Do You Have Man Boobs? Beware of Pills, Surgery Risks

Thinking of using pills or surgery to get rid of your man boobs? Know the facts and risks.

If you think you’re alone with your man boobs, here’s some surprising stats: up to 60% of men have them. Some famous names had man boobs: Buddha, Egypt’s King Tut, and let’s not forget the Sumo wrestlers.

Man boobs is a condition known medically as Gynecomastia, taken from the Greek "gyne" meaning "woman" and "mastos" meaning "breast", taken together meaning "women-like breasts."  The symptoms are fatty and glandular tissue around the breast area, and in some cases tenderness. They generally appear during a boy’s puberty when they can be sore but this normally fades when manhood is reached.

If the tenderness persists, however, it’s definitely time to seek medical help to ensure there isn’t something more serious causing the problem.

Considering the meaning behind this condition, it’s not surprising men are extremely reluctant to talk about it. They tend to want to hide their feminine-like breasts from the public, which makes it very difficult for them both socially and in romantic situations.

Even the self-assured Simon Cowell of American Idol fame balked at the idea that a Kenyan child depicted him in a drawing as having man boobs.

One of the biggest questions men are asking is, “What causes man boobs and how can I get rid of them.”

Research has already made the connection between certain drugs and medical problems and male breast overdevelopment, but in the majority of cases the cause is unknown. For instance, marijuana and alcohol are identified as contributors. In some cases, by simply abstaining from these will be sufficient to reduce the size of those man boobs.

In rare cases, breast cancer can be the contributor, in which case a mammogram can soon make the determination. Once that has been ruled out, certain types of treatments can be undertaken.

The most dramatic solution is male breast reduction surgery, or cosmetic surgery, however it’s not guaranteed to work for all man boobs. The best candidates are healthy men who have firm, elastic skin that will easily reshape itself to the body’s newly defined contours.

For people who do not have such skin, this type of corrective surgery, which can include liposuction, can be ineffective. Then there's the pain of recovery and potential scarring afterwards.

Perhaps worthy of more concern is the high cost of such medical procedures which are not covered by medical insurance.

Despite claims, male breast reduction pills and formulas can be dangerous

Another option is medications that claim to reduce the fatty and glandular tissue beneath the man boobs. Gynexin Alpha Formula is one. As with any such treatments, caution is necessary even though the pill producers claim they are perfectly safe.

Consider that any medication or herbal supplement, which this product seems to contain, can cause a reaction in the user. Also, certain drugs do not work well when herbal supplements are added.

One main ingredient of Gynexin is Guggulsterones which helps maintain cholesterol levels. It comes with a serious warning. According to http://www.herbsmd.com/, they also “…boost thyroid activity, which supports cholesterol regulation by the liver. If you are taking thyroid drugs or other prescription medications you should consult your [physician] before taking this product.”

Gynexin claims it’s formula, which lists this ingredient first, is “the safe and inexpensive alternative to breast reduction surgery”.

Let’s take a closer look at the main ingredient of this product, Guggel, a fat-soluble extract from India's myrrh tree (Commiphora mukul). Here’s what I found in Science News about the potentially harmful effects of Guggel.

In a report in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Philippe O. Szapary of the University of Pennsylvania and his colleagues reported,

“…there were indications that guggulipids might actually raise blood concentrations of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the type that has been linked to heart disease.” http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20041002/food.asp

The article concludes with a warning to consumers that, “like conventional pharmaceuticals, herbal products have the potential to both offer benefits and trigger side effects.”

Another important thing to consider about this product is the dosage. The product sells for approximately $8 a bottle which will last one month when taken at the prescribed dosage of 3x a day. The fine print states that you might have to take it indefinitely (which I read as ‘the rest of your life’) if you want your man boobs to stay away. This tells me this is not a cure, but a Band-Aid solution for some men with boobs.

So what’s a man with boobs to do?

While this and similar products make great claims and offer a so-called “easy solution”, the best answer seems to be to find the proper exercises that will help dissolve the excess fat and the underlying glandular tissue and firm up the area.

Here’s a program I discovered that offers the help you need. Learn more at Lose Man Boobs System & Membership