What is Man Boobs Disease?

Today, let’s talk about something that might not get enough airtime but affects a lot of guys out there: gynecomastia. Yes, Gynecomastia – the clinical term for “man boobs” or “moobs.” You’re not the only one who is embarrassed by his chest area. You might be surprised at how often this condition occurs and that is why today we are going to explain what it is, why it happens and what can be done about it.

What Exactly Is Man Boobs?

First of all let’s go back to the basics. It is predominantly known as Gynecomastia – a condition in which the breast tissues of a man becomes enhanced. You may be asking yourself, “How does this happen?” Well it is often related to the balance between testosterone and estrogen hormone within the body. When the estrogen level becomes high or the testosterone level is low, a man can develop Gynecomastia that is breast tissue enlargement.

Some people may call it man boobs disease, but remember it is not a disease. This condition affects the male mammary glands at different times. Normally, it occurs during adolescence, though it can occur in adult men as well, precipitated conditions such as obesity, hormonal fluctuations, some drugs like steroids, or other diseases.

Why Do Guys Get Moobs?

Now that we understand what are these annoying moobs, Let’s take a look at some common culprits:

Puberty: During teenage years there are a lot of hormonal changes in the body. Boys of this age, often experience gynecomastia or the enlargement of the breast tissue, although it is not particularly large in most cases. Good news: It usually starts to disappear when hormones are regulated in many cases.

Weight Gain & Obesity: This seems to be the leading cause of Gynecomastia in adults. Fat cells release estrogen hormone, so excessive fat leads to an imbalance between testosterone and estrogen, leading to enlargement of breast glands. Also, with increased weight, there is a large deposition of fat in the chest area. The two conditions together, lead to large breast like chest in males.

Medications: Certain drugs may interfere with your hormones thereby causing your chest to develop some breast tissue. 

Health Conditions: Some of these health complications can also cause hormonal imbalances.

Aging: Testosterone is known to reduce steadily with age as the man grows older. This can lead to a relative increase of estrogen which in turn maybe be responsible for gynecomastia in older guys.

The Emotional Side of Gyno

Gynecomastia, though is not a health risk on its own, it turns out that for many men, living with gynecomastia can seriously affect their self-esteem. It is common to find many guys claiming to feel so embarrassed or shy especially when you have to wear shorts or go to the beach, gym etc. Gentleman’s tits are not just a myth; they influence self-esteem and mental well-being.

If you have ever shied away from removing your shirt in public or have felt the need to wear loose clothes especially if you had to cover your chest with them, then you are not the only one. It’s totally normal to feel frustrated, and self aware.

Diagnosis: How Do You Know?

If you have symptoms of gynecomastia, the first thing you need to do is visit a Plastic Surgeon. Your doctor will then perform a physical assessment, and they might also inquire about your past medical history and if you’re taking any medications now, as well as your family’s medical history. Hormonal changes may require blood tests for checking of hormone levels or for purposes of excluding other causes.

Treatment Options: What Can You Do?

How do you treat such condition as gynecomastia? Management may be conservative depending upon the severity of the disease and its causes.

Watchful Waiting: If you are teenager the doctor may recommend to just watch it without any intervention. A large number of men with gynecomastia find that the condition disappears as they age and hormones stabilize.

Lifestyle Changes: If added weight is implicated, then improvement in some form of lifestyle can be of great impact. Dieting and exercise regularly can prevent fat from depositing in the chest area. However, once the glands have increased in size, diet or exercise will have no effect on them.

Operation for Gynecomastia: Surgery can be done when gynecomastia continues and has adverse effects on the man’s emotional well-being. This can, for instance, be performed by a process called gynecomastia surgery in which extra tissue and fat are eliminated.

Liposuction: It is a technique to remove the fat from the chest and is suitable for those who have more fat than the glandular tissues.
Glandular Tissue Removal: For those patients who have large volume of breast tissue,the plastic surgeon will remove the enlarged glands.
Both procedures are often performed togetether, as out patient, which means that the patient can leave for home after the procedure. The recovery period is quick, and most guys can resume regular activity within 2-3 days, however, they must not perform heavy exercise for the time being.

What to Expect After Surgery

When you decide to opt for the operation for gynecomastia, you may probably want to know further information. After successful surgery, you will have some swelling and bruises, which are expected to disappear within a week. In regards to aftercare, Dr Ankit Gupta, will tell you what to do, like wearing a compression garment to aid with the healing process and reduce swelling. You will be required to take some pain medication, and antibiotics, and practice good hygiene and wound care to prevent any infection. 

You can go back to regular gymming in 2-3 months, knowing that your glands have been permanently removed, and they cannot recur again!