Is this gynecomastia? Is my stomach skin or fat? Went from 215 to 160/170LB

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maxist7955

New member
Went from 215 to about 165 but my chest hasnt gotten anywhere close to completely flat. I was so skinny at one point my face looked too thin and everyone told me to stop losing weight. I stopped working out a few months ago and my chest has gone back to mostly fat (doesnt really look any different to me though I dont think, I just feel more uncomfortable with it now), between that and what seems to either be fat gained back or skin (not sure my stomach even looks any different from when I stopped working out besides that i lost the definition), I feel just as uncomfortable with myself as I did when I was 215. How do I tell if its fat or skin for sure? Is there any way? When I'm standing up Im pretty comfortable with my stomach besides the little bit of skin u can see (in the pic) at the bottom, but when I sit its disgusting. I find myself constantly slouching because I cant feel my stomach go over my pants/shorts. It's getting pretty serious with how much/often its bothering me but I really dont want to go back to the gym (unless its a temporary thing, just to fix things). I have more/bigger pics and let me know if you need any different pics. btw im not sure how accurate those handheld things are but i was down to like 8-10% body fat too. stomach/skin was still there and so was the chest. (i say was, incase its gotten worse since but i dont rly think so) .Thanks so much guys.
 

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maxist7955 said:
Went from 215 to about 165 but my chest hasnt gotten anywhere close to completely flat. I was so skinny at one point my face looked too thin and everyone told me to stop losing weight. I stopped working out a few months ago and my chest has gone back to mostly fat (doesnt really look any different to me though I dont think, I just feel more uncomfortable with it now), between that and what seems to either be fat gained back or skin (not sure my stomach even looks any different from when I stopped working out besides that i lost the definition), I feel just as uncomfortable with myself as I did when I was 215. How do I tell if