What’s the Difference Between Pseudogynecomastia and Gynecomastia?

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Whenever there’s a case of men developing female-like breasts, the term used to describe it's gynecomastia or man boobs, but that may not necessarily be true.

It’s true that when a man has an unusually large chest, gynecomastia is a potential cause. However, it isn’t always the case because it could be pseudogynecomastia.

The two have similar symptoms, that is, increased chest mass, but they have different characteristics, and to receive a proper treatment you must know the difference between the two.

What is Pseudogynecomastia?

This condition looks a lot like gynecomastia, but with some very notable differences.

In this instance, the cause of chest enlargement is fat rather than tissue, and this is a very important fact and makes all the difference in terms of treatment.

In other words, just because you have a large chest doesn’t necessarily mean you have gynecomastia.

Before you ask for treatment, you should see a doctor so that a proper diagnosis can be performed.

Do not try to guess because the success of the treatment depends on the reliability of the diagnosis.

How to Know if You Have Gynecomastia or Pseudogynecomastia

As indicated above, the biggest difference between the two is the mass that’s causing the swelling. If it’s gynecomastia, the culprit is excess breast tissue. But if it is pseudo gynecomastia the cause is fat.

To sum up the difference between the two, gynecomastia is:

Due to excess breast tissue growth
Visibility depends on the grade
The underlying matter is tissue

On the other hand, pseudo man boobs have the following characteristics:

The increased chest mass is due to buildup of fat in the area surrounding the nipples
The more fat is deposited in the chest area, the larger it gets
In gynecomastia, the underlying matter is breast tissue, but with pseudo man boobs it’s fatty deposits

Diagnosis

Now that you know what is pseudogynecomastia you’ll be prepared to undergo diagnosis to determine the cause.

In a typical diagnostic procedure, you’ll be asked to lie down with your clasped hands behind your head.

Your doctor will move their fingers along the sides of your chest, as they’re searching for a firm or rubbery area around the nipples.

If the doctor feels it, you’re suffering from gynecomastia, but if there’s none then it’s the pseudo-variant.

What are the Treatment Options Available?

The treatment depends on whether it is pseudo gynecomastia or gynecomastia, but if it’s the former, the first thing you need to do is lose weight.

By reducing the fat in the rest of your body you will also bring down the level of fat deposited in your chest.

It will help to perform some chest exercises, but the results will be even better if you work out your entire body so fat loss will be more balanced.

If working out doesn’t remove the mass, there’s a good chance it’s not fat, and that there’s a problem with your breast tissues.

If you’ve been working out but there’s no improvement, you need to see a doctor and undergo an exam.

Pseudogynecomastia treatment depends on the severity of the condition, how quickly you want to get rid of the excess mass or if you just want to conceal it.

The good news is that no matter how large the chest mass has become, it’s easy to remove the fat provided there are no problems with the breast tissues.

Working Out to Get Rid of Fat

The quickest way to eliminate body fat is to exercise. Aerobics, cardio or working out in the gym can reduce the fat over time including the mass deposited in your chest.

For this to succeed, you must exercise regularly without overstressing yourself.

As health experts point out, you need to work out your entire body so fat is burned uniformly, but the emphasis on the chest (and any other body part with excess fat) is recommended.

There are a lot of potential treatments but regardless which you use, you must always include exercise because it provides several health benefits.

There are different ways to start an exercise program, but no matter how you start, you must be willing to commit to it. Contrary to what some may say, there’s no one single right workout method to eliminate chest fat.

What you need to do is engage in several chest workouts, and resistance training is also necessary for burning calories.

Go on a Diet

This one doesn’t really need any further explanation: if fats are responsible for your man boobs, then you need to get rid of it by going on a diet.

There are literally thousands of diet programs available on the web, but there’s no need to shell out hundreds of dollars as it’s actually quite easy.

Just cut down the fats and sweets you consume, increase your fiber intake and eat several small few meals a day instead of three large ones.

You’re not going to lose pounds overnight but if you keep this up you’ll definitely shed excess pounds and fat, including those in your chest.

The less food you eat, the fewer calories and fat you’ll need to burn, but you need to make sure that whatever you’re eating is rich in nutrients and won’t add fat to your chest.

As you start on your diet, remember the following:

Create a diet plan either on your own or with the help of a dietitian. Regardless how you craft the plan, stick to it. The first few days will be the toughest but if you persevere, your body will get accustomed to it.

Be patient: even when coupled with creams or pills, your man boobs isn’t going to disappear right away. It will disappear albeit slowly.

Do not go on crash diets as it will do more harm than good. Yes, you will lose a few pounds in the beginning, but this is only for the short term. As your body is deprived of nutrition you’ll feel weak, forcing your metabolism to slow down and make it harder to lose weight.

Pills, Tablets, Creams and Supplements

There are several pills, creams, tablets and supplements available, but there are several things you need to take into consideration.

First, check if the product was formulated for pseudogynecomastia or real gynecomastia because these supplements will treat one or the other, not both.

Second, read the product ingredients and make sure that they’re natural and have undergone sufficient scientific testing.

Third, follow the directions for their application and don’t take or apply more than directed.

Fourth, read reviews of the product so you’ll know if it’s really as effective as the manufacturer claims.

Surgery

The last option is surgery, and there’s a reason why it’s the last resort.

Pills and creams will cost you a few dollars at most, whereas surgery will set you back at least $3,000 or more, and it won’t be covered by insurance.

And while there’s a good chance that surgery can fix the problem, whether it’s due to fat or breast tissue, it’s very expensive and there are potential side effects too.

Wear Shirts to Conceal Man Boobs

While you’re getting treated for the condition, there are some steps you can take to hide those man boobs, chief of which is a compression vest.

If you’re feeling conscious, a compression vest is an effective way of concealing it as you wait for the treatment to kick in.

While it’s not a permanent fix, these vests, or a loose fitting shirt, will conceal your man boobs. To find the ideal shirt size, use a tape measure and get your neck girth size, and use it as a guide to find a loose fitting shirt.

You should also measure your stomach girth and torso height, and if the numbers are large get a wide cut or tall cut shirt.

A collared shirt is ideal, and it has to be loose around the sleeve area but easy enough to button, but you shouldn’t.

Don’t wear work shirts as they’re supposed to be buttoned (which you don’t want to do), and those shirts also have tails that need to be tucked in, something you don’t want either.

Also don’t wear shirts with bright prints because it will draw eyes to your chest area, including skulls, fire, coins or other objects.

To hide your man boobs effectively, the shirt design has to be minimalist or none at all (i.e., just a solid color).

Clingy materials like silk have to be avoided, and you’re better off with other fabrics. It also won’t hurt to wear an over a shirt but don’t button it so it looks casual.

With very little effort this will hide your man boobs without appearing forced.

Finally, if you’re going to use pseudogynecomastia pills or other natural treatments, include workouts and stick to a healthy diet.

No matter how effective the treatment is if you eat the same food and live a sedentary lifestyle, fat will build up in your chest again, so make sure that doesn’t happen.