Mary Jane and Moobs
We’ve seen quite a bit of chatter on the Internet lately concerning marijuana and man boobs. A Philadelphia Inquirer article that has been quoted and re-published far and wide put the question cleverly: “Do doobies make boobies?”
Because we specialize in surgery for gynecomastia for New Jersey and NYC metro area patients, the topic comes up in our consultation room frequently. And as laws and regulations governing pot continue to relax across the country, the issue is likely to arise for us and for other patients and their doctors even more often.
As noted in the original article, scientific studies uncovering a solid direct link between marijuana and gynecomastia are nonexistent. But there is a lot we plastic surgeons do know.
First, although what specifically triggers persistent gynecomastia in some men rather than others is still not well understood, it is known that hormone levels outside the norm are at the root of most, if not all, cases of enlarged male breasts. Whether the imbalance is caused by steroid use, other drugs or simply by “out of whack” production, hormones are the #1 issue.
The active ingredient in marijuana, THC, has been known to wreak havoc with hormone levels for decades. The Philadelphia Inquirer article cited a study in 1972 that outlined THC’s impact on “multiple hormonal systems, including gonadal, adrenal, prolactin, growth hormone and thyroid hormone production.”
In addition to this association—if not firm link—between marijuana and gynecomastia in scientific studies, our three decades of experience talking with patients about their condition convinces us that there is a strong possibility of a connection. We know that a significant percentage of the men who seek our help for moobs have been marijuana users, and we suspect the real number is higher, given some patients’ reluctance to be honest about their habits.
One more thing to know: if you have gynecomastia and elect surgery to banish your condition, don’t harbor the illusion that you can resume a marijuana habit after your procedure. If you are working with an experienced gynecomastia surgeon, he or she will leave a small amount of breast gland to give you natural looking contours. (Be assured that this is what you want!) Continued marijuana use can prompt the reappearance of man boobs, and given that you have been through the experience once, you probably don’t want to invite a second round.
It’s likely that more studies will be performed on the physiological effects of marijuana use in the future. Until there’s more “proof,” smokers beware.
