Get Rid of Man Boobs

Men suffering from male breasts will try almost anything to get rid of them, some work, some do not. Over the counter remedies seem too good to be true, and they are. They may help burn fat, but they do nothing to reduce glandular breast tissue. The only thing that will be reduced is their bank account. Explore the forums on gynecomastia.org from men who have tried them. If pills, ointments or lotions worked, physicians would not be performing surgery. Under certain circumstances, a patient might be treated by an endocrinologist with an anti-estrogen like tamoxifen. Steps to take when you are ready to get rid of your man boobs

See a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Who Specializes in Gynecomastia

Many surgeons and board-certified plastic surgeons treat man boobs, however, it is a very complex condition and needs the attention of an expert. Your surgeon will know what to look for as the type and cause, and will explain all options to you. In some instances your surgeon may refer you to an endocrinologist if anything suspicious is noted and needs further evaluation. Endocrinology is the field of medicine that deals with hormones. If the patient is suffering from other hormonal disorders that could be causing moobs, a simple blood test can determine if it is metabolic or endocrine. Some tumors and cancers may cause overproduction of estrogen and need to be ruled out. Once the cause is addressed, surgery can be performed without fear of recurrence.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Food will not directly cause man boobs, but there are certain foods that can upset the balance of your hormones. Eating a well-balanced diet that boosts testosterone while avoiding foods that can increase estrogen can make a difference in reducing the appearance of moobs. Zinc and magnesium are 2 of several nutrients that produce testosterone. Some foods rich in these nutrients are: extra virgin olive oil, oysters, garlic, coconut, and coconut oil, pomegranate, cruciferous vegetables such as, broccoli, and cauliflower. You want to avoid sugar and grains as much as possible as they may lead to insulin spokes which will affect testosterone production. Also, you want to try to avoid meat, dairy, and eggs that have been given hormones for the purpose of increasing production. Soy is a plant form of estrogen that can affect testosterone levels. Junk food can increase your levels of insulin as they are high in sugar, processed flour, and trans-fat.

Compression Shirts and Vests

If surgical intervention is not an option for some men, either due to financial restrictions, scheduling time off work, or for whatever reason, there are steps men can take to camouflage their male breasts. There are many manufacturers of compression vest and shirts that include, tank tops, T-shirts with and without sleeves, V-necks, etc. They come in varying degrees of compression from very light to maximum compression. Many men have several different types of shirts depending on weather or occasion.

Be conscious of what patterns and colors you choose for your outer shirts. Small or medium patterns are best with little color contrast. Darker colors are best; white will make you look bigger. Minimize contrasting colors between your shirts and pants. Choose shirts that fit properly, too big or too small will accentuate your chest.

Visit the forums on www.gynecomastia.org and do a search for “compression shirts” under “General Talk” and you will find hundreds of opinions and recommendations of different brands from the men who wear them.

Prescription and Over the Counter Drugs to Combat Man Boobs

There are several prescriptions drugs that are for the purpose of treating women with breast cancer, their purpose is to block the conversion of testosterone to estrogen. These drugs have been used “off label” for the treatment of gynecomastia, “off label” means a physician can legally prescribe them but they are not approved for the treatment of gynecomastia. They are inconsistent and not proven to work, and they have several unwanted side effects such as: joint pain, loss of bone density, chest pain, shortness of breath, severe headaches, and possible sudden vision problems. They are popular with bodybuilders to counteract the effects of anabolic steroids, but should only be prescribed and followed by an endocrinologist.

In recent years the market has been flooded with over the counter pills, creams, and lotions to help men get rid of their man boobs. This has become a $200 to $300 million dollar business with little to no benefit in the reduction of true gynecomastia. Most claim to have fat burning properties with a lot of the same ingredients found in over the counter diet pills. They claim they contain herbs that will increase metabolism and burn fat. Some of the ingredients are: caffeine, chromium, green tea extract, and preservatives. Oddly, green tea is listed as a potential cause of gynecomastia. They all recommend including diet and exercise along with their product. Men who have pseudo-gynecomastia may lose fat in their chest by following a healthy diet along with exercise and these products may get credit for moob reduction that is caused only by fat, but will not reduce breast tissue. There are no pills or products that can modify your physical features.

Most of these over the counter “remedies” cost more than $60 a month with the ability to get a refund only from unopened products. Manufacturers do not seem to mind taking money from men who are desperate to find a cure for their moobs, even if there is no proof of their effectiveness. Before making such an investment check out the forums on gynecomastia.org, and read the comments from hundreds of men who share their experiences without censure. There are no miracle cures.