Gynecomastia, or male breast enlargement, is a condition that causes an embarrassing condition where the male breasts grow to much larger than normal and can even take on female-like characteristics.

For many decades now, men and teens with the condition have searched high and low for magic pills, exercises, and dietary changes that may give them the relief they are looking for so desperately.

Unfortunately, there are so many different ideas and theories out there that getting a reliable answer can prove nearly impossible these days, especially with the prospect of getting 7 million search results in Google!

According to the National Institutes of Health, gynecomastia can be caused by medications, hormones that occur at certain ages (especially in teens), or the use of illegal drugs such as bodybuilding steroids or marijuana.

In an article on Livestrong.com, there are several exercises described as being beneficial to reducing the signs of gynecomastia in male breasts. They describe exercises that work the upper, mid, and lower pectoral muscles as being the best types of exercises to get rid of man boobs.

So, will bench presses, decline push-ups, cable flys, or iso chest squeezes get rid of this life-altering condition? Many medical doctors say no.

When it comes to breast growth in men, the reason almost always is too much estrogen in the body. This can unfortunately be caused by a myriad of issues, but most commonly the reasons are as follows:

• Medications for another condition such as prostate enlargement, anxiety, as well as meds for kidney or liver failure.
• Steroids for bodybuilding.
• Marijuana, methadone, or meth-amphetamines.
• Lack of testosterone production (hormone imbalance).
• Chemotherapy.

Dr. Emmanuel Asare has been treating gynecomastia in bodybuilders, teens, and men for about a decade. In his experience as both a cosmetic physician and Board Certified Internist, whether or not the gynecomastia will go away on its own largely depends upon each individual patient.

In teens who have the condition, for example,  may have had the condition for at least a year before they come in to seek help. If their hormone levels check out and they are left with the physical remnants of a resolved case of gynecomastia, surgery is an excellent option.

In bodybuilders who have been taking steroids and now have an imbalance of estrogen vs testosterone, his first advice is to stop taking the steroids immediately and wait about 6 months. Doing exercises to "cure" the enlarged breasts will actually make them stand out more with each muscle-building chest exercise the athlete performs.

In men or teens who have no hormonal issues, are not on any medications, and have not taken steroids or illegal drugs, the most likely cause is what Dr. Asare describes as "pseudogynecomastia", or false gynecomastia.

In those cases, the enlarged breasts are due to too much body fat which can actually cause more estrogen to flow in the body than a person of normal body weight. In these cases only doe she recommend a diet (to lose weight) and weight training exercises, such as those mentioned above, to cure the condition.

For the very best, most expert care from a trusted surgeon with a decade of experience, call Dr. Asare today at 212.206.0023, 631.499.1831, or visit his website today at http://GynecomastiaNewYork.net.

One would think that plastic surgery and nutrition have absolutely nothing in common with each other. That couldn't be further from the truth! Here are two ways that they are interrelated.

Eating Well: A Two-Fold Benefit
When nutrition is optimal, the body works as it should. Hormones are in balance, excess weight is kept in check, and the internal functions of the body are working like a well-oiled machine.

A plant-based diet is truly the best way to optimal health in order to feed your body. For meat-eaters, it doesn't come naturally to switch the way they eat to exclude meat. Believe me, I still feel like a newbie sometimes. Best way to dive right in is to get a recipe book or cookbook (recipes are also easily found online) and try some out. Green leafy vegetables, colorful fruits and veggies, whole grains with complex carbs and protein (quinoa is a complete protein by the way) are wonderful to get your body healthy before surgery.

Benefit #2 of eating healthy is that your body weight will be normal and you'll be able to really spot trouble areas that are still hanging around due to genetics. We can't change our genes, but we CAN change the way they look when we wear them (a little scientific joke, there). The bottom line is that your body will look and feel its best with good food in it. You can be best prepared for plastic surgery so that afterward, you look even more fabulous!

What I mean is that with procedures such as laser liposuction, a Brazilian butt lift, or a breast augmentation, the areas of the body that simply "are the way they are" can be radically improved by the procedures mentioned. The added benefit of eating healthy prior to surgery is that you will have prepared your body to heal better, faster, and with fewer complications afterward.

For men with gynecomastia, for example, the condition of "man boobs" can be actually brought on by being overweight (called pseudogynecomastia) or can be a true case of gynecomastia caused by hormonal imbalance or a myriad of other reasons. Prescription drugs, illegal drugs, and kidney or liver disorders are just some of the "other" reasons why this condition can develop. The most common reason, however, is age-related hormone imbalance. It most often occurs in men over the age of 50 and in teens.

If you remember to eat well and get regular exercise, your body weight will stay in check and your internal functions such as hormonal balance will more than likely stay in check as well. When it doesn't, however, you can feel safe contacting a plastic surgeon to ask questions about what is physically happening to your body. In cases such as gynecomastia, often times they will run blood work for you to make sure everything is OK and possibly refer you to an internal medicine doctor for further exam.

To Optimal Health and Wellness,
Kim