The Other Endless Summer: Teens with Moobs
If you’re old enough to have an adolescent son, you may be old enough to remember The Beach Boys’ Endless Summer album—that iconic compilation of surfing music full of good vibes. But if your son happens to have enlarged breasts, he may soon be facing a summer that seems to last forever for a very different reason: warm weather and the activities it offers up can make having moobs just about intolerable for a young man.
If you know anything at all about enlarged male breasts—called gynecomastia in medical circles—you know that male breast reduction surgery is an option. Let us assure you that it is not our intention to push surgery on anyone. In fact, adolescents should wait about two years to see if the condition disappears as hormone swings even out. Even when enlarged breasts persist, there’s no reason to look into plastic surgery unless a guy is miserable.
Teens with man boobs often are. Here are some quotes from real young men to demonstrate how devastating enlarged breasts can be:
I am getting more depressed about it day by day, and I just can’t cope…
I have been bullied and teased about it so much…
I would cry myself to sleep…
As a parent, then, what should you do?
Start by doing research on teen gynecomastia on the Internet, keeping in mind that there’s a fair amount of misinformation floating around. Visit lots of reputable websites and sort through what you find with a critical eye.
If you know your son has gynecomastia, talk with him. It may be a difficult conversation for one or both of you; so begin by telling your son how important his well-being is to you and how you always want to help when you can, even with difficult situations. Do your best to get him to open up, and try to gauge what kind of impact the condition may be having on his daily life and self-esteem. Consider offering to purchase a compression garment.
If you suspect your teen may have enlarged breasts but you’re not sure, be extra observant about his habits. Does he always wear baggy clothes? Does he favor sweatshirts even in warm weather? Does he avoid taking his shirt off at all times – even at the beach or swimming pool? Does he seem to be depressed for no apparent reason?
At some point, you should take your son to see his doctor. Your pediatrician may refer you to an endocrinologist to check hormone levels—this is a good step.
If you discover your son has persistent gynecomastia and it‘s a devastating issue for him, we encourage you to find out about male breast reduction surgery. Locate board certified plastic surgeons who specialize in treating the condition—they will have specific information about surgery for young men on their websites. Consider contacting the offices of one or two and ask the doctor to give you a call. If you’re not sure surgery is the right answer, you might arrange a consultation and go without your son.
Very few parents ever think about cosmetic surgery for their children. We know it’s a big step that’s certainly not warranted for most youngsters. But in some situations—for children whose ears stick out, for young people with noses that are out of proportion and for teen boys with man boobs that don’t go away—it can be life changing.
