Gynecomastia and Bodybuilders
In greater NYC, gynecomastia patients come from all walks of life and in a variety of shapes, sizes and ages. One subset of men we frequently work with in our plastic surgery practice is body builders. Their gynecomastia experience tends to be distinct from that of most other patients for a few reasons.
Causes
Very often, anabolic steroids taken to promote muscle development are behind the appearance of man boobs or bitch tits for weightlifters. The testosterone component of steroids coverts to estrogen in the body, thereby prompting the development of unwanted breast tissue. Even “protein supplements” and other pseudo medications available at health food stores and on the Internet can have hormone-like effects, including gynecomastia. Sometimes a man doesn’t realize the risk of taking these supplements until breast tissue has suddenly shown up and refuses to go away even if supplements are discontinued.
Breast Tissue
The unwanted tissue most bodybuilders develop tends to manifest itself differently from the way breast tissue looks and feels for other men. When steroids are behind the growth of man boobs, gynecomastia tends to be concentrated under the nipple/areola rather than spreading and intermingling with fat, which is scarce for most bodybuilders. The result is usually “puffy nipples” or small, hard, unnatural-looking contours made up of thick, fibrous tissue.
Breast Reduction Techniques
While breast reduction surgery for bodybuilders is similar to the procedure designed for most men, there are some differences. To address the mass under the nipple/areola, we almost always use incisions around the edge of the areola exclusively. We remove the tissue through these incisions bit by bit.
Due to the absence of fat, we most often use a liposuction instrument simply to aid in re-draping skin—most of the time we don’t even turn on suction. This is very different from our approach to gynecomastia in most men, which usually spreads out and becomes intermingled with fat that’s gently reduced and resculpted with the cannula.
Aftercare
For the most part, the recovery process for bodybuilders is the same as it is for anyone else. There are two important considerations we always discuss with these patients in our NYC gynecomastia consultations, however. First, we explain that the patient should commit to swearing off steroids and supplements completely. There is always a small amount of breast tissue left during surgery to prevent cratering, and this tissue can regrow under the influence of steroids.
Second, bodybuilders must be prepared to forego strenuous exercise for several weeks afterward. Most are able to do this when they understand that their chest will swell less, and that their skin will re-adhere to their muscles better with rest. A little patience after surgery pays off in a quicker path to the masculine, “cut” look that’s the goal for bodybuilders.
If you’re a bodybuilder with gynecomastia, the last thing you should do is try more medication or supplements to banish the boobs—this approach doesn’t work and, in fact, you can even damage your system and endanger your health. Instead, visit a board certified plastic surgeon who is very experienced in handling not just gynecomastia, but man boobs in bodybuilders. Surgery and a renewed commitment to good health is the only way to go.
