Smoking Marijuana May Increase Male Breast Size
The appearance of feminine breasts occurs in over 60% of American men. A recent ABC News article takes a thorough look at this condition, its treatments and causes. One particularly compelling cause of this condition is the use of marijuana during puberty.
Male breast reduction is one of the most common cosmetic surgeries performed on men, along with chin surgery and the tummy tuck procedure. This condition of enlarged breasts is known as gynecomastia. It is caused by a wide range of factors, including both genetic and behavioral influences. In addition to discussing possible causes of this condition, this article detailed a number of ways that you can treat gynecomastia.
Gynecomastia Influenced by Pot Smoking and Genetics
Many boys go through a stage of slightly enhanced breasts during their development during puberty. This affects each individual differently and at different times.
However, according to Dr. Steven Goldman, a surgeon experienced in male breast reduction, “young men who use marijuana through puberty may have that transient, temporary breast enlargement become permanent, because as their testosterone levels are altered by the marijuana they can get interference with the normal development.”
Marijuana suppresses the natural level of testosterone, which is a hormone crucial to male development. This creates an imbalance of estrogen, a hormone crucial to female development. This overall imbalance contributes to breasts that are of more feminine contour.
In Dr. Goldman’s words: “Those men can have in essence more breast tissue when they’re done with puberty than they would have otherwise had.” He believes this can be particularly challenging for young men, as “There’s a stigma associated with gynecomastia because men don’t want to have feminine body features.”
Those who deal with this issue may be able to address it through diet and exercises such as the chest press or inclined cable fly. For others, surgical options may be the most effective. These options include liposuction and a full male breast reduction to achieve a smoother, flatter, more masculine chest.