The Guy’s Guide to Gynecomastia: Myths and Facts

Gynecomastia is an embarrassing condition to have and one that is often misunderstood. As common as it is to have gynecomastia, many people still don’t understand all of its causes and implications. Dr. Widenhouse and his team want to take the time to clear up the muddy waters and let you know exactly what the deal is with gynecomastia.

MYTH: You Only Get Man Boobs if You’re Overweight

Unfortunately, gynecomastia can affect any man at any time. One of the most common causes of gynecomastia has nothing to do with weight and everything to do with hormone fluctuations. Often, boys going through puberty and older men going through andropause experience gynecomastia the most because they experience a major influx or decrease in hormones. Other common causes of gynecomastia include steroid use, use of certain prescription medication, overuse of marijuana, and excessive consumption of alcohol.

MYTH: Gynecomastia Always Goes Away if You Exercise Enough

As much as we all wish this was true, it’s not. Gynecomastia isn’t always caused by just excess fat in the breasts. Often, gynecomastia is caused by an excess of breast tissue and enlarged breast glands in the chest as well. When targeting the chest with special exercises, you may be able to tone the muscles in the chest and burn that excess fat, but you won’t be able to reduce the appearance of that breast tissue and those glands. That’s where gynecomastia surgery steps in. Gynecomastia surgery performed by a highly qualified plastic surgeon can permanently remove your excess breast tissue, unwanted fatty deposits and enlarged breast glands for a perfectly flat, chiseled chest.

MYTH: Male Breast Reduction Leaves Noticeable Scars

When undergoing any surgical procedure that requires incisions to be made, there will always be the possibility of scarring. However, surgical techniques and technology have come a long way. With a highly qualified and experienced plastic surgeon, like Dr. Widenhouse, you can guarantee your flat chest without gaining any unsightly scars. He strategically places incisions underneath the arms and around the areolas to decrease the appearance of scarring once you’ve healed. You can also you topical scar treatments and scar repair patches following your surgery to further reduce the appearance of scarring following your procedure.

MYTH: Gynecomastia Surgery is Really Expensive

This couldn’t be further from the truth. With the resources made available by Dr. Widenhouse, your gynecomastia surgery is more affordable now than ever before. Not only are the prices at Port City Plastic Surgery competitive, but we also keep your costs as low as possible with the option of financing. Financing your surgery through Alphaeon™, CareCredit® or United Medical Credit allows you to break up your total bill into smaller, more manageable monthly payments that may better suit your lifestyle and budget. Also, don’t forget to check in on our current specials! We offer monthly discounts on your favorite products and procedures with no strings attached, so you can save a little extra money.

Still have some unanswered questions about gynecomastia? Call our office today to schedule your one-on-one consultation with Dr. Widenhouse today. He’ll sit down with you, listen to your concerns, and develop a personalized treatment plan that best suits your budget, lifestyle and aesthetic goals.