Gynecomastia Concealed
One of the primary complaints that gynecomastia patients often mention is the incredible number of hoops they jump through daily to try and conceal their female-like breasts from others.
Of course, it’s probably worse in the mind of patient because he imagines everybody is staring only at his chest.
For a teen, the first year of high school is tough.
Due to the huge wash of testosterone washing through his pubescent body for the first time, girls become tremendously important. But for teen girls, cruel remarks are unfortunately seen as being fully in order and even fun.
Except for the boy at which the zingers are aimed!
The standard teen remark is usually something about no girl wanting a boyfriend with bigger breasts than she has. Ouch!
Thus begins a long covering and concealing process, using large shirts, baggy sweat shirts, hoodies and, sometimes, several layers of T-shirts, shirts and sweat shirts. Some guys even bind their chests with yards of Ace bandages or cover their “poofy” nipples with tape which can discolor the skin.
Factor in summer weather and you have one miserable kid.
At the pool or beach, you’ll find that same youngster swimming in a T-shirt — if he dares go into the water at all. Then, as soon as he gets out, he wraps his torso in a big thick towel or beach towel.
Almost all gynecomastia patients, unless they can find something darker, choose to wear black tops. That color seems to best hide bulky or fleshy bulges.
Most wouldn’t be caught dead in white which tends to reveal almost all the body’s outlines.
As the guy with “man boobs” studies his condition more, he also discovers the compression garment which is actually intended for wear after surgery.
Nonetheless, some men will don a compression vest daily to flatten their breasts before dressing. The vests are made of elastic and compress the fatty tissues.
The downside: compression garments are hot!
Possible upside: the misery factor starts many guys thinking more seriously about diet and exercise. Many join a gym, work hard and lose weight — except in the one place they so devoutly wish to slim down: the chest and breasts.
Then, having tried literally everything, they start reading, learning and thinking about the next logical step: male breast reduction surgery.
A few moments spent with typical gynecomastia surgery before and after pictures often brings him to a consultation with a plastic surgeon.