You’ve been hitting the gym, watching your diet — and still, your chest doesn’t look the way you want it to. If you’re wondering whether it’s just extra fat or something more, you’re in the right place. Men with swollen chest tissue could have gynecomastia or a similar but different condition called pseudogynecomastia.
At Dr. Arnold Breitbart‘s offices in Long Island and New York City, we help men understand these conditions and choose the best path forward. Dr. Breitbart is a board-certified plastic surgeon with more than three decades of experience. He has helped countless men regain confidence through personalized gynecomastia surgeries. As a winner of numerous Patients’ Choice and Top Doctor awards, patients in Long Island and NYC know him as the go-to surgeon for gynecomastia.
Here’s what you should know about gynecomastia versus pseudogynecomastia.
What Is Gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia occurs when men have an excessive amount of glandular tissue in the chest. This causes puffiness or fullness, even if you’re at a healthy weight.
The most common cause is hormone imbalance: Too much estrogen and too little testosterone. Many other conditions or even certain medications can cause gynecomastia as well, and the reason isn’t always clear.
The chest usually feels firm or rubbery, especially under the nipple area. Your chest may feel sore or tender.
With gynecomastia, the chest doesn’t shrink significantly, no matter how much weight you lose or how hard you work out. That’s because weight loss can take fat (and even muscle) away, but it doesn’t eliminate glandular tissue.
How Pseudogynecomastia Is Different
Pseudogynecomastia features chest enlargement, but it’s caused by fat accumulation rather than glandular tissue. Usually, pseudogynecomastia is related to weight gain.
The chest may feel soft and squishy. Pseudogynecomastia differs in that it often responds to weight loss efforts.
Surgical Approaches
Both conditions can make you feel self-conscious, and both are treatable. However, the treatment approaches differ. At our AAAASF-certified office surgery center, Dr. Breitbart offers surgical solutions tailored to your needs.
Dr. Breitbart offers both tissue excision (removal of glandular tissue) and liposuction. Men with gynecomastia need tissue excision to create a flatter, more masculine chest contour, and they may also require liposuction to address fat deposits.
In contrast, men with pseudogynecomastia may just need liposuction to remove fat.
Both procedures are very safe in the hands of a renowned surgeon like Dr. Breitbart. He was recently featured in The Daily Mail to explain why liposuction is such a trusted and safe procedure today.
Gynecomastia Surgery Consultations in Long Island and NYC
We’ll guide you through the best way to achieve a flatter, more masculine chest in a safe and supportive setting.
Call our Long Island office at 516-365-3511 or our Manhattan office at 248-305-8400 to schedule your consultation.
