February 19, 2026 | Gynecomastia
6 minute read
Gynecomastia can affect men of all ages, but is it possible to treat it without surgery? In some cases, yes. This blog discusses the varying degrees of gynecomastia, its symptoms, and potential non-surgical and surgical treatments.
Which Treatment Is Best for Your Gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia is a rare condition caused by a hormonal imbalance that results in enlarged breast tissue in men. An increase in glandular tissue characterizes true gynecomastia; however, many men also experience an increase in chest fat. When the excess of fat is the primary concern, not glandular tissue, the condition is called pseudogynecomastia.
True gynecomastia is best treated with gynecomastia surgery; Non-surgical options alone are ineffective in reducing the presence of glandular tissue. However, if excess fat is part of the problem, some non-surgical treatments may help sculpt the chest and reduce its appearance.
So, when will non-surgical treatments work, and when do you need surgery? We’ll discuss these options below.
Non-surgical Treatments for Pseudogynecomastia
If you’ve noticed an increase in the size of your chest, but it looks soft rather than sculpted, you may be experiencing pseudogynecomastia, or an increase in fat that appears like breasts. This is likely paired with an increase in overall body fat. Certain exercises can help reduce overall body fat and tone the chest, improving its appearance.
Cardio: Walking, running, or jogging are some of the easiest ways to reduce body fat and help you slim down quickly.
Rowing: Rowing machines provide a full-body workout that targets the chest and arms. The machine’s pulling motion helps strengthen your chest and arm muscles and reduces overall body fat.
Bench Press: Using the bench press builds upper-body strength and muscle mass in the chest, shoulders, and triceps, which can help reduce upper-body fat.
Swimming: This low-impact cardio exercise engages your arms and chest muscles and helps build cardiovascular endurance, supporting full-body strength and weight loss.
Lifestyle Changes
Exercise is only one piece of the puzzle. You can see even better results when you pair it with other healthy lifestyle choices, like:
Diet: A healthy diet rich in nutrients, lean proteins, leafy greens and vegetables, and vitamins and minerals is key to overall health, wellness, and energy. Focus on small changes at first, and incorporate more as you go.
Reduce alcohol intake: Alcohol is high in empty calories and also disrupts fat burning by taking priority in metabolism, meaning your body isn’t processing fat because it is busy processing the alcohol. Reducing your alcohol consumption can greatly benefit your weight loss journey.
Are There Non-surgical Treatments for Gynecomastia?
The above were suggestions for treating pseudogynecomastia, primarily through exercise and weight loss. But since true gynecomastia is caused by hormonal imbalances, non-surgical approaches are best when they deal with that issue, rather than the breast tissue itself. That’s why during a gynecomastia surgery consultation, your surgeon might suggest pairing these non-surgical treatments with surgery for the best results.
Stopping the use of steroids and drugs: Recreational drugs like marijuana can contribute to hormone imbalances that cause gynecomastia, such as lowering testosterone levels and increasing estrogen levels. Steroids, too, are an incredibly common cause of gynecomastia, as they disrupt hormone balances by accelerating the conversion of testosterone to estrogen. Your surgeon will require that you stop taking these substances prior to your gynecomastia surgery as a condition for your candidacy.
Hormone treatments: Seeking medical intervention for hormone imbalances can help get your body back on track. A hormone specialist can take measures of your testosterone and estrogen levels, and prescribe you hormone replacement therapy to balance those levels.
These treatments are almost always paired with a healthy diet and exercise routine, especially cardio and chest exercises. And while these non-surgical treatments are overwhelmingly beneficial for your overall health and longevity, treating the aesthetic concerns of true gynecomastia can only be done with surgery.
How Does Gynecomastia Surgery Work?
The severity of gynecomastia is measured in stages, but common physical concerns include:
- Excess breast tissue that is soft to the touch, usually located behind the nipple
- Puffy, tender nipples
- Potential for loose skin that has been stretched by the excess tissue
- Potential excess fat surrounding the breast tissue
These aesthetic concerns are what gynecomastia surgery addresses. Your procedure will be tailored to your specific concerns and addressed accordingly. Some possible surgical approaches include:
- Removing the glandular tissue through small incisions under the nipples, using surgical excision.
- Removing excess fat via liposuction, if needed.
- Tightening and removing excess skin that has been stretched by the excess tissue.
Your surgeon will likely use a combination of surgical techniques to achieve an ideal result. The goal of cosmetic gynecomastia is to remove the enlarged breasts while also creating a flattened, more masculine contour by reshaping the tissue. Additionally, keeping incision sites as small as possible helps reduce the risk of visible scarring.
How Do I Know Which Type of Gynecomastia I Have?
You can perform an at-home test to see which type of gynecomastia you have. The key difference between pseudogynecomastia and true gynecomastia is the presence of breast tissue versus fat. Breast tissue feels firmer than fat, while fat is more squishy to the touch. Some patients also have tenderness just under the nipple, where the glandular tissue forms. If you have firmer breasts that are sensitive to the touch, you likely have true gynecomastia and can benefit from a consultation with a board-certified gynecomastia surgery specialist.
If you conclude that your enlarged breasts are primarily fat, you may be able to see improvement with at-home measures like diet and exercise. However, if your enlarged breasts have caused your skin to stretch, surgical intervention is usually key.
Want to Learn More About Gynecomastia Surgery in Long Island?
The best way to discover which treatment option is best for you, and to determine the nature of your gynecomastia, is to schedule a consultation with an experienced gynecomastia surgeon. Call the board-certified plastic surgeons at Greenberg Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology at (888) 680-2090 or complete the contact form to get started.