Fat vs Gland

[inhiding]

Ok, so I am pretty sure I have both fat and gland, but I'm wondering, whats the difference between pseudogynecomastia and gynecomastia from fat? I hear alot of people saying someone has gyn but its all fat. I'm just wondering because I want to know how much of this I can actually burn off. If its gyn from both gland and fat, can I burn off the fat and be left with only gland? Thanks.

[Blitz]

I asked my doctor the same question and he said that if all the fat were removed, I would see a noticeable difference but I would still notice my gyne.  Also, you can't spot reduce your fat so if you work out and eat right, the better it will be for you but chances are, you will burn fat all over and not just in one spot.

A lot of guys on this site have done just that as a last ditch effort only to come out and say that it emphasized their gyne more then anything.  Hope this helps.  

[a-man]

People refer to "pseudo" gyne as gyne that is only fat (no gland)...

In reality gynecomastia simply means enlarged breasts... so I don't see why fat-only gyne should be called "pseudo", but anyway...

It's usually hard to tell exactly how much is fat and how much is gland until you are cut open (or perhaps if you went in for an ultrasound).

It certainly would be possible to work out extensively until you lost all the fat (and you would be left only with gland... if you had any). The problem with this is that with a lot of people (myself included), you would have to be at an unrealistically maintainable weight/body fat percentage in order to get rid of the fat around your breasts completely. My gyne was mostly fat, and I was down to 155lb/12% body fat at 6 feet tall. I looked grossly underweight yet my gyne remained.

Sometimes for "pseudogyne", surgery is also the only real option.

[DrBermant]

Ok, so I am pretty sure I have both fat and gland, but I'm wondering, whats the difference between pseudogynecomastia and gynecomastia from fat? I hear alot of people saying someone has gyn but its all fat. I'm just wondering because I want to know how much of this I can actually burn off. If its gyn from both gland and fat, can I burn off the fat and be left with only gland? Thanks.

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.

Men with excessive fat do tend to have certain contour issues.  Check out this link about Sumo Wrestlers.  Men tend to carry excessive weight in their chest and stomach.

Losing weight first, to something you are comfortable with and can maintain is typically a much better option.  Weight loss is a coarse tool.  Unfortunately, you cannot pick where weight comes from - nor can you pick where weight goes back on to.  Gland that contributes to the breast shape is not helped with weight loss.  Fingers of fat in the gland can become smaller, but the contour problem from gland does not go away.  After losing weight plastic surgery can help with localized fat, gland, and extra skin.  After surgery remaining fat cells can put on more weight.

Hope this helps,

Michael Bermant, MD
Learn More About Gynecomastia and Chest Sculpture

[inhiding]

thanks for the responses. i was reading before about how gynecomastia could only be fixed by having surgery, so I wasn't sure if there was some kind of gynecomastia with only fat. i'm pretty lazy (but i have a good metabolism, have done nearly nothing in a decade and still barely out of shape except for my chest and slight stomach fat, but i'm also not the kind of guy who wants to have surgery on something that i can fix myself. (example: the fat.) I know I will probably have gland left (i can feel the gland....) but i wonder how I will look with only the gland and no fat. any suggestions? i'll try to post some pictures later, but i'd have to find (or buy a new) charger for my camera. thanks.