Video
Dr Christian:
We’re getting loads and loads of comments on our Embarrassing Bodies site from guys worrying about man boobs. Loads of you are worrying about whether your chests, your breasts, even your nipples are normal, what’s acceptable to have and what really isn’t.
Well, first thing, is it normal to have lumps underneath your nipples? I would say this, if you’re a teenage boy going through puberty, then absolutely yes, very often you can get lumps underneath your nipples, a little bit of gynaecomastia due to hormonal changes that are going on in your bodies right now. You may even find your breasts get a little bit sore and your nipples get a little bit tender. That, I promise, will settle down with time. If you’re an adult guy, well, the most important thing I would say is to look out for changes; anything that wasn’t there a month ago, two months ago, you should really get checked out by your doctor.
You also want to know whether sticky-out nipples or even sticky-in nipples are normal. Again, I would say to you, look for changes. If you’ve always had protruding nipples, that’s absolutely fine, that’s how you are, enjoy ‘em. If they’ve started sticking out, that may mean that there’s something else going on and you should get it checked out. Again, if your nipples have started to come in and to invert, and that’s new, get your doctor to have a look.
A lot of you want to know how on earth you tell the difference between real man boobs, which are called gynaecomastia, and just fat man boobs, pseudogynaecomastia. Actually, it’s really easy. Fat man boobs just feel like fat, the same fat that you get anywhere else on your body. If you squeeze your tummy and if your boobs feel exactly the same, then chances are those are fat man boobs, pseudogynaecomastia. If, however, underneath the skin of the breast you can feel the hard glandular-like tissue, lumpy, then that probably is real glandular breast tissue, and that would be gynaecomastia.
And the real million dollar question here is ‘how do I get rid of my man boobs?’ You need to get yourself fit, you need to lose weight, you need to cut down on alcohol and you need to eat sensibly, and that is the most successful way of ensuring a fit healthy life and losing your man boobs. As a final last resort, if they really don’t seem to go, particularly real man boobs, real gynaecomastia with glandular tissue, surgery is a possible option, but you’ll need to go to your GP to organise that.
Doctor Responses: Man Boobs
Dr Christian answers your most frequently asked questions about man boobs such as: Is it normal to have lumps underneath your nipples? Are protrusive nipples normal? How can you tell the difference between real man boobs and fat man boobs?
With thanks to the Baker Street Medical Centre
Yes
NoComments and Questions
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im considering surgery who is the governing body that regulalte plastic surgeons
i hav man manboobs am 36 my nipples tick out and r puffy feel lumo behind them they saggy frm nipples below.as i bodybuiding the top chest is hard i think i suffer frm gyno went to gp refered me to surgeoon specailist he wouldnt do anything he saod dnt wrry went agin to see another 1 refered frm gy they didnt seem to care i am very depressed cnt tek my t shirt off in front of mates they tke th micky cn u help were cn get surgery dnr on the nhs?
Is there an increased risk of breast cancer in men with gynaecomastia?
heya,i recently had surgery on my breast areas,the doc said that the skin had also stretched as well as takin out some breast tissue that had formed,he said ther would of been some scaring.its nearly 4 weeks since it was done and it looks to me if he has left me badly scared it actually looks as if he didnt care what way it was left,i will take some photos if u want to see,i need some clarification,thanks male 40
hi ive been doin research on treatments for man boobs, i have man boobs and im 20, i got the hard lumb when i was 12 so im dealin with it for 8yrs, i work out im thin and i still have the lumbs and poinite nipples, generally your health insurer can cover ya and there is vest amount of ways off gettin surgery for it but alot of them can leave you with scars which can be worse, however i found a new way of gettin them removed, its called VASER liposection, seems to work and your not even knocked out for the proocedure!!
Hi my name is callum and i have MAN BOOBS! i feel that this is effecting my social life, i play rugby and i feel when i am running they bounce a fair bit.i have tryed losing weight and i do regular fitness and they will not go away. i want to know is there anything else i can possibly do? This is the last thing ive tryed Thanks Callum
I am 30 years old and have always had a larger chest. I have recently started losing weight and everything has shrunk except my chest. If i wanted to see a doctor, what kind of doctor should i go see?
hi Mike I am sorry but I have a question instead of answer to your questions. I want to know if you ever got a reply to your question. I have the same problem but do not know what kind of doctor to see. I don't have a GP in the area I currently live.
I have what I believe is man boobs, I dislike them as I've lost weight, and I'm now healthy, but they are still there, I've just started exercise but it's besides the point, you would of thought loosing weight they would have slowly but surely decreased in size which would seem to be "normal" they did at one point seem to be going flat, but they are pointy not droopy as most people seem to be, they are quite small and not much of a big deal in my life, it would just be easier without them to take off my top seems it's summer and I've lost about 1/5 stones. Any tips? Even surgery, I don't care.
im 14 years old and my boobs are sticked out as a mountain and i tryed 2 weeks of fitness to lose it but it still didnt work is it normal ? i just want it 2 flat down not 2 be sticking out.
I am a 13 year old male, and I have man boobs. This is very embarrasing as not just only that but I have one inverted nipple and one potruding. I cannot wear anything thin or light as my man boobs show and make me feel uncomfortable. I hate doing exercise because they "flap" and "wobble" and make me feel self conscious.I don't want surgery as I have a fear of stiches etc., what else can I do?
