Men love boobs, right? Well, not always. For about 30 to 40 percent of men who suffer from some form of gynecomastia, the boobs are unfortunately on their own breasts.

The fat deposits that accumulate in the pectoral area of ​​men have been jokingly referred to for years as “man boobs.” But for many men and teens, gynecomastia is anything but fun.

Many teenagers have suffered so much ridicule and emotional torment for their condition that they have turned to plastic surgery to correct it. This would explain the significant increase in male breast reduction surgeries each year.

The type of gynecomastia that most men experience is actually pseudogynecomastia, which means that the chest area has the appearance of breasts, but is actually made up of adipose tissue (normal fat). Most men simply develop these characteristics from being overweight and having some fat stored in their chests. Often men who dabbled in bodybuilding and then quit find pseudogynecomastic breasts where their pectoral muscles used to be when the muscle morphs and sags.

Some believe that it is not just overeating, but also what you eat, that determines whether or not you will develop pseudogynecomastia. For example, beer and soy products contain chemicals called phytoestrogens that behave similarly to the hormone estrogen produced in the body. This female hormone is responsible for storing fat in the chest, hips, belly, and thighs. Daily consumption of these products can position a man’s weight gain in places peculiar to his shape.

However, proper gynecomastia is a bit different. In this case, the male breast is partially or entirely composed of glandular breast tissue. Therefore, weight loss will not help and surgery may be the only option to remove them. Breast tissue often forms during the developmental years when hormones run wild. Because estrogen exists in both men and women, sometimes its presence in men results in breast formation. Teenage boys are generally advised to wait, because the condition may resolve on its own in a matter of a year or two as hormone levels balance out.

Other culprits may include certain medications that contain estrogen, steroids, or liver failure. A medical evaluation must be carried out on each patient before going to surgery.

For the unfortunate group that doesn’t grow, corrective plastic surgery is always an option. For men suffering from pseudogynecomastia, simple liposuction is applied to the chest. For men with true gynecomastia, labial suctioning is combined with removal of the breast tissue through an incision.

Recovery time is minimal. Bruising and pain are normal reactions to surgery. Patients are advised to remain in bed for the first approximately three days. You may very well be back on your feet and at work in just a few days, this time with a renewed sense of confidence.