I'm 16 and a half now. I've had man boobs for about two years. I don't know what the cause is, but I want to lose them.

Question

I was never overweight, and I don't recall having a problem with moobs until after mid 2013. I gained a bit of weight at that point as well. I'm in decent shape now but still have moobs. Are they caused by masturbation (which unfortunately I do)? Is it because of puberty? Is it because of gaining weight (if it is, losing weight isn't working since I dieted for months and exercised for weeks. I lost body fat but not moobs). Can you tell me the reason and the solution (if there is one)?

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS · Answer

The male breast is composed of glandular tissue and fatty tissue. An excess in either type of tissue can cause the chest to take on the look of gynecomastia. Gynecomastia can affect men of all different body types. There are different types of #gynecomastia.

Particularly, Normal Gynecomastia is usually apparent in males between the ages of 12 to 15 years old. It is also common for older men 65 years old or more who experience a drop in their testosterone levels. #Normal Gynecomastia takes approximately one to two years to naturally regress on its own.

Adolescent Gynecomastia is hereditary and usually appears in 30% to 60% of boys between the ages of nine to fourteen. Many cases of adolescent gynecomastia resolve on its own as the boy grows into adulthood. Some with #Adolescent may choose to undergo surgery to correct the situation, this usually happens at the age of 18 or above. In severe cases in young boys, the physician and child development specialists will need to speak to the parents regarding the severity of the gynecomastia and if surgery is an option before the age of 18.

Ronald Schuster, MD · Answer

Gynecomastia is extra breast development in males. It usually appears during puberty, which is what you are going through right now. it has nothing to do with masturbation. If it doesn't go away within two years it probably won't. if it continues you should speak to your parents about getting  consultation from a surgeon who performs a lot of gynecomastia surgery. Good luck.

Mordcai Blau, MD · Answer

If you have it for less then 2 years you can wait.How should I choose a surgeon?Selecting a surgeon is as important a choice as the decision to undergo surgery. Choose carefully only a board certified PLASTIC SURGEON. The decision is yours. What follows is some advice to assist in making your selection.1. Experience matters. Choosing a surgeon who has performed over one thousand gynecomastia cases increases the likelihood that they have seen a case similar to yours in the past. Selecting a surgeon whose practice is focused on gynecomastia exclusively is also an indicator of experience.2. Results matter. The more before-and-after pictures a surgeon displays, the better. Pay attention not just to the number of pictures, but whether the surgeon is confident enough to show multiple angles of the same patient.3. Gynecomastia surgery Reviews matter. Have patients reviewed your surgeon? Did those patients undergo the surgery you are considering?4. Expertise matters. Is your surgeon recognized by the profession as an authority in the field? Are they certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery? Have they authored books or medical journal articles regarding your surgery?We hope these guidelines are of assistance when you are selecting your surgeon. When undergoing surgery, it is very important to be realistic about your expectations. Past results are not a guarantee of future results. Also, revision surgery tends to be significantly more difficult than initial surgery.

I'm 16 and a half now. I've had man boobs for about two years. I don't know what the cause is, but I want to lose them.

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Everything you need to know about Gynecomastia Surgery

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I'm 16 and a half now. I've had man boobs for about two years. I don't know what the cause is, but I want to lose them.

Answers (3)

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Everything you need to know about Gynecomastia Surgery

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.