Gynecomastia is one of the most distressing physical disorders that men can have. It’s especially concerning because not everyone can distinguish between it and chest fat, also known as Pseudogynecomastia.
Pseudo Gynecomastia is the buildup of fat in the chest due to obesity or overall weight increase. The two are quite similar in terms of appearance at first glance, but with a little research, you can tell the two different and learn how to get rid of either.
Table of Contents
What is Gynecomastia?
In layman’s terms, Gynecomastia is also referred to as man-boobs. It occurs when male breast tissue grows out of control, creating the illusion of breasts. Because Gynecomastia can also be caused by weight gain or obesity, it’s tough to differentiate between it and chest fat.
Pseudo Gynecomastia can affect anyone at any age; however, it is more prevalent in middle-aged and older men. On the other hand, Gynecomastia can affect males of all ages following puberty, but it is more common in late adolescence and adulthood.
Pseudo-gynecomastia can be addressed with exercise, maintaining a healthy diet, and weight loss, but in the case of Gynecomastia, this is not the case. Bear in mind that both illnesses might exist in the same clinical setting, which is a pretty regular occurrence.
In some circumstances, excision of the male breast tissue is accompanied by Vaser-assisted lipo of the chest area to extract extra fat and shape the chest for a more proportional and youthful appearance.
Causes of Gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia can be caused by several reasons, the most prevalent of which is a hormonal imbalance caused by an unexpected increase in estrogen levels. When a man’s estrogen levels rise to dangerously high levels, it promotes breast tissue growth, giving him unpleasant breasts.
Hormonal imbalances can be caused by various factors, including alcoholism, testicular tumors, liver disease, illegal drug use and medication, some rare genetic abnormalities, among many other causes.
How to differentiate Gynecomastia Apart From Chest Fat?
Gynecomastia is distinguished from typical chest fat by extra glands of breast tissue in the pectoral area. Weight increase can cause fat to collect in the chest, and unlike Gynecomastia, it does respond to exercise and a good diet. Gynecomastia, on the other hand, frequently necessitates surgical intervention.
If you’re not sure whether you’re dealing with Gynecomastia or just typical chest fat, a consultation with a physician is the best way to find out. We’ll go through some of the most frequent ways to tell the difference between chest fat and Gynecomastia below.
Pain presence
Gynecomastia can bring pain and tenderness in the chest area, ranging from minor to severe. Your chest may be bloated, uncomfortable, and unpleasant to the touch. With a chest fast, this is considerably less likely to happen.
However, chest fat can be uncomfortable for various causes unrelated to Gynecomastia. When attempting to distinguish between the two, it is critical to consider more than one element.
Examine the fat
Chest fat feels similar to the fat found elsewhere on the body, such as the arms, thighs, or stomach. Typically, chest fat is soft to the touch, whereas Gynecomastia is much firmer and might feel hard to certain people.
You may feel a solid lump beneath your skin, unusual for chest fat. Examine the chest area and look out for these differences to establish whether it’s just fat or Gynecomastia.
Chest appearance
Chest fat has a droopy or sagging appearance and lacks a distinct form. On the other hand, Gynecomastia is more round in shape and proportional and could resemble a woman’s breasts. Gynecomastia could cause the nipple areolar complex to protrude more than the other chest area if there’s less tissue.
Reaction To Diet And Exercise
How your body responds to exercise, and diet is one of the most important signs of having Gynecomastia or chest fat. We acknowledge the fact that different bodies carry fat differently, and some areas could shed faster than others; you should notice some weight loss on your chest area if what you have is pseudo-Gynecomastia.
If your weight loss journey does nothing to the chest area, then this should be a tell-tale indication of Gynecomastia. Since the fat that may have been covering it is reduced with weight loss, the glandular tissue may become more visible.
How to Get Rid of Gynecomastia
Gynecomastia can be treated through non-surgical procedures that involve removing the instigating elements causing the issue. This will entail anabolic steroid abstinence, drug and alcohol abstinence, and the discontinuation of any medication causing the condition.
If hormonal changes cause your Gynecomastia, it should be gone once the hormones in your body are stabilized, and a good balance has been achieved.
Surgical intervention is another option for treating Gynecomastia. It can be removed from your chest by making tiny incisions around your areola to gain access and properly remove the Gynecomastia. Gynecomastia surgery, in most cases, provides a long-term solution to the condition.
Chest Fat Treatment
Fat might accumulate in some parts of the body owing to your genetic composition, and as a result, diet and exercise are ineffective. Liposuction is a feasible choice in these situations. On the other hand, exercise and diet can usually treat chest fat on their own.
You should see a drop in fat in all parts of the body, including the enlarged male breasts, as you lose weight. Although immediate shrinkage is a fallacy, weight training can help tone your chest and minimize the fat look. Movements like bench presses and chest flies might enable you to reach your aesthetic goals by including them in your workout program.
