tormented 16 year old..

[tormented]

hey there. I am a teenager, 16y 9mo old to be exact. I started noticing that i had gynecomastia when i was about 12yo. i went through my high school life staying away from sports and other physical activities, fearing that people might notice my chest. I wore big shirts, put tape in my puffy nipples, in attempts to conceal my gynecomastia. However, all my efforts were in vain. My friends and classmates did in fact notice it, though they really were never vocal about it, though i knew that deep inside they were mocking me. it has eroded my self-confidence. with gynecomastia i always felt inferior, looked down upon.

I turned to the internet for guidance, reading hundreds of pages about this condition, but all pointed to one conclusion: it would go away in a matter of years. After 4 years, i have come to realize that the aforementioned conclusion is not, and will never be, applicable for me. Some sites also state that it may just be fat, however, i am certain it isn't. You see, when i squeeze my breast, i could feel very firm breast tissue right under my nipples. Surgery is the way to go.

I want these out badly. it has done me enough damage. something that can so simply be corrected should not be allowed to warrant emotional distress that can devastate an adolescent. however, up to now i havent built up the courage to tell my parents about my condition. sure, i guess they've already noticed, but maybe they're thinking that i'm able to cope with this, which i surely am not. i want a normal life. i want to be free to do all the things i want without thinking if my damn breasts are noticable.

guys, i need help. how do i tell my parents? whom do i talk to first?? mom or dad??? both at the same time, maybe? how do i tell them?? what if they're not convinced??? waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa..

[tormented]

well, i hope i summon up enough courage to do just that.

btw, jologs1..noypi ka?

[bluedragonph]

Hi tormented, we hear you. Some believe that you have to wait a few more years before you can finally say if you have gynecomastia. Others say if you have it in your teens you will most probably will still suffer from it in the coming years. In any case, if you feel that you need to solve it here and now, best to talk to your parents about it. If you're closer to one of them, then by all means just approach him or her first. If your parents are net users, show them this site. You can get no better information from the internet than this site. If they are not, then just print the information you get from this site and show it to them.

Gathering from the posts here, there are already a number of plastic surgeons in the US who are specialists in treatment of gynecomastia. If your from the Philippines, there are a couple of surgeons that you can consult here in Manila.

Good luck!

[Jamama]

When one of your parents walks into your bed room, just talk to them.  You could be like:

"Hey mom, have you ever heard of the medical condition 'Gynecomastia'"
After her response, reply "Well, I am certain that I have it.  And I want it to be gone.  I've had it for years and it's hurt me both physically and mentally."

Then talk to her about possible surgery.