Gynecomastia (man boobs) is a condition that plagues many men, including those who eat right and exercise regularly. Is male breast enlargement an issue of weight gain that can be effectively eliminated with exercise and a healthy lifestyle? This blog explores the impact of diet and exercise on gynecomastia and discusses why surgery may still be the best treatment option for most men.
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Table of Contents
- Understanding the Causes of Gynecomastia
- Exercises to Help Gynecomastia
- The Most Effective Gynecomastia Treatment
- How Gynecomastia Surgery Can Help Bodybuilders
- Will I Be Able to Exercise Normally After Undergoing Gynecomastia Surgery?
Understanding the Causes of Gynecomastia
True gynecomastia, or “gyno,” is typically a result of a hormonal imbalance. Men who develop this condition usually have too much estrogen or not enough testosterone. Gynecomastia can also be a side effect of some medications or health conditions. Genetics may also play a role.
True gynecomastia does not respond to diet and exercise. Instead, surgery is usually required to remove the excess breast tissue and to reshape the chest.
Some men may experience fat accumulation in the chest that gives the appearance of man boobs, similar to gynecomastia. However, this condition is known as pseudogynecomastia, which requires different types of treatment. Diet and exercise may help to reduce pseudogynecomastia, since it is directly related to weight gain. However, many men with pseudogynecomastia will require surgery for complete removal of the tissue and for chest contouring.
Exercises to Help Gynecomastia
If your enlarged breasts are caused by weight gain, exercises may help reduce their appearance. Focus on exercises that target the chest muscles, such as push-ups, pec flys, and chest presses. A healthy, low-calorie diet may also help reduce your breast size.
Liposuction is a procedure that gently suctions away excess fat without disturbing the surrounding tissue. If diet and exercise do not sufficiently reduce your chest size, liposuction can eliminate the stubborn fat left behind. However, if your enlarged breasts are due to gland tissue rather than fat, liposuction alone will not give you the result and chest look that you want.
The Most Effective Gynecomastia Treatment
For men diagnosed with true gynecomastia, the issue is excess gland or glandular tissue, which does not respond to diet, exercise, or even liposuction. The only effective method for treating true gynecomastia is with surgery, which offers dramatic, permanent results and gives men the flatter, more masculine chest contour they desire.
Gynecomastia surgery (technically called subcutaneous mastectomy) removes excess gland tissue to create a smoother chest profile. The procedure also corrects puffy nipples, reduces the areola size, and repositions the nipple/areola to a natural location on the chest. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis, and patients are typically back to most activities within two to three days. More severe cases of gynecomastia may require skin removal, which is called male breast reduction.
How Gynecomastia Surgery Can Help Bodybuilders
Bodybuilders can develop gynecomastia from taking anabolic steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs or supplements. These drugs can convert to estrogen in the male body and reduce the body’s natural production of testosterone. The result is a hormonal imbalance that can lead to breast gland growth. The enlarged breasts do not return to normal, even if you stop taking the drugs, and surgical removal is the only solution.
Fortunately, gynecomastia surgery corrects this issue for bodybuilders, permanently removing excess gland tissue to improve the chest contour. The incision around the areola will be nearly invisible once it heals, so competitive bodybuilders can return to competition without worry after surgery.
Will I Be Able to Exercise Normally After Undergoing Gynecomastia Surgery?
Many men, particularly bodybuilders, worry that gynecomastia surgery will prohibit them from returning to their regular workout regimens. Fortunately, those concerns are unfounded, particularly if you undergo surgery with Dr. Adrian Lo. Dr. Lo has developed a multi-step plan to minimize discomfort and promote a faster recovery after gynecomastia surgery, allowing men to get back to chest workouts as early as two weeks after their procedure.
Explore Gynecomastia Treatment in Philadelphia, PA
Gynecomastia surgery profoundly impacts the lives of many men, refining their chest contour and restoring their confidence in their appearance. Dr. Lo is a board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in gynecomastia treatments. To learn more about your gynecomastia treatment options in Philadelphia, call our office at (215) 829-6900 or complete our online contact form to schedule your personal consultation with Dr. Lo.