Alternatives to Gynecomastia Surgery

Are there ways to treat moobs without surgery?

As a recognized “go-to” source of information about enlarged male breasts, we field this question often from the media and from patients. Gynecomastia-the medical term for moobs-shows up in men young and old, trim and overweight, wealthy and not-so-wealthy. We understand that not everyone is a candidate for the sure-fire cure: male breast reduction surgery.

So, are there ways to treat man boobs without surgery? The answer is…well…yes and no.

First, the bad news. There’s no exercise/diet program, over the counter solution or natural remedy for moobs. Do not waste your money on these options; they simply don’t work.

The Programs: There are a number of “programs” available that promise to help you get rid of moobs. Many rely chiefly on a regimen of diet and exercise, particularly weight training.

If you’re overweight, dropping the extra pounds is a great idea. But chances are close to zero that your man boobs will disappear along with the weight for two reasons. First, men tend to accumulate fat around the chest and torso before other places are affected, and those deposits often linger when weight is lost. Not only that, extra fat tends to stimulate estrogen, which can prompt breast tissue growth. Once actual breast gland is present, no amount of dieting will banish it.

One irony about weight training is that the movements involved-and eventual improvement in chest muscle tone-can make excess breast tissue appear even more prominent. Do pursue a toned, healthy body-by all means! But don’t expect unwanted breast tissue to vanish as a result.

Over the Counter Remedies: There’s one particular product that’s marketed very heavily on the Internet as a remedy for moobs. Available in pill and cream form, it’s said to reduce the fatty component of breasts. The lure of products like this can be very compelling, but don’t be fooled. There’s no way a pill or cream can blast fat, from the breasts or anywhere else. If there were, you would be hearing about it in medical journals and from reputable media sources. It would be big news! Instead, all the information you’ll find will either be from the manufacturer or via questionable testimonials and reviews.

Natural Solutions: While doing some research online recently, we ran across a list of herbs that are supposedly helpful in getting rid of moobs. The writer included herbs and other plant material such as turmeric, mustard weed, red clover and grape seed oil. We are believers in using herbs where they can be effective, such as arnica montana to assist in limiting bruising after surgery. But we trust we don’t need to convince you that consuming mustard weed-and any other plant or herb that might be said to banish moobs-will not work.

If you don’t want to have surgery-or can’t-one thing you can do is invest in a good compression garment. A shirt/vest that fits comfortably and snugly can help with your shape and confidence. Another measure you can consider is counseling. Many men determine to accept themselves the way they are. As they work toward this goal and discover that other people don’t really care about their man boobs at all, many learn to let go of their embarrassment and pursue improved self-esteem. After all, no one is 100% delighted with their body!

What we often tell others about moobs is that male breast reduction surgery is the only sure-fire “cure” for gynecomastia. But it is not the only way to handle it.