I have gynecomastia

[Carnitas]

I have known this for a while, but went to my doctor about it 6 months ago finally. He took some pictures of me to send in to insurance to see if I can get the surgery covered. They approved a consultation, and so I went to see the doctor(different from my doctor) about two weeks ago. He told me I have it, but there was nothing he could do. To say I was disappointed is an understatement.

I've had this since I was about 10 or 11 years old, and has caused me to not go swimming or go to the beach, and feel uncomfortable wearing certain shirts. He said the only way he could operate was if he found breast cancer in my chest area, which he didn't, so I'm thankful for that. But anyways, has anyone here encountered this problem? I don't know what to do.

I'm in the middle of losing weight again, and I have even gone down to about 208 about two years ago, and they were still there. Is losing weight the only way to get rid of it, or am I doomed to have this for the rest of my life?

[pliny_2001]

Losing weight should only help with pseudo-gynocomastia. Actual gyno is the growth of breast tissue, not fat.

Decreasing your estrogen load should arrest any further progress, but I'm not sure if that'll help with pre-existing tissue -- some of the A/AS guys should know.

Men's Health had an article on it this month - I didn't really read it, but my general understanding is that most cases can only be resolved through surgery. Tough luck - try to keep plastics out of your life (decrease your contact w/ pthalates), but the condition (either real or pseudo) seem to be pretty common.

Good luck, keep us posted - I can't comprehend how a doc would say there's nothing he could do -- what kind of MD was he? ( and God I hate managed health care)

[Weeble29]

I am surprised to hear that the doctor you had a consultation with said there was nothing he could do. You can absolutely get that operation you just have to go to a plastic surgeon who will do it. I would do some research online and look at different clinics and plastic surgeons if I were you before you let this guy shoot your hopes down. I'll tell you right now it will not be covered by insurance, but you can definately get the operation. Thats just ridiculous that he said that without referring you to another surgeon for a second opinion. The only scenario I can imagine a physician denying you the procedure would be if you had some unusual health condition and your life would be threatened by the operation. Shop some surgeons and I'm sure you will find one willing to take care of that operation.

[pliny_2001]

I was assuming that his HMO sent him from his GP to one of the 'refusal specialists' who said that it simply wouldn't be covered by his policy, not that it wasn't doable.

But yes, a brief google should give you any number of plastic surgeons in the area who will probably be able to give you a much clearer idea as to costs, results, and complications.

[Carnitas]

Well some info on the doctor that refused it. He actually performed surgery on my father a few years ago, I believe it was to remove his gulbladder. So he is a surgeon if I remember correctly.

His whole reasoning as to why he wouldn't operate was because he wasn't sure of the outcome, and he said if it makes it worse than it already is, he wouldn't want that. If he approved it, it would have been covered by the insurance.

I'm not fat, I just have the excess breast tissue, and I think that is what worked in my advantage. My father said he would pay for the surgery for me, but I can't let him shell out who knows how much for something like that, I wouldn't feel right about it.

[Insex]

That sounds unfortunate.

If you want to get surgery done on this, just go out there and shop around. See if your insurance company will cover it if you go with someone else. Eventually, you'll find someone (most likely a plastic surgeon).

It's disappointing that the first surgeon wouldn't do it, but you should keep in mind that he has your best interests in mind. He's not telling you he doesn't want to do it just to be a jerk to you; he wants a good probability for success, and there's always the probability that you could come out of surgery looking worse than before. That's why he said he wouldn't do it unless there was cancer in the tissue, because cancer leads to death and anything is better than death.

[helpmespock]

I would be careful with MILD gyneo...some people with mild gyneo, just a little soft tissue about the nipple can look WORSE after the surgery, sort of mangled and scarred. If you have what look like small breasts, the surgery almost always results in vast improvement. Good luck.

[Carnitas]

Nah man, mine definitely is not mild. But thank you for your concern though. And yeah Insex, I know he had my best interest in mind, it was just disheartening to hear it when I was so optimistic and excited that I might actually be able to have them removed. I won't give up hope just yet.

[illiniballfan112]

How old are you Carnitas, if you mind me asking?

I have it as well but my problem is that I'm thin and lean, so it sticks out a bit more than me. I got made fun of alot in high school before I really developed muscularly. I stuck with my training hard and really focused on learning to deal with it mentally by not caring what people think. I don't know if plastic surgery is the answer. It sounds like you're banking the quality of your life on getting your gynomastia taken care of, in which case that is not a good mindset to get surgery anyways because it increases your chance of being disappointed in the results. And maybe your doctor was picking up on that and that's why he didn't approve it. Learn to feel comfortable with yourself, it can be hard but you don't need the pressure you put on yourself

[Carnitas]

I'm 20 years old. I've had it for a long time, and its bothered me for a long time, I try not to think about it, but if I see myself in the mirror with a shirt on, they just pop out and it hurts to see that.