth that surrounds gynecomastia is that only very overweight men are inflicted by this condition. It is true to a certain extent that excess fat can indeed make a man’s breasts more significant, however, fat alone isn’t the cause of the condition. Gynecomastia is more than just a result of developing fat in the chest region, but rather a development of breast tissue in the chest area.
Fact: Hormones Play A Significant Part
One of the main culprits behind gynecomastia is the imbalance of hormones. With testosterone levels in a man’s decreases and an increase in estrogen levels, a man is more likely to develop breast tissue. It is the increasing development of breast tissue that ultimately causes the condition of gynecomastia.
Gynecomastia Myth #2: Man Boobs Is Not Caused By External Factors
Many assume that gynecomastia is caused by genetics or an unhealthy diet. However, there are several external factors that many are unaware of, that can encourage the development of this aesthetic condition.
Fact: With the myriad of negative consequences that alcohol consumption brings about, alcohol is unsurprisingly connected with gynecomastia, and many may not be aware of this.
More than just alcohol, some medications also contribute to gynecomastia such as medications for enlarged prostate, antibiotics, antidepressants, and heart conditions. Also, men who have endocrine problems are likewise susceptible to the gynecomastia condition in men as it can result in the development of breast tissue.
Gynecomastia Myth #3: Steroids Can Help To Eliminate Gynecomastia
We all know that increased levels of estrogen in men are one of the leading causes of gynecomastia. So what better way to counter the growing female hormone than to pile on more male hormones to cancel out estrogen? With steroids containing high levels of testosterone, it only makes sense to reach out for steroids to combat this hormonal imbalance situation. All these are logical right? Wrong!
Fact: In fact, the misuse of steroids is one of the main triggers for male breast enlargement.
This is because, each time you stop taking steroids, your body experiences a fluctuation in your testosterone levels and ultimately contributes to a temporary increase in your estrogen levels. It is in such circumstances that ultimately results in the development of fat in the chest area. Thus, taking steroids has a reverse effect on breast reduction, and you may experience gynecomastia from steroids.
Gynecomastia Myth #4: Exercise Can Make The Breasts Go Away
Many assume that increasing the amount of exercise or performing certain types of exercises that focus on the toning of the chest area will help to resolve the gynecomastia condition. However, that just is not the case. As man boobs are the development of breast tissue and not just fat, there is no way to burn off the extra tissue through exercise. Even if the enlarged breasts were only made up of fats, exercise is still not the only means to resolve gynecomastia as performing a series of exercises and expecting to see a significant reduction in fat in one part of the body only is impossible.
Fact: Surgery is actually one of the best options when it comes to solving gynecomastia.
In situations where hormonal imbalance conditions cannot be resolved with medication, gynecomastia surgery is the best bet to remove the enlarged man breasts. A gynecomastia surgery tweaks according to the differing conditions. A man with limited breast tissue but a substantial amount of extra fat in the chest area is a patient who will most likely benefit from liposuction.
However, should the patient have more breast tissue than fat, liposuction is first performed to remove the fat, followed by the cutting away of the breast tissue, through an incision made near the armpit or nipple. For the most severe cases of gynecomastia, a combination of liposuction, removal of the breast tissue as well as a breast lift is done to remove any excess, loose skin, giving the chest a tighter and masculine appearance.
Gynecomastia Myth #5: Man Boobs Will Come Back Again
Many are afraid that the gynecomastia condition will come back to haunt them again after their surgery and are thus unwilling to fix the condition with surgery. However, that cannot be further from the truth.
Fact: In truth, once a gynecomastia surgery is performed, the enlarged breasts will be taken care of permanently.
A man boobs procedure ensures that this condition is fixed forever. Although there may be still slight chances of a recurrence in very few people, these conditions are anomalies as the breast tissue is removed during a gynecomastia surgery, thereby solving the root of the problem.
Gynecomastia Myth #6 – Gynecomastia Is A Condition That Is Difficult To Treat
Many think that gynecomastia requires a tricky procedure and thus do not view it as a condition that can be gotten rid of. Furthermore, there are also individuals who aren’t aware that there are procedures that can treat this condition. As such, many who suffer from gynecomastia live with the condition in silence and have their self-confidence plummet.
Fact: Truth is, gynecomastia is a condition that you truly don’t have to endure a lifetime.
Contrary to popular belief, gynecomastia is actually a very treatable condition, and it typically produces excellent results. Should lifestyle, diet, or medical changes not be able to resolve your condition, there is still an option on the table – gynecomastia surgery aka male breast reduction surgery. In fact, gynecomastia surgery is one of the most effective ways to successfully eradicate the male breast condition as excess breast tissues are removed during this procedure, instantly giving you the flat and taut appearance of the chest.
Gynecomastia surgery requires a doctor who is not only adept in this area but is also able to give you the best advice from years of experience. It is also essential to choose a doctor who shares your vision so as for you to achieve the chest that you have always wanted.
