Do your breasts feel larger than normal? Are you experiencing pain in your breast area from time to time? Learn more about how to diagnose a man’s chest and possible reasons why gynecomastia is painful.
Gynecomastia is a common condition in boys and men, where the breasts appear swollen and grow bigger than normal.
Teenage boys and older men are the main culprits of gynecomastia. While this condition is not a worry, you can correct it through gynecomastia surgery to allow evenness in the chest area. Read on to learn more about the causes of gynecomastia, why it is painful and how to relieve pain from swollen breasts.
What are the two types of gynecomastia?
There are mainly two known types of gynecomastia.
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Glandular gynecomastia
When estrogen overproduction is in your body, glandular gynecomastia begins to develop. Your breasts begin to have enlarged tissues making them look bigger and fuller than normal. Glandular gynecomastia is more likely to occur in older men.
Fatty gynecomastia
What are the common causes of gynecomastia, and what to watch out for? When you have excessive weight gain and accumulation of fatty acids around the breast area, you may need to consult your cosmetic surgeon for fatty gynecomastia and get remedies to treat the condition. Your cosmetic surgeon may offer advice such as healthy living, like how to lose gynecomastia with exercise and to avoid excessive consumption of junk foods.
What are the causes of painful gynecomastia?
There are several causes of painful gynecomastia in men. Depending on the pain intensity, some of these causes will require treatment but are mostly not cause for alarm. Problems in the breast tissues mainly cause painful gynecomastia. Some issues are treatable with the help of surgery, and medication, while others will go away on their own.
Cysts
Cysts are lumps beneath the skin containing fluid and air. In most cases, a cyst is harmless but could develop some soreness over time. You may experience painful gynecomastia when a cyst develops in one or both of your breasts.
Muscle strain
The pectoralis major and minor are the two main chest muscles. When you indulge in a weighted chest exercise, you exert unnecessary pressure and tension on the chest muscles. The muscles are also close to your breast, so you may experience painful gynecomastia.
Breast fat necrosis
Fat necrosis comes from damaged breast tissues. The damage is sometimes caused by undergoing breast surgery or biopsy. Breast fat necrosis also brings a lump beneath the breast tissues, which sometimes causes painful gynecomastia.
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is a rare occurrence in men. The condition causes tumor growths on your breast or armpits, which cause pain in the swollen breasts when sore.
Jogger’s nipple
When you constantly exercise, such as running, your skin, especially the one around the chest area, may experience irritation. Your nipples may chaf against the top or vest you are wearing, resulting in pain in your breasts.
Why is gynecomastia painful?
Gynecomastia can lead to breast pain and tenderness due to the enlarged breast tissue and skin changes that occur. The enlarged tissue and skin stretching can cause discomfort in several ways.
- Enlarged breast tissue rubs against clothing
The extra glandular tissue that develops with gynecomastia can be tender and sensitive. Tight clothing rubbing over the enlarged breast area in men can lead to chafing and irritation.
- Stretching of breast skin
As the breast tissue grows larger, it stretches out the skin of the breast. This skin stretching can result in discomfort, tightness, and sensitivity. The areola and nipple also may become tender as the skin is pulled taut.
How to stop gynecomastia from hurting
When experiencing painful gynecomastia, it is normal to want to get a pain-relieving solution fast. When your breasts continue to grow, you lose your self-confidence and esteem, which poses a challenge in your social life.
Some solutions you may start looking for are how to stop gynecomastia from growing and non-surgical gynecomastia fat removal without surgery. Gynecomastia poses a challenge to proper exercising as too much pressure on the chest makes the breast area painful. Here are some tips to help with managing painful gynecomastia.
Avoid high-intensity chest workouts
When suffering from gynecomastia, it is necessary to tone down on intensive chest workouts. Gynecomastia denotes excessive growth in the breast, and weighted exercise makes your breasts painful.
Gradually increase chest exercise resistance
If all you do to reduce gynecomastia are chest exercises, try gradually reducing the urge to exert pressure on your chest. You can try out other gynecomastia medications with the approval of your cosmetic surgeon to reduce the pain around your breast area.
Get enough rest between chest workouts
Too much chest exercise with no room for rest will escalate the pain in your breast if you are suffering from gynecomastia. To reduce this pain, exercise and rest at intervals so that your chest is free from so much pressure.
