fat or gyne?

[bobjones]

hey guys im a 18 y/o male and im having a hard time determining if i have gyne or fat.  when i sqeeze my moobs it all feels like fat no hard lumps or anything.  Can someone explain how hard or big this lump should be? and is it possible to have gyne without these lumps? 

[DrBermant]

hey guys im a 18 y/o male and im having a hard time determining if i have gyne or fat.  when i sqeeze my moobs it all feels like fat no hard lumps or anything.  Can someone explain how hard or big this lump should be? and is it possible to have gyne without these lumps? 

Unfortunately, it can be difficult to distinguish just what is causing the problem.  Gynecomastia male breasts can be fat, gland, or most commonly a combination of both.  Sometimes skin and sagging tissues can be a factor.  Pseudo Gynecomastia is supposed to be fat only gynecomastia.  The problem with that "classification" is that in almost every case of gynecomastia I have seen there is some component of gland.  This gland can be very small, but it is present almost all the time.  So do you have Pseudo gynecomastia when there is a 1%, 10%, 50%, or 90% deformity from fat?  Reality just does not work that way.

Defining the problem with photographs sometimes can help.  However, it is impossible to tell from photographs if the deformity is from fat or gland. The dynamic images, of my standard set of images can show a region that compresses differently.  Even clinical examination differentiation can be difficult.

Fat tends to be soft, gland tends to be firm.  Fingers of gland often dissect between fingers of fat.  Look at this drawing and move your mouse over the arrows.  However, gland can be soft and fat firm confusing the picture.  Gland tends to be located under the nipple and pinching pressure can sometimes tether to the nipple pulling it in.

Hope this helps,

Michael Bermant, MD
Learn More About Gynecomastia and Chest Sculpture

[bobjones]

if the gyne consists of fat alone is it possible to lose it threw working out? or is lipo the way to go?

[DrBermant]

if the gyne consists of fat alone is it possible to lose it threw working out? or is lipo the way to go?

Overweight men tend to have breasts.  Have you ever seen a Sumo Wrester who did not have breasts?  Getting to a weight you are comfortable with before surgery can be of great value.  For many, weight loss alone does the trick.  However, it can be very difficult to target where the fat comes from with losing weight. 

Sometimes surgery can be a valuable tool for refinement after weight loss.


Hope this helps,

Michael Bermant, MD
Learn More About Gynecomastia and Chest Sculpture