Contrary to popular belief, pseudogynecomastia and gynecomastia are two different problems. Though pseudogynecomastia is often considered to be gynecomastia, the former is quite different from the actual medical problem.
It is worthwhile to mention here that all breast enlargements do not refer to gynecomastia because it may not necessarily be due to the enhanced breast tissue growth. It is, therefore, necessary to have a thorough understanding of both gynecomastia as well as pseudogynecomastia so as to understand and recognize the problem correctly. Both the conditions differ in their treatment, causes and effects. The only similarity is in the appearance of the two conditions and it is nearly impossible for a layman to differentiate one from the other.
Pseudo refers to false. Just like the literal meaning of the name implies, pseudogynecomastia falsely appears to be gynecomastia, however, it is not actually gynecomastia. The primary difference between both these conditions is that pseudogynecomastia is due to the excess fat while actual gynecomastia occurs due to an abnormal enhancement of breast tissue.
The major difference, as mentioned before, is the accumulated mass that imparts a feminine appearance to the male chest. Gynecomastia is the condition where the mass is actually excessively grown breast tissue whereas in pseudogynecomastia the accumulated mass is fat, not the breast tissue.
Only a specialist doctor can differentiate between the two. Though many physicians have adopted quite a few techniques to distinguish between these two conditions, the prevalent approach is to go for a detailed physical examination of the male chest.
With the patient lying flat on his back and heads resting on his clasped hands, the physician places his thumb and forefinger on either side of the breast. He gradually brings them both together from each side. If the patient is suffering from gynecomastia, a tough mass of tissue is found with the nipple in the middle. However, in the patients with pseudogynecomastia, such disc of tissue will be absent.
The determinants of the treatment of pseudogynecomastia include expenditure, time etc. In many cases, the problem can be resolved by opting for workouts rather than going for any particular medical treatment.
Also known as compression shirts, these shirts have specifically been designed to compress the chest, thus reducing the feminine appearance and creating a firm, more manly chest. However, the effect is only short-lived and vanishes soon as you take them off.
This option is best suited for those who are short on time, e.g. with a major event coming up etc. These shirts also allow you to appreciate your appearance as it will be after undergoing a medical treatment. So, they can help you to make up your mind about opting for a surgery or not.
Since the aim of the workout is to reduce or burn the fat in the chest area, a specialized workout regime needs to be defined. This solution, though time-consuming, is much cheaper and is also devoid of any side-effects.
The aim is to lose fat around the nipples without adding more muscles. Thus, the ideal strategy is to opt for low weights with enhanced frequency. There is a variety of exercises that you can do at home or at the gym so as to get rid of the extra fat on your chest. Scroll through some of our suggested workouts below:
For those people who do not have time (or energy) to workout in the gym, the last option is to go for surgery to rid of pseudogynecomastia. The result from surgery is readily apparent and instantaneous. The main factor in this treatment is the expense because it is a rather expensive option as compared to the other treatment choices. Since the aim is to remove fat, the surgical option to remove psedogynecomastia is often a simple liposuction.
| Difference | Gynecomastia | Pseudogynecomastia |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Excessive growth of breast tissue in adult men | Build up of fat behind, around and under nipples |
| Visibility | Depends on grade | Depends on how much fat has accumulated |
| Underlying matter | Breast tissue | Fat |
| Diagnosis | Best done by a gynecomastia surgeon | Best done by a gynecomastia surgeon |
| Surgical procedure | Excision | Liposuction |
| Treatment Options | Compression shirts, Gynecomastia Pills and Surgery | Compression shirts, Chest Fat Burning Pills, Workouts and Surgery |
