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Whether you call them man-boobs, moobs, gynecomastia, or breasticles they have the power to make just about every guy want to shrivel up and hide.
The problem is, if you have them, there may not be all that much you can do to get rid of them. So you’ll have to do what the rest of us do and hide them.
Some guys are predisposed to store fatty tissue in their chest area and will look like they have breasts, no matter how muscular they get or how much weight they lose. But you probably already knew that.
If you have gynecomastia, no number of pushups or reps on a bench press will “firm up” your breast tissue and give you a flat or muscular chest. It may increase your muscle but you’ll still have fatty and glandular tissue. So what do you do?
Accept your puffy nipples and display them loud and proud?
Well, that is an option for sure, but not a very appealing one. At least not for me.
Most guys with extra fat in the chest area (or breast tissue) want a way to cover them up. One of the easiest ways to do this is with a compression shirt. The best compression shirts for gynecomastia will work whether you have been diagnosed with gynecomastia (a hormonal disorder) or your body simply wants you to have moobs.
Since I know you’re eager to get this show on the road, here are the very best compression shirts for hiding your gynecomastia:
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Do You Have Gynecomastia Or Is It Just Fat?
Some days I’ll wake up feeling great. I’ll put on a shirt I like, my jeans make my butt look cute, and I head to work. Everything is fine until I catch sight of my reflection on the sliding glass doors. Boobs. My boobs. Nothing ruins my day quite like seeing myself.
One of the first steps of controlling (or coming to terms with) your man boobs is getting to know them and accepting that they’re going to be there for a while. So, in the interest of introducing you to yourself, let’s talk about the two distinct types of breast problems that men have:
Gynecomastia
There are two types of tissue that can make your chest grow: fatty tissue (just fat) and glandular breast tissue (woman parts). Men with gynecomastia typically have a predisposition for storing fat cells in their chest, and when coupled with a hormonal imbalance, breasts grow.
As someone who has experienced gynecomastia firsthand, I can empathize with the confusion and anxiety that comes with noticing changes in your chest area. Just know that it’s probably nothing that you’ve done that made it develop. There are several potential causes for this condition, including hormonal imbalances, certain medications, and health conditions that affect hormone levels.
As I mentioned above, the most common reason is an imbalance between estrogen and testosterone, where the levels of estrogen are relatively high compared to testosterone. Typically this happens during puberty but can be brought on at other points in life as well.
The problem is, even though the imbalance is short-lived (often only during puberty), the breast tissue can be permanent. This means there is both good news and bad news. The good news is that your boobs won’t continue to develop more breast tissue. The bad news is that the only way to get them to go away for good is through surgery.
If you are looking for an actual diagnosis you’ll want to talk to a healthcare provider, however, you don’t need a diagnosis to know that your man boobs are uncomfortable and you want to hide them.
Pseudogynecomastia
The prefix “pseudo” simply means “fake.” So here, we’re talking about fake gyno. Fake gyno looks pretty much just like regular gynecomastia, but with the under-skin difference of there being no glandular tissue. Put simply, these are just fatty man boobs. They will usually go away with exercise and a proper diet (or liposuction if you want faster results…).
What I Wanted In A Gynecomastia Shirt – My Experience
Before we get into the actual compression shirts that we recommend to compress your man boobs, let’s talk about the characteristics we looked for so you can know both what you want and what we’ve got!
What Make The Best Compression Shirt For Gyno: 4 Things
1. Compression Level
If you’ve ever worn an Under Armour compression top, it’s nothing like a powerful compression gyno shirt. I say that to hopefully give you an idea of how powerful and compressing these shirts can be. In fact, many women who are transitioning to male use gyno shirts to get rid of their feminine curves. I’ve seen reviews of women stating that the most powerful of these shirts made their DDD chest look almost flat. So, the best compression shirt for gyno will be able to compress your chest without just squishing your fat around.
2. Stealth Ability
If you’ve been made fun of for your man boobs, you can imagine that being made fun of for wearing a compression shirt (or “bra for moobs” as idiots call them) isn’t much better. So your compression shirt had better be incognito, meaning it doesn’t show seam lines under a shirt, make your move strangely, etc.
3. Comfort
There’s not really any point in exchanging the misery of having moobs for the misery of wearing a sweaty, itchy vest that is squeezing you to death. Poor-quality shirts can make you sweat, chafe, cut into your armpits, etc. I did my best to find gyno vests and shirts that can be worn all day, every day without extreme discomfort. Of course, this involved some level of compromise. These aren’t the most powerful gynecomastia compression shirts available, but the ones that you’ll wear most often and get the most use out of.
4. Easy On/Off
If you’ve ever put on a power-lifting shirt, gyno shirts are just a less intense version of that. They can be difficult to get on and off, particularly if you are fat, have limited mobility, or buy one with lots of compressing power. Because of this, I sought out several options with zippers for ease of dressing/undressing.
And that’s it! Now that you know my criteria, let’s see the lineup of gyno compression shirts and vests!
