If you’ve ever watched The Rookie, it’s likely you’ve seen Nathan Fillion’s character, John Nolan, running, while his pectorals are bouncing around under his t-shirt like a toddler on a trampoline. The condition — dubbed “man boobs” or “moobs” — is gynecomastia, the medical term for enlarged male breast tissue. It’s a condition that’s far more common, and psychologically damaging, than many realize. It’s estimated that between 20% and 40% of men develop a degree of gynecomastia at some point during their lives. It’s a normal part of puberty, as hormonal imbalances cause temporary breast tissue growth in up to half of boys before it largely resolves itself. It can also affect men over the age of 55 as levels of testosterone drop naturally with age, allowing the female sex hormone estrogen, which fuels breast tissue growth, to become more dominant. In many cases it’s driven by weight gain or the hormonal side effects of prescription medication. There are steps men can take to prevent gynecomastia – and treatments that don’t always require surgery.
- • Diet and exercise is a hit-and-miss, and the chest area isn’t an easy place to get rid of it. Nevertheless, it’s worth trying as a first step.
- • If medication is to blame, it may be possible to switch to a different drug and the problem should resolve itself.
- • If that isn’t an option, patients can be given a low dose of tamoxifen, a drug used to prevent the recurrence of certain types of breast cancer by blocking estrogen receptors.
- • Often, liposuction is enough to resolve it in people who have low-grade gynecomastia, which removes fat and leaves minimal scarring.
- • Finally, surgery is expensive but effective in the long-term. Costs typically run anywhere from $6,000 to $12,000.
