Many Americans struggle with their weight or obesity. This can create specific concerns for men if their chest is larger than they think it should be. Do they just have pockets of fat? Or are they suffering from gynecomastia? Knowing the difference can help you focus on how to handle improving your physique.
Two Things That Look the Same
Gynecomastia and normal chest fat can both look the same to the untrained human eye. If you’re not sure what gynecomastia is in layman’s terms, it’s sometimes referred to as “man boobs” because it looks like a male is developing or has actually developed breasts. It’s an overgrowth of a male’s breast tissue.
Distinguishing Chest Fat From Gynecomastia
Visual similarity isn’t the only overlap between the two conditions. They also share many factors that might result in them. Still, there can be ways of determining one from the other.
One potentially complicating factor, however, is that the condition of pseudogynecomastia can happen in between normal chest fat or full gynecomastia. Pseudogynecomastia is when there are fatty deposits in a male’s pectoral region due to substantial weight gain or obesity. This condition can make male breasts saggy in their appearance. Fat resulting from this condition is usually softer to touch and might feel identical to fat elsewhere in the chest region.
In regards to gynecomastia itself, the chest will appear firmer. In fact, there might be a hard lump either felt or palpated underneath the region of the nipple and areola. Such a lump is usually firmer than fat, and it’s often one of the telling signs signaling gynecomastia rather than psuedogynecomastia. These lumps can be painful or sensitive to touch.
Normal chest fat should dissipate with regular exercise and a healthy diet. Gynecomastia will not. Surgical procedures might be necessary when other medical treatment options have been exhausted and proven ineffective.
Getting Rid of Gynecomastia
The primary method of freeing yourself of chest fat starts with a healthy diet and routine exercise. Still, chest fat might linger. In such cases, liposuction or lipoplasty might be employed to contour the chest for a younger look.
In the case of gynecomastia, treatment starts with removing any potential source factors triggering the issue. This might include cessation of medications known to be a risk factor, abstaining from any anabolic steroids, and controlling the use of drugs and alcohol. Stabilizing hormones can prevent imbalances that might result in the condition.
Surgical procedures are another step that can be taken. Small incisions near the areola can be used to excise gynecomastia internally.
Do You Need Help With Gynecomastia?
Contact Kovanda Aesthetic Surgery in Minneapolis, MN to schedule a consultation with Dr. Kovanada if you’re worried about gynecomastia. A definitive diagnosis can put your mind at ease, and treatment options are available for those who need them.