The Best Gynecomastia Shirts & Vests
1. Esteem Apparel Tank – Best Vest For Man Boobs
If you want a shirt that will provide immediate slimming and all-day comfort while remaining concealable under any shirt, this is it. Esteem Apparel does nothing but makes undergarments for man-boob control, and they are very good at it. Not only do they make their gyno shirts out of 100% spandex (unlike most competitors), they use the highest quality materials to ensure that the shirt is breathable and won’t stretch out during the day.
The one drawback is that they only go up to 2XL in size, which is typically big enough for people 230lbs or smaller. If you are within that bracket, however, you can’t do better than this for reclaiming your confidence!
Putting on a gyno shirt quickly and properly can take some practice and effort. Luckily, we have a friend here to show us exactly how to do it.
While it’s a great video, I probably wouldn’t watch it at work…
2. Wonderience – Easiest To Put On Compression Vest
If you imagine that it would be too difficult to put on the gyno vest from Esteem Apparel, or perhaps need a bigger size, this vest is for you! The zippered front makes it much easier to put on than most gyno shirts and it is available in sizes up to 4XL!
If your chest needs more than the average level of compression to flatten to your liking this may not work for you. If you need maximum compression from the most powerful gynecomastia shirt, that’s next! However, if you just need a bit of help to look your best and stay comfortable, start here!
3. Tailong – Most Powerful Chest Binder / Gynecomastia Shapewear
If you need maximum body shaping, this is a great option. Not only does it control your chest jiggle, but it will also compress your belly and love handles, and correct your posture to boot! The under-zipper hooks allow you to control the amount of compression you want in each area to get the exact look and level of comfort that you want. If you want to don a tailored suit and look better than you have in years, this just might be the first step! Just don’t overdo it!
4. Underworks – Short Sleeve Compression Undershirt
If you are looking for a single-layer compression top to exercise in, you might want to check out a short-sleeve compression shirt instead of a vest. This shirt will control the movement of your chest and belly while you’re doing cardio or running and will prevent your nipples from popping out to say hello to everyone you see. Typically, big guys don’t need a shirt to control their shoulder fat, so adding sleeves isn’t necessary. In addition to that, having sleeves means that your armpits may have an unpleasant time if you get too tight of a shirt.
However, if concealability isn’t important and you need a gyno workout top, check this one out!
Best Regular Shirts & Clothing Options To Hide Man Boobs
1. Wear an Open Jacket
Wearing an open jacket, particularly one with structure, is an age-old trick if you want to keep your body shape under wraps. A leather jacket is typically a solid choice no matter how big your moobs might be.
Wear is slightly open and people will be asking, “does that guy have man boobs? Who knows?!”
2. Opt for Thick Sweaters/Cardigans
A gyno compression vest under a thick sweater will hide just about anything. After all, no one seeing you will assume that you probably have a bunch of chest fat you’ve wrapped up. You’ll look just like everyone else in your size, and fashionable to boot! Just pick up a pair of dress shoes for big guys to go with your new cardigan!
3. Wear Random or Small Scale Patterns
Wearing a shirt with a large pattern on it (blocks/polka-dots/etc.) will typically highlight your chest. Try as you may, you’ll probably end up with a big ol’ polka dot over each nipple, which will call attention to the whole situation. Small-scale plaids or stripes can make you look thinner and break up any curves you might have.
If you’re looking for other flattering ways to dress you can also check out 17 Fashion Tips For Fat Guys.
Treatment Options I Considered For My Gyno
The treatment for Gynecomastia is heavily influenced by your age and its severity. If you are a teen and have mild gyno, it will likely go away within 2 years. The breast tissue is simply reabsorbed by the body. If, however, a large amount of breast tissue remains, it can be surgically removed (called a mastectomy).
But can’t I just exercise to get rid of my man boobs?
Of course, you can exercise! Diet and exercise can be helpful in losing fatty tissue in the chest area, but they will not get rid of glandular breast tissue. If your body simply wants to grow fatty man-boobs and you don’t have actual breast tissue, liposuction becomes a viable treatment option.
So, short of surgery, try exercise. You should probably be exercising anyway, after all. However, for a huge (but obviously temporary) improvement, compression shirts can be a massive boost for your confidence. They’re a super cheap and fast solution, and you’ve got nothing to lose!
3 Tips To Get The Most Out Of A Gynecomastia Shirt
- Wear your vest as little as possible. A compression vest really isn’t meant to be worn all the time and can’t have some detrimental effects if you wear it for more than 8-9 hours at a time. Don’t wear it if you don’t need it (i.e. if you’re just hanging out at home), and be sure never to sleep in one.
- When you find a shirt that you like, buy several. Many people have one for every day of the week because let’s face it, they’re going to end up stinking.
- Don’t get attached to your new shirt. Don’t become so enamored with your new, flatter chest that you can’t go shirtless at the beach or just be yourself once in a while.
So, all in all, get a compression shirt. It can provide a massive boost to both your self-confidence and the way other people view you. Just don’t forget that liking how you look comes from within!
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