Help me out ! Is this gyno or just fat ?!

[Dustin]

I'm natural, 19 years old, 5'11, 184 lbs and I think I'm about 14 % Body fat maybe less / more. I've been to the docs but he won't refer me to a specialist because he thinks it's just fat and not actual breast tissue caused by estrogen build up from when I was undergoing puberty. What confuses me is I do have a hard gland underneath but however it doesn't hurt to touch or itch, sometime it's a little bit tingly but that's about it, and from what I've read if it is gyno then it is supposed to hurt when touched, which in my case it doesn't, could it just be that mine is mild ?









Those photos are current, here is a photo of me 35 lbs lighter at only 150 lbs before the gym, alot less body fat and muscle mass



So yeah what do you guys think ? Could it be gyno or just where my body is storing its fat ? It's been there since 13 so IF it is gyno it would be from estrogen build up during puberty, I just never really paid any attention to it until lately. It's just really frustrating as my friends all have alot more bodyfat than me but they do not have this issue however.

I'm cutting at the moment and it's been 3 weeks and I have lost 4 lbs so going good, I am aiming to be at about 7-8% and hoping that it will go when I'm that lean !

Cheers for your time.

[xelnaga13]

Base on the photos at the bottom of your thread and that you say you feel a hard mass, I would conclude you have VERY mild gyno. Your muscles gains are very impressive. Keep it up bro.

[Dr. Elliot Jacobs]

Gyne need not be tender or painful -- that is not required for it to be considered gyne.

One could define gyne as excess tissue on a male chest -- no matter what tissue it is (but it is usually gland mostly or fat with gland).

You appear to be in great shape with terrific muscles.  However, in several views, you do appear to have a small amount of tissue beneath the nipples only.  If you have had it for six years, it will probably not disappear spontaneously.  No additional amount of exercise or weight loss would remove it. 

You basically have two choices:  live with it (and perhaps wear snug compression garments on occasion to give you a better shape) or see a plastic surgeon in your area to consider surgery.

You look great!  Keep it up!

Best of luck!

Dr Jacobs

[Dustin]

Hey Dr. Jacobs, thanks for your input mate, so are you saying that it looks like I do have a very mild case of gyno?

I have always suspected to have a very mild case of gyno, I know that there are so much worse out there, but for me as a bodybuilder I take pride in my body image, I work so hard, training consistently, counting calories, not dining out or drinking, and to have breast tissue is just completely intolerable to me.

My doctor will not refer me to a specialist as he thinks that it is just fat and not actual breast tissue, how can I convince him to give me a referral letter ? As I cannot see the specialists without a referral letter from my GP. If I was in the US I would come to you but however I am located in Australia.

I have heard that the surgery is quite pricey, from your experience, do you believe that if one's case is not as serious and does not have as much breast / fat tissue, would it lower the cost of the surgery ?

P.s. one more question, does one who have gynecomastia tend to carry more fat in the chest area ? or hinder muscle gains to the chest area ? Reason I'm asking is because I have alot of friends who do not have as low body fat as I do and still have guts but however they don't have a saggy sort of look on their chest and in tight shirts their nipples don't stick out of it where as mine does !

Thank you so much !

[Dr. Elliot Jacobs]

My doctor will not refer me to a specialist as he thinks that it is just fat and not actual breast tissue, how can I convince him to give me a referral letter ? As I cannot see the specialists without a referral letter from my GP. If I was in the US I would come to you but however I am located in Australia.

I am not familiar with the Australian medical system.  Here in the US, gyne is very rarely covered y insurance.  Thus most guys who want to get rid of their gyne simply privately contract with a surgeon and have the operation done.

I have heard that the surgery is quite pricey, from your experience, do you believe that if one's case is not as serious and does not have as much breast / fat tissue, would it lower the cost of the surgery ?

Each type of gyne (huge, minimal and everything inbetween) constitutes a different challenge for the operating surgeon.  There are no easy cases!!  Therefore, the size or amount of the gyne very rarely influences fees for surgery -- (except if the patient is extremely large).

does one who have gynecomastia tend to carry more fat in the chest area ? or hinder muscle gains to the chest area ? Reason I'm asking is because I have alot of friends who do not have as low body fat as I do and still have guts but however they don't have a saggy sort of look on their chest and in tight shirts their nipples don't stick out of it where as mine does

Unfortunately, there are guys who are overweight and even obese who do not have to worry about gyne -- and thinner guys who do worry.  That is the luck of the draw.  The guys without gyne do not post on this forum.

Dr Jacobs

[Dustin]

Yeah not fair is it .... bloody hell, So you pretty certain that it is gyno ? Oh well you're right, just what I am dealt with ... surgery here we come !

What is post surgery care like ? How long do you have to take off training ?

And what are the chances of it coming back ?

And If I have the small gyno lump right now behind the nipples, does that cause me to hold more fat in the chest area ?

Lastly, is it true that if I'm fiddling around with it, trying to constantly pinch and feel the lump, it will get bigger ? Sorry for the spam of questions

Thanks dr.

[Raboze]

Yeah not fair is it .... bloody hell, So you pretty certain that it is gyno ? Oh well you're right, just what I am dealt with ... surgery here we come !

What is post surgery care like ? How long do you have to take off training ?

And what are the chances of it coming back ?

And If I have the small gyno lump right now behind the nipples, does that cause me to hold more fat in the chest area ?

Lastly, is it true that if I'm fiddling around with it, trying to constantly pinch and feel the lump, it will get bigger ? Sorry for the spam of questions

Thanks dr.

- The hardest part about post-surgery, from what I experienced, is having to wait to see the results . Regarding the pain, it's absolutely minimal and the whole procedure goes by very quickly. You can get back to full body training 1 month after your surgery (with a compression vest).

- As far as I know, if done correctly, gynecomastia removal is a permanent procedure -- especially for your case where you seem to take good care of your body.

- To know if you have enough fat on your chest to get lipo + excision has to be determined by your surgeon. I'm no doctor, but for your specific case and from what I've seen on this forum, I'd settle for excision only -- this is my opinion, your surgeon knows much more than me.

- I'm pretty sure pinching or feeling your lump will not make it grow or look bigger. From all the "purple nipples" I got from friends, I'd look like Pamela Anderson by now if that would be true! 

[Dr. Elliot Jacobs]

Raboze answered all of your questions quite adequately -- I think he has learned quite a bit from this forum.

Dr Jacobs

[Dustin]

you guys are all great help .... thank you so much !

[Dustin]

- As far as I know, if done correctly, gynecomastia removal is a permanent procedure -- especially for your case where you seem to take good care of your body.

Ohh one more thing, I have read somewhere that, SOMETIMES gynecomastia can come back if you still have an hormone imbalance where you have quite high estrogen levels ?

& That to be safe you should go get checked out by an endocrinologist before ?

Is this correct ? If it is correct, other than that, is there any other causes for gynecomastia to return ?

Once again thank you all so much for your time of reading and effort of responding ! Thanks

[headheldhigh01]

yes it can if the imbalance is an ongoing thing, which is why occasionally you can see a senior-onset case too.  most of the time once you're out of puberty this is not a serious risk.  if there were some other condition, maybe, but that's unlikely. 

that's why the endo test is kind of debated.  statistically most people will probably never need it, but for a few people it would prevent a recurrance risk.  since you're case is fairly mild, if you've had it for a while, i would probably not worry. 

all gyne appears to be hormone related in some way.  there are other factors that appear to have that effect -- cumulative estro in certain water supplies, bisphenyl chemicals in plastic, and (my pet theories) meat and dairy products that, especially in the states, practically ooze the stuff.  pot is debated and usually degenerates into a flame war here, i think it CAN have that effect but probably depends on individual physiology from case to case. 

glad you found the site.