Dealing with gynecomastia isn’t something many people talk about due to the stigma surrounding it. But then, there’s nothing to be ashamed of. The reality is that many people are diagnosed with this condition and are figuring out ways to manage it. If you’ve been recently diagnosed with gynecomastia, you may be wondering what exactly you can do to cope with your condition. Well, there are actually several things you can do to manage this condition and give yourself a better outlook on your current situation. Thus, let’s go over a few of those ways to manage and deal with gynecomastia effectively.
Change of medication
After speaking with a medical professional, you and your doctor may conclude that certain medications you’re taking are either exacerbating or causing your condition. In this case, for instance, your doctor may recommend an alternative drug to your current medication. The goal here is to, hopefully, relieve some of the side effects you’ve been experiencing, such as enlarged breasts, tissue, or nipples. If, however, your condition isn’t caused by any medication, then your doctor may recommend certain treatments/medication that can help to reduce the appearance of your breasts.
Surgeries
Yet another option many people explore is surgery. For some people, managing their gynecomastia is simply not in their plans. Instead, they choose to opt for surgery. Usually, there’s more than one surgical procedure for this condition that will remove a patient’s mammary glands and excess fat. The most common surgeries available for this are mastectomies and liposuction or laser fat removal.
Mastectomy
As mentioned above, this particular procedure will essentially remove the entire or whole tissue of the mammary gland. Here, the good news is that there are continual advances when it comes to a mastectomy. Thus, nowadays, this procedure can be done with a simple small incision. In the past, a surgeon would fully open the skin around the breast to remove the gland. But then, today’s technology allows for a less invasive approach. Note that this is one of the more permanent solutions when it comes to dealing with your gynecomastia.
Liposuction or laser fat removal
Alternatively, if you choose to go the liposuction or laser fat removal route, the fat is removed from a specific area. In this case, that area would be your breasts. Liposuction is obviously more of a surgery that will go in and remove persistent fat. On the other hand, laser fat removal will achieve the same results, but it’s considered the less invasive surgical option. Overall, both of these procedures help reduce fat cells that haven’t responded to diet and exercise.
Non-surgical interventions
Of course, surgery isn’t the only option. In fact, many people are turning to other popular methods for removing excess body fat. For instance, CoolSculpting is a fairly new procedure that freezes the fat cells in a particular area, and essentially kills them. This non-surgical option does take a few sessions for it to be completely effective. Nevertheless, it’s worth considering if you’re looking for medical intervention without any downtime or recovery period. Note that in addition to CoolSculpting, there’s also Hot Sculpting or SculpSure that uses a laser/heat to produce similar results.
Bodywear
Regardless of the route you choose to go to reduce the appearance of your breasts, you should consider using compression garments or bodywear that’s specifically designed to help people deal with gynecomastia. If you don’t know where to start looking for compression garments, you should check out the Confidence Bodywear shop. Here, you’ll find a variety of custom-made compression bodywear.
Lifestyle changes
Besides investing in bodywear, it may just be time to change your lifestyle. If diet and exercise aren’t a part of your routine, then it’s time to be honest with yourself and add them. Eating right and staying physically active aren’t cure-alls, but they help reduce unwanted body fat. As a result, simple lifestyle changes may help to reduce your gynecomastia. Moreover, staying fit is a great way to increase your self-confidence and boost your overall mood. Note that you should speak with your doctor and a nutritionist first before you start working out seven days a week or restricting calories.
Talk it out
Lastly, one of the best things you can do with any condition is to speak with a professional or others that have been where you are. Knowing you’re not alone and don’t have to face or manage this condition by yourself is crucial. Even if you prefer to keep things to yourself, you should really take the first step and talk it out with a trusted friend, a support group, or a therapist. Doing so will help you more than you know. Don’t be afraid to talk about your gynecomastia and remember, though it may not feel like it right now, there’s nothing to be ashamed of.
Start a new life
At the end of the day, succumbing to societal pressures and harming yourself to achieve the perfect body isn’t good for anyone. As you’re probably aware, there are countless causes for gynecomastia. Ultimately, only you and your doctor know what the best course of treatment is, so you may not need surgery after all. You might just need to make some lifestyle changes and start being kinder to yourself.
Final Note
Dealing with gynecomastia can be challenging at times. However, you don’t have to accept your condition as your “new normal.” As you can see, there are so many things you can do to make living with gynecomastia much easier. Whether you choose to invest in some compression bodywear and work out more, or you opt for surgery and speak with a therapist, you can take hold of your life once again.
