How to Get Rid of Enlarged Breasts in Male Patients

While most men like to discuss the size of women’s breasts, there is likely not a single man that wants to hear the word “moobs” used in relation to his body. “Moobs” is a word commonly used to describe men who are out of shape and a bit overweight. Fat will gather in the male chest area resulting in the appearance of having breasts. The medical term for the condition of “man boobs” is gynecomastia and it is more common than most people realize. The breasts in men can swell and become abnormally large and is most common in older men, boys hitting puberty and newborn males.

Characteristics and Causes of Gynecomastia

Gynecomastia is characterized by:

• Excess localized fat in the breast area - This is the major characteristic of gynecomastia. The localization of fat in the breast region is a distinct attribute of individuals suffering from the condition. The localized fat causes the area to swell which gives it the shape of a woman's breast.
• Development of glandular tissue - Glandular tissues are a mixture of endocrine (ductless, hormones secreted into the blood) and exocrine (have ducts, hormones are secreted onto surfaces) glands. The development of these tissues is also one of the characteristics of gynecomastia. Patients suffering from gynecomastia have an abnormal development of the glandular tissues. Gynecomastia can impact one or both breasts and the appearance of the breasts is sometimes uneven.

There are a variety of reasons that gynecomastia happens in males and they include:

• Some men suffer from a hormone imbalance between testosterone and estrogen.  Since estrogen makes breast tissue grow, males that produce too much estrogen can find they also have enlarged breasts. Gynecomastia is caused by extra breast tissue and not an accumulation of fat.
• One hereditary disorder that can cause the condition is Klinefelter's Syndrome.  In this case, men have an extra X chromosome in addition to their usual X and Y chromosomes.
• When extra fat is deposited on the chest, the breasts become larger. The excessive fat also stimulates the body's production of estrogen which, in turn, increases the growth of breast tissue.
• Many bodybuilders use anabolic steroids to the point that they develop larger breasts. To make matters worse, the steroids can chemically change into estrogen inside the body.
• The abuse of alcohol can lead to liver disease.  In turn, this can lead to a change in the way the body is able to metabolize hormones.  The result of that change can be enlarged breasts.

Gynecomastia can also occur as the result of some medications including:

• Anti-androgens used to treat prostate enlargement and prostate cancer including flutamide, finasteride (Proscar, Propecia) and spironolactone (Aldactone)
• Gynecomastia can develop in HIV-positive men who are receiving a treatment regimen called highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)
• Anti-anxiety medications such as diazepam (Valium).
• Tricyclic antidepressants
• Antibiotics
• Ulcer medications such as cimetidine (Tagamet HB)
• Cancer treatment (chemotherapy)
• Heart medications such as digoxin (Lanoxin) and calcium channel blockers

Gynecomastia can Impair Daily Life

Gynecomastia can occur at any age and the psychological damage it causes to an individual can be very severe. Gynecomastia can damage the self-confidence of those with the condition. It can also cause emotional issues such as a lessening of the desire to take part in certain sports and not wanting to be intimate with others. The self-image of a person has been known to suffer thanks to embarrassment over their physical appearance due to gynecomastia. 

Cures for Gynecomastia

One of the main non-surgical methods of dealing with the condition is maintaining a proper diet. Since gynecomastia can be caused by extra fat deposited on the chest, a healthy and well-balanced diet can help remove the excess fat.  In turn, the extra fat on the chest will disappear which shrinks the enlarged breasts.

The enlarged breasts can also be reduced through exercise. The exercise program should target the pectoral muscles of the body. Exercises such as push-ups and incline presses focus on the chest area.

If natural remedies such as diet and exercise don’t reduce the enlarged breasts, common surgical options are liposuction to remove breast fat and a mastectomy to remove breast gland tissue.

Which Solution is best for Patients?

Unfortunately, there is not one simple solution that helps everyone suffering from this condition. The first, and best, step in reducing the appearance of large breasts in male patients is scheduling a consultation appointment with a board-certified doctor to determine if natural remedies like diet and exercise will work before making the decision to undergo surgery. It is also important for the patient to share their feelings about their current appearance and why they want to make a change in their look. The surgeon will be able to set realistic expectations about the type of results the patient can expect to see after the treatment is completed. Whatever type of procedure is picked by the doctor, it will be a good first step towards regaining physical health as well as a healthy self-image.