Young man with growing breasts: “My friend asked why my ‘tits’ were showing from under my shirt. And if I’d left my bra off.”
“I’ve been very embarrassed. Because of my breasts. I’ve been ashamed of them since I was a boy. In physical education, I tried not to take off my shirt in front of everyone. I also didn’t go to the beach or the pool for a long time,” says Rivo, in his twenties, who started developing breasts in his teens. How common is the problem of growing male breasts and what should be done in such a case?
Rivo admits that during his teenage years, sports weren’t his favorite activity. “I still liked to sit behind the computer and play games. And well, no secret, also eat junk food. My stomach never really got full,” the young man recalls.
While Rivo was otherwise content with himself, and his protruding belly and overweight didn’t cause any issues, the first remark about Rivo’s growing breasts came from his best friend. “We were at a party, chatting with buddies. We were also a bit tipsy. Suddenly my friend said: ‘Hey Rivo, why are your breasts showing from under your shirt? Did you leave your bra at home today?’ I felt so bad, and my self-esteem plummeted below zero. I went home, the party mood was gone! That’s how that blow really hit. I had noticed my slightly larger breasts before, but they didn’t bother me. I also thought others wouldn’t notice. But how wrong I was!”
After that, the young man started looking for ways to lose weight and get rid of his breasts. “A while later, I started going to the gym. I looked up exactly what exercises to do to get rid of my ‘tits’. I found some chest muscle exercises. I also started eating healthy to lose weight – who would want a man with breasts like that!”
Today, Rivo has been going to the gym for over three years, and his breasts no longer bother him as much. “Well, they are still a little bit bigger, but since I’ve put a lot of emphasis on chest muscles during workouts, the situation is much better.”
Rivo has not contacted doctors about his concern. “I’ve tried to cope on my own and researched online what I could do at home to alleviate the situation. If they really still bother me, then I’ll have to contact a surgeon.”
A big problem abroad
Sam, who appears on TikTok and sells natural supplements, says that it’s increasingly becoming the new normal to see men with breasts. “Male breasts are a very big problem. Our young men today are very lazy. They eat too much junk food and don’t move enough. Breasts can develop due to overweight, but that’s not always the only reason,” he explains. “Male breast growth can also be affected by pesticides and chemicals that enter the body. Or certain medications.”
Personal trainer Dominik Monson says on TikTok that he has struggled with gynecomastia, or breast enlargement, since his teenage years. “Living with such a particularity hasn’t been easy, especially as a teenager. Friends always called me all sorts of names. I had to wear three T-shirts at once to be comfortable and so my breasts wouldn’t show through. I never went to the beach because it was embarrassing to take off my shirt,” he says.
Dominik gives advice to all men “in the same boat”. “Exactly three things helped me. Maintaining mental and physical health, and healthy food. These changed my life by about ten percent!”
Breasts cause mental suffering
Surgeon Dr. Heiko Atna from Kotka Private Hospital confirms that gynecomastia involves the pathological enlargement of breasts or one breast in men. “Its cause can be a hormonal imbalance, certain medical conditions, or side effects caused by medications. In boys, breast enlargement occurs during puberty, which mostly recedes over time and does not require medical intervention. Gynecomastia is a fairly common problem, and every third man over 50 years old suffers from it. In a large number of men, the cause of gynecomastia may remain unclear.”
However, breast enlargement in an overweight man does not always mean gynecomastia. “Here, a distinction must be made between gynecomastia and pseudogynecomastia. In the latter case, breast enlargement is due to excessive adipose tissue, not a hypertrophic mammary gland. In cases of pseudogynecomastia, it is possible to reduce the volume of the mammary gland with weight loss, but this is often not possible with gynecomastia,” explains Dr. Atna.
Dr. Atna encourages men to seek medical attention for gynecomastia. “However, instead of coming for an appointment, people tend to hide the problem from others. Talking about it feels embarrassing, and help from a doctor is rarely sought,” admits the surgeon.
In which case is surgical intervention necessary? Dr. Atna says that patients are usually referred to a plastic surgeon by either a men’s health specialist or a family doctor if medical treatment has not yielded the desired results. “The goal of surgical treatment is to remove enlarged glandular tissue, and often liposuction is also necessary to achieve a better aesthetic outcome. Gynecomastia is an aesthetic problem, and therefore the Health Insurance Fund does not reimburse the treatment. I would definitely recommend seeking help, because if it causes insecurity and dissatisfaction with oneself, it strongly affects the quality of life as well.”
