44.4% of women in Singapore aged 15 to 64 reported ranking hair loss as their top hair concern, surpassing concerns about hair damage or dryness
November 24, 2025
Table of Contents
Gynecomastia is a common medical condition that causes enlarged male breasts in men. However, the condition is often misunderstood and many men have been misinformed. There's just as much fact as fiction circulating online.
Misinformation and false advertising could derail how people experience the condition and identify the correct treatment for it.
Myth 1: Your beer and alcohol habit is why you’ve got man boobs
Beer connoisseurs who are fans of Indian Pale Ales (IPA) should worry about a condition known to brewers as "Brewer's Droop", another name for man boobs. Why? IPAs contain phytoestrogen, a plant-based estrogen hormone. However, the levels in IPAs are too low to cause significant hormonal imbalances.
Chronic alcohol abuse, on the other hand, whether it's beer, gin or whatever types of alcohol, may lead to liver issues, which may, in turn, lead to the development of gynecomastia.
Myth 2: Chest workouts are the solution to fix gynecomastia
While exercise is great for your overall health, no amount of bench presses or push-ups can get rid of the firm, rubbery glandular tissue that defines gynecomastia.
The enlarged male breast tissue is unresponsive to diet and exercise, which is why many men feel frustrated despite their best efforts in the gym.
Myth 3: Obesity gives you gynecomastia
While excess fat can certainly play a role in the lead up to man boobs, this common belief overlooks the complex physiological factors at play.
The truth is, gynecomastia doesn't discriminate by body type. Many of our patients are fit, active, and perplexed by a condition that seems to contradict their lifestyle. So, if it's not just about weight, what is it?
For many men, the answer lies in their genetic blueprint and the natural process of ageing.
Myth 4: Gynecomastia is not caused by hormonal imbalance
As men age, their bodies undergo a gradual shift in hormone levels. Testosterone levels naturally decline, which can sometimes create an imbalance with estrogen. This hormonal "see-saw" is a primary trigger for the development of gynecomastia.
Several other factors that can contribute to hormonal imbalance include:
- prescription drugs,
- alcohol abuse,
- abuse of anabolic steroids,
- rapid and significant weight loss, and
- underlying medical conditions such as testicular failure or pituitary gland disorder[1].
Myth 5: Pills, low energy laser and fat freezing can fix gynecomastia
There is no scientific evidence that these non-surgical treatments provide a permanent or effective solution for gynecomastia.
- Weight loss Pills: While certain medications can reduce overall body fat, they have no effect on the firm, rubbery glandular tissue that is the hallmark of gynecomastia. They cannot reverse the tissue that has already developed.
- Fat Freezing & Low-Level Lasers: These non-invasive treatments may reduce the fatty component of the chest slightly, but they are completely ineffective against the glandular tissue. This often leads to an incomplete result—a chest that is still protruding due to the untreated gland.
In our practice at Amaris B. Clinic, years of patient data and statistics reveal a reality: The majority of men present with a combination of both stubborn excess fat and resistant glandular tissue and such cases will require a complete excision of affected glands and removal of excess chest fat through gynecomastia Surgery.
Myth 6: Man boobs will come back again after gynecomastia surgery
This worry is completely understandable. But let us put this fear to rest.
When performed correctly, gynecomastia surgery is an effective and permanent solution. The glandular tissue responsible for the stubborn, firm breast enlargement is permanently removed during the procedure.
Recurrence is uncommon, but when it does occur in a small subset of patients (reported in some studies to be around 10%), it is crucial to understand why it happens.
Recurrence is almost never about the original tissue growing back, it is usually linked to new factors that trigger a fresh development of the condition. These can include significant hormonal shifts later in life, or the use of certain long-term medications, abusing anabolic steroids or recreational drugs and substantial weight gain.
Myth 7: Insurance in Singapore does not cover for gynecomastia surgery
While it's true that most policies exclude elective cosmetic procedures, the situation is more complex when a condition is classified as medically necessary.
When gynecomastia causes chronic physical pain, significant psychological distress, or when there's a suspicion of underlying pathology, it transitions from a cosmetic concern to a legitimate medical issue.
Insurance companies typically need evidence that demonstrates the medical impact of your condition :
- Clinical Diagnosis: A formal diagnosis confirming the presence of enlarged glandular breast tissue.
- Duration & Persistence: Documentation that the condition has persisted for a significant period (often 12 months or more) and has not resolved after addressing potential external causes, such as specific medications.
- Physical Symptoms: Persistent pain and breast swelling, tenderness, nipple discharge and sensitive nipples and affecting the patient’s quality of life.
- Ruling Out Causes: Evidence that other physiological causes have been investigated or treated without the condition regressing.
A confidential consultation can provide the clarity you need to explore all your options.