Use lubrication on the nipple before running
If you suffer from gynecomastia, running or exercising may cause chafing on your nipples. Lubricating your nipples prevents soreness from this exercise and helps reduce painful gynecomastia.
Benefits of male breast reduction gynecomastia treatment
Gynecomastia is a great challenge, especially when dealing with levels of confidence and self-esteem. Getting gynecomastia treatments such as a man’s chest surgery or treatments using home remedies is beneficial. Here are a few advantages of male chest reduction treatments.
It offers a more masculine figure
Society already has a perspective of how men and women should look. It gets difficult fitting in when you do not meet these societal expectations due to gynecomastia challenges. Male breast reduction treatments help to perfectly tone back the chest muscles and restore your masculine appearance.
It makes it easy to maintain a healthy weight
Having gynecomastia does not always translate to being overweight. However, men suffering from this condition have huge challenges maintaining a healthy weight.
You cannot indulge in sporty exercises such as jumping and running as they result in painful gynecomastia. Removing excess skin and glandular tissues boosts your self-confidence and allows you to participate in regular exercises without challenges.
The procedure is quick
Breast reduction for gynecomastia involves the surgical removal of excess glandular tissue, fat, and sometimes skin from the male chest. This procedure aims to achieve a flatter, more masculine contour, addressing the discomfort and appearance concerns related to enlarged male breasts.
| Step | Explanation | Estimated Duration |
| Consultation | Evaluation and discussion with a surgeon. | 30 minutes – 1 hour |
| Preparation | Instructions on medications, diet, and smoking. | 1-2 weeks prior |
| Anaesthesia | Local or general, based on the surgery’s extent. | 15 minutes – 30 minutes |
| Incision & Removal | Removal of excess glandular tissue, fat, and sometimes skin. | 1 – 3 hours |
| Recovery (Immediate Post-op) | Initial recovery in the hospital or clinic. | 2 – 4 hours |
| Recovery (Home) | Time at home with compression garment and following post-op care guidelines. | 3 – 6 weeks |
| Follow-up | Check-ups to monitor healing and address any complications. | 15 minutes – 1 hour (multiple sessions) |
Recovery is quick
Recovery after breast reduction for gynecomastia is crucial to achieve the best results and ensure proper healing. It involves following specific post-operative care guidelines, managing discomfort, and gradually returning to normal activities.
| Recovery Aspect | Description | Estimated Duration |
| Compression Garment | Worn to reduce swelling and support the chest’s new contour. | 3 – 6 weeks |
| Activity Restriction | Patients should avoid strenuous activities and heavy lifting. | First 2 – 3 weeks |
| Swelling and Bruising | Common post-operative symptoms will gradually subside. | 2 – 4 weeks |
| Pain Management | Painkillers are prescribed to manage discomfort during the initial recovery phase. | As needed |
| Incision Care | Keeping the incision clean and dry to prevent infections. | Until fully healed |
| Follow-up Appointments | Scheduled to monitor healing, remove drains if present, and address any complications. | 1 week, 1 month, and as required |
Conclusion
Breast pain in men can have mild and severe causes. Sharing the symptoms with your cosmetic surgeon to get early treatment is essential. Sometimes, the surgeon must conduct a series of tests to diagnose the condition and administer the right breast reduction treatments. Early diagnosis is essential and calls for taking gynecomastia pain seriously.
Do you live in Dubai, and are you in urgent need of a qualified gynecomastia cosmetic surgeon? Dr. Tarek Bayazid is One of Dubai’s premier plastic surgeons and is known for his exemplary work, especially in facial rejuvenation and body contouring. Dr.Tarek is a Member of the most prestigious Plastic Surgery Societies worldwide American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) the Emirates Plastic Surgery Society (EPSS), and Melbourne Advanced Facial Anatomy Course (MAFAC)
At Dr. Tarek Aesthetics, you will get a bundle of free LPG and endermologie massage before your surgery to prepare the tissue for a better outcome and reduce potential complications. And a bundle after to make recovery faster and to ensure better results by draining all the swelling and bruising that normally occur after every surgery. Book a free consultation and get a quote for Gynecomastia surgery UAE cost and treatment to help with painful gynecomastia.
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