Can gynecomastia become less noticeable with exercise?

Question

Hello I am 14 years old and have gyno. I have had it for over 2 years now. I am very subconscious and cannot have surgery because I am not old enough. I am not interested in waiting it out and I was just wondering is there any exercise such as weights or pushups that I can do to make it less noticeable

Tim Neavin, MD · Answer

Good question.  Exercise can reduce fat and build muscle but it won't shrink breast tissue.  Thus, it depends on or you have true gynecomastia or just fatty breasts.  I recommend getting checked out by a board certified plastic surgeon to give you a more solid answer.

Michael Constantin Gartner, DO · Answer

Your body continues to develop through adolescence, and most boys find that their gynecomastia corrects itself of its own. A boy with gynecomastia should first try to lose weight by going on a healthy diet and exercise regimen. This helps improve the chest contour. If after losing weight their chest is still not aesthetically pleasing, surgery can then be considered once another medical condition has been ruled out.

Paul Vitenas, Jr., MD · Answer

At 14, you have
limited options to change the shape of your breasts.  Exercising the chest wall muscles with
weights can add bulk and provide added definition to the chest.  If you are overweight, losing fatty tissue
can also improve the appearance of the chest. 
However, glandular breast tissue cannot be lost or altered though diet
or exercise; this can only be addressed through a surgical procedure, like the
male breast reduction.  Liposuction can
be used to sculpt the chest, and remove excess fatty tissue.  Once your breasts have fully developed, around
the age of 18, an experienced plastic surgeon can determine the best course of
treatment to achieve a flat, smooth chest.

William Andrade, MD · Answer

Thanks for your inquiry.  Exercise may decrease the amount of fatty tissue on the chest (and elsewhere on the body), but if there is glandular tissue it will not decrease with exercise.

Gary Lawton, MD, FACS · Answer

At 14 it is possible that the problem will resolve.  Exercise will help define the structures of the chest and upper body in a way which will improve your appearance.  It is possible that exercise alone will not resolve the gynecomastia.

Shim Ching, MD · Answer

Exercise and diet may be able to reduce the amount of fatty tissue in the chest.  However, glandular tissue cannot be reduced by exercise.  Most men have gynecomastia that is somewhat resistant to exercise and dieting and seek surgery to correct it.

Paul M. Steinwald, MD · Answer

Hey JT - I tend to agree with the other surgeons' answers, but it depends upon the degree of gynecomastia you are  talking about.  If limited to the immediate area of the nipple (with a rubbery mass effect), that may  resolve with time, and meanwhile developing your chest musculature may "distract" from a relatively minor issue.  If it is more global with fullness across the chest and/or sagging of the tissues, that suggests that weight management (and/or chest exercises) may help.  I agree with not pursuing a surgical option too prematurely (and without ruling out other medically or naturally reversible causes of gynecomastia - although rare), and then seeking out a board-certified plastic surgeon when you are of legal age if these issues are still bothering you.  Meanwhile, enjoy your teenage years!

John Nguyen, MD, FACS · Answer

Unfortunately, exercise does not help when it comes to gynecomastia.  John T. Nguyen, MD, FACS, FICSDouble Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Jayanthy Ravindran, MS, DNB, MRCS · Answer

Firstly, cheer up! You are just 14 and have your entire life ahead of you. Don't let a condition make you feel so bad about yourself. It is important that you know that male breast enlargement is..
A common condition among many menNot permanentSurgically treatable
Now, if for some reason you feel surgery isn’t right for you, you may wish to consider non-surgical options. For example, a good diet and sufficient exercise will also be helpful in lowering your overall body fat percentage.
But keep in mind, that gynecomastia is excess breast tissue, not fat tissue. That means exercise won't have a major impact on it.  Even things like exercises specifically for chest may not make any difference. To sum it up, a clean diet and a good workout routine will be helpful but it may not always be enough, surgery may still be required to remove the glandular element.
My advice would be to look for a board certified, highly rated and well experienced surgeon in your city.

Babak Dadvand, MD · Answer

Hi jt1463,Thank you for posting. My strong recommendation is that you be evaluated by your pediatrician to see if there is an underlying cause for your gynecomastia. This can be done with a detailed medical history and physical exam and perhaps some hormone levels. If you do not have an underlying cause and you have had the gynecomastia for three years, then it will likely not resolve without surgery.  If it is true gynecomastia, meaning that there is excess firm breast tissue then exercise will not help. You should then be evaluated by a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in gynecomastia surgery. Sincerely,Dr. Dadvand

Can gynecomastia become less noticeable with exercise?

Answers (16)

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