Is The Surgery For Gynecomastia The Only Solution?
More than half of all males worldwide are affected by gynecomastia. It is a common problem in the breasts. It is mentally traumatic even if it is not a "severe" ailment per se. Very few males choose to receive therapy. But surgery for gynecomastia is an option for those who want to get rid of their "man boobs". It is a permanent and safe solution for men having embarrassingly large breasts.
However, an increasingly large population fear going under the knife. So, the biggest question for them is, “Can gynecomastia be cured without surgery?” This blog aims to answer the question for you.
How can I get rid of gynecomastia without surgery?
It is the worry about the side effects of gynecomastia surgery that prevents many men from undergoing treatment for the same. If you are one of them and are looking for gynecomastia treatment naturally, you are at the right place. Here, we will discuss if gynecomastia can be cured naturally.
1. Spontaneous flattening of breasts:
In newborns and teenagers, breast growth is common in males. It is a natural occurrence.
In infants, the female hormone of the mother reaches the baby’s blood through the umbilical cord. It stays even after the baby’s delivery. As a result, breast buds develop. This condition resolves on its own within 6 months. In some babies, they may stay longer.
In boys going through puberty, hormonal level fluctuation is normal. This is more so in boys in the age group of 13-14 years. At this age, one may notice breasts larger than normal in males. This, too, resolves naturally within 2 years. One should visit a doctor if the condition lasts for more than 2 years.
2. Exercise:
In obese men, fat deposits in the chest area along with other parts of the body. This gives the appearance of voluptuous breasts in males. This is not “true gynecomastia.”
With regular exercise, one can shed this fat.
We recommend 30 minutes of exercise daily for 5 days a week. This should include cardio as well.
3. Proper diet:
Testosterone is the dominant male hormone. It prevents the action of oestrogen that produces feminine features. Hence, even though oestrogen is present in males, its level is lower than the male hormone.
The production of the male hormone decreases with age. As a result, oestrogen dominates. This influences breast tissues to grow above 30 years of age.
Therefore, consume foods that boost testosterone production. These include egg yolk, fatty fish, blueberries, cherries, pomegranates, avocados, leafy and dark green vegetables, etc.
Limit the intake of foods that contain plant or synthetic oestrogens. These include soy products, dairy products, processed foods, deep-fried foods, etc.
4. Healthy lifestyle:
Incorporating a healthy lifestyle is the most effective natural gynecomastia treatment. If you are wondering why and how then you may not know this. Both malnutrition and obesity are linked with male breast development.
Males suffering from malnutrition are unable to produce optimum amounts of the male hormone. Naturally, oestrogen becomes the dominant sex hormone.
On the other hand, excess fatty tissue releases the enzyme aromatase. This enzyme converts testosterone (the male hormone) into oestradiol (a component of the female hormone). Although both hormones are present in both males and females, the level of testosterone is higher in males. Due to excess aromatase enzyme, it converts most of the male hormone into oestradiol. As a result, oestradiol dominates the action of testosterone.
The excess female hormone in the blood triggers breast growth.
You can prevent this hormonal imbalance. Make the following healthy choices in your daily life:
- Get adequate sleep (7-8 hours daily)
- Consume a balanced diet that nourishes your body (it should contain all essential nutrients)
- Regular physical activity
- Quit alcohol and smoking
5. Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT):
Males suffering from low testosterone levels may be prescribed this therapy. This mode of treatment supplies artificial testosterone hormone to the body in the form of injections, pills, or gel patches. This synthetic hormone makes up for the deficit of the natural male hormone.
6. Avoid using steroids:
Fitness enthusiasts should not use steroids upon the advice of gym trainers. Steroids are notorious for causing hormone imbalance. If you have noticed a recent growth in your breasts, stop them immediately. In the initial stages, this may reverse the breast size.
To know more about the impact of steroids, read the post “Gynecomastia in bodybuilders.”
7. Switch medications:
Some medications are proven to enlarge breasts in males. Read the blog “what causes gynecomastia” to know the responsible medicines.
Speak with your doctor. They will be able to judge best if any medicine on their prescription list is causing the trouble. They will give you an alternative to the medicine which is causing breast growth.
8. Treat the underlying cause:
Males may develop breasts as a symptom of an underlying disease. The above blog will also give you the names of a few such diseases.
Visit your healthcare provider for a thorough evaluation. Identify and treat the root cause.
Is there a pill for gynecomastia?
This is a debatable topic. Practitioners may prescribe cancer-treating drugs for gynecomastia treatment naturally. They do give good results in the early stages of the condition. But they are not FDA-approved.
Can gynecomastia be cured without surgery?
Now coming back to our first question. Well, unfortunately, the answer is no. Regarding the points mentioned above, they act in two cases:
- In the initial stages of the condition (When the swelling only shows as a lump. The lump can be felt below the nipple)
- In pseudo-gynecomastia (When the breast appears large due to excess fat)
For true gynecomastia, there is no option other than surgery for gynecomastia. This is because the breast tissue develops in this case. No exercise or diet can reduce this.
Moreover, if the condition persists for over a year, the breast tissue becomes firm. Once this happens, there is no treatment for gynecomastia without surgery. Withdrawal of the causes may soften the breast tissue. But it won’t eliminate it.
How can I get rid of gynecomastia permanently?
Surgery for gynecomastia can help you get rid of the condition permanently. And if you are worried about the side effects of the surgery, we can assure you that it is safe. The FDA approves this surgery. It can help boost your confidence.
Contact Dr V. S. Rathore for the desired outcome of your surgery for gynecomastia. He is the leading breast surgeon in Kolkata. He has the expertise needed to carry out a safe surgery thanks to his close to two decades of experience. His only aim is to help his patients to regain social confidence. To ensure this, he uses only the latest equipment for all procedures.
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