Is this mild, moderate or am I just being paranoid?!?!?

[floating]

am I just being over self-conscious?  I posted pictures in another area on the site, but this page seems more appropriate.  I had a consultation with a gynecomastia specialist last year and he recommended surgery.  I've been working on my chest for 2 years and it is still flabby and loose.  It puffs out a bit more after two years of working out, but it still seems to be flabby.  It is not firm and shakes.  Isn't a guy's chest supposed to be firm!?!

I hate to admit it, but it is really starting to affect me mentally.  I won't wear certain types of shirts and i'm always wondering if people are looking at my chest.  BUT, the flip side is that I fight this insecurity by going buck-naked at a local clothing optional beach. 

I found this site yesterday and I've been really comforted by your stories and courage to address this issue.  I haven't discussed this with anyone and I really would like someone else's opinion besides the doctor....am I being overly self conscious?  If it bothers me then I should address it, but I don't want to have needless surgery just because I feel less than perfect.  Please --- share your thoughts.  Thanks!!

BTW, my stats:  6', 157lbs, 45yo.  Most people consider me skinny (although you can't tell from those photos)...but I just seem to carry the fat in my chest.  Also, my sister had breast reduction surgery a few years ago....maybe it just runs in the family

[floating]

a couple more pics:

[DrBermant]

am I just being over self-conscious?  I posted pictures in another area on the site, but this page seems more appropriate.  I had a consultation with a gynecomastia specialist last year and he recommended surgery.  I've been working on my chest for 2 years and it is still flabby and loose.  It puffs out a bit more after two years of working out, but it still seems to be flabby.  It is not firm and shakes.  Isn't a guy's chest supposed to be firm!?!

I hate to admit it, but it is really starting to affect me mentally.  I won't wear certain types of shirts and i'm always wondering if people are looking at my chest.  BUT, the flip side is that I fight this insecurity by going buck-naked at a local clothing optional beach. 

I found this site yesterday and I've been really comforted by your stories and courage to address this issue.  I haven't discussed this with anyone and I really would like someone else's opinion besides the doctor....am I being overly self conscious?  If it bothers me then I should address it, but I don't want to have needless surgery just because I feel less than perfect.  Please --- share your thoughts.  Thanks!!

BTW, my stats:  6', 157lbs, 45yo.  Most people consider me skinny (although you can't tell from those photos)...but I just seem to carry the fat in my chest.  Also, my sister had breast reduction surgery a few years ago....maybe it just runs in the family

Men tend to carry extra fat in their chest and stomach, that is the Normal Male Body Fat Distribution.

Subtle contour problems sometimes need a complete set of Standard Gynecomastia Pictures to best understand issues. Soft tissue can be fat or lax muscles. Soft flaccid tissues over tense muscles will be fat. That is why flexing muscle views are part of my set of photos. Loose redundant skin issues are better documented with this set of Standard Images to Document Loose Tissues / Skin on a Male Chest. Gravity helps reveal hanging loose tissues in the bending over views.

Hope this helps,

Michael Bermant, MD
Learn More About Gynecomastia and Male Breast Reduction

[balalayka]

This seems to be mostly fat to me. I have a similar case and I hate it. You tend to carry excess fat in the chest and it could be really impossible to get rid of these last few pounds localized there. My suggestion : get the surgery. You'll look great after it.

[Dr. Elliot Jacobs]

Difficult to tell from your photos but if you can pinch extra tissue around the nipples (as opposed to the same pinch near the collar bone), then you may have collected some extra tissue there.  And since your weight is quite low, no additional amount of weight loss will help out.  Nor will exercise -- you are already in great shape.  But properly done lipo (perhaps with excision) might make the difference for you.

Only you can make the decision as to having surgery or not.  A surgeon's job in assessing you is to tell you what is possible -- not to urge you into surgery.

Dr Jacobs

[floating]

Thanks for your responses.  Here are a few pics with me pinching...

[floating]

more....

I think I just fully convinced myself.....can't believe I didn't notice this until a few years ago...wow!

[DrBermant]

Thanks for your responses.  Here are a few pics with me pinching...

Pinching photos by themselves do not demonstrate much unless they are comparing the pinch of different zones of the chest as demonstrated in this set of Photos During a Male Breast Exam. Notice the different thickness between fingers for the different regions indicating how much extra tissue each zone has.


Hope this helps,

Michael Bermant, MD
Learn More About Gynecomastia and Male Breast Reduction