Ideas for Getting Rid of Puffy Nipples

Ok, we can understand—more or less. Your puffy nipples seem like a small problem, so there should be simple ways to get them under control, right?

Not so much, unfortunately. Whether they result from steroids or drugs triggering breast gland under the nipple/areola or just represent a mild case of gynecomastia, your puffy nipples can only be banished through gynecomastia surgery.

We treat dozens and dozens of patients with puffy nipples each year. We’ve heard all about “remedies” guys try that don’t work as we develop surgical plans that do work!

As you think over your situation and whether puffy nipple surgery makes sense for you, here are ideas you can reject right away.

Hemorrhoid medication: We’ve noticed a few guys post in the forums on gynecomastia.org about trying hemorrhoid cream to shrink their puffy nipples. These creams contain a chemical that temporarily narrows vessels that supply blood and fluid to the area, calming bothersome tissue. Manufacturers warn against using the products for anything other than hemorrhoids or for more than several days, and the men on gynecomastia.org generally indicate they don’t work anyway.

Botox: If you’ve read about the ever-increasing applications for Botox—such as migraine headaches and overactive sweat glands—you may wonder whether injections could work to reduce puffy nipples. The short answer is “no.” Botox works by temporarily paralyzing muscles that cause wrinkles or other unwanted actions, and this is not what’s happening with puffy nipples. In fact, Botox injections could even prevent your nipples from contracting when cold or stimulated.

We are enthusiastic about the development of neurotoxins for medical purposes, and we do use Botox regularly in our practice. But gynecomastia in any of its forms is never the target.

Dietary supplements: Certain online sources advise eating foods and trying supplements that boost testosterone. You can find articles that tout the benefits of consuming high protein foods, certain fruits, cruciferous vegetables and others. Ginger root, fenugreek and turmeric are also popular suggestions.

In our view, eating a healthy, balanced diet is a good idea for everyone. But thinking you can change hormone levels and influence man boobs with your diet will just cause frustration. We have never seen this strategy work, and if you should find foods or supplements that do impact your endocrine system and you consume enough of them, you’ll very possibly do more harm than good. The best thing you can do about your diet and general health is to consult your primary care doctor about the right plan for you.

Advice columns: While we’re talking about suggestions you can find online, we should issue a caution about putting too much faith in advice columns that discuss man boobs. Their suggestions very often range from ineffective to silly. “Lose weight!” they’ll tell you. This is a good idea, but your breasts generally shrink in proportion to the rest of your body, or even less. The extra fat generates estrogen, which triggers breast tissue growth that doesn’t fade as you drop the pounds. You’ll be healthier but still have moobs.

“Exercise!” Many sources including Men’s Health advises this. As so many of our patients have found, building chest muscles only serves to push excess fat and gland out further, making puffy nipples even more prominent.

“Get better sleep!” Yes, we’ve even seen that more and better sleep can help with enlarged breasts. Good sleep habits have many benefits—including a sharper brain, healthier heart and strong immune system—says WebMD. But how sleep patterns might affect man boobs is a mystery to us.

It may sound like bad news, but if you have enlarged nipples/areolas there’s not much you can do to change them without surgery. The good news is that the procedure that actually does get rid of them may very well be less invasive, cause less discomfort and pose an easier recovery than you think. Whether you’re a bodybuilder with puffy nipples or just a regular guy, whether you developed the condition as an adolescent or later in life, we can help.

One more caution: not every cosmetic surgeon has the experience you need for good results. As gynecomastia specialists for decades, we’ve developed quite a bit of expertise with puffy nipples. We invite you to read about our approach, see some before and after puffy nipples photos, then give us a call at 561-367-9101.

Image by Devon Breen from Pixabay