What causes puffy or fat nipples? Is it possible to get rid of them? Puffy nipples or gynecomastia are enlarged breasts caused by hormonal imbalances. They usually appear during puberty but there are conditions and medications that can trigger puffy nipples in adult males. This condition is also known as man boobs, mammary hypertrophy, or male breast enlargement. Gynecomastia can even happen to women, particularly after menopause.
Gynecomastia is a common problem affecting both males and females. In women, it occurs due to estrogen dominance (high estrogen levels) and low testosterone levels. In men, it is often associated with high levels of prolactin.
Puffy Nipples In Males: Causes And Treatment
Puffy nipples are caused by increased blood flow to the nipple area. This blood flow causes the skin to swell and become red. Puffy nipples can also occur when there is an imbalance of hormones in the body. Some men may experience swollen nipples during puberty. Excess body fat can cause puffy nipples. Certain medication side effects can trigger swelling as well.
Puffy nipples don’t usually mean anything serious.
If you’re struggling with your breasts, there are many ways to get them back to normal. Try improving your diet and exercising. Foods low in carbs and the elimination of estrogen-stimulating foods like soy can help. Weight loss takes care of puffy nipples for some men. You might need surgery if those solutions do not work.
Puffy nipples are caused by an imbalance of hormones in your body. When you’re young, testosterone levels are high, and estrogen levels are low. As you get older, testosterone levels drop, while estrogen levels rise. This hormonal change causes your breasts to become larger and puff up. But some cases a more complex.
There are several possible causes of inflamed, puffy nipples in men, including:
- Hormonal imbalances – low testosterone
- Steroid use over time
- Certain exercises will exacerbate the condition and make gynecomastia more prominent
- Having excess body fat
Hormonal Imbalances
Testosterone and estrogen are two different types of hormones. Testosterone is a male hormone, and estrogen is a female hormone. Both males and females produce both, but males produce more testosterone.
However, high estrogen levels can cause breast growth, resulting in a medical issue called gynecomastia. Breast and nipple swelling will go away once estrogen levels return to normal. But even then, stretched skin and enlarged glands can remain.
Excess Body Fat
Being overweight causes hormonal imbalances in men. Lowering body fat may help reduce breast and nipple swelling.
Fat Nipples In Men Are Common
Fat nipples in men are relatively common, even in the teens. The term is often interchangeable with puffy nipples. The puffiness is commonly the result of enlarged breast glands. As described above, it is often genetic, hormonal, and made worse by weight gain in some men.
Gynecomastia Overview
Gynecomastia in simple terms is a condition characterized when male breasts become enlarged. It affects around 32–65 percent of men. As shown above, puffy nipples and fat nipples are standard descriptions of the condition.
You May Require Surgery If You Have Symptoms That Do Not Improve
If dietary and exercise-related measures fail to improve your condition, surgery may be necessary to treat breast fullness with a surgical solution.
Male puffy or pointy nipples may protrude above the male chest area. It may be uncomfortable to wear tight-fitting shirts and can cause embarrassment.
Fortunately, a simple 30 minute in-office procedure done under local anesthesia by a qualified cosmetic surgeon can fix the issue.
Men can return to work the same day with very minimal downtime so you can return to your normal activities in a few days.*
*Always follow your surgeon’s post-operative instructions.
Surgical procedures to remove enlarged breasts or puffy nipples in men include:
- Liposuction: This procedure removes excess fat from the chest area by suctioning it through a small cannula.
- Breast reduction: A breast reduction involves reducing the size of the breasts by removing excess skin and fat.
- Gynecomastia surgery: A surgeon removes excess fat and glandular breast tissue to correct gynecomastia during this procedure. The surgeon may reduce the size of the nipple.
If you think you may have male puffy nipples we offer complimentary virtual consultations to discuss your treatment options.
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XSCULPT was founded by two award-winning board-certified surgeons Dr. Marc Adajar & Dr. Anh-Tuan Truong. Our practice specializes in body contouring procedures, including Gynecomastia (Male Breast Reduction), Abdominal Etching, Lipo 360, Vaser Hi Definition Liposuction, Male Puffy Nipple Reduction, Male Tummy Tuck, and Non-Surgical Fat Reduction. Medical services include Hormone & Testosterone Replacement Therapy, Anti-Aging, Peptide Therapy and Medical Weight Loss.
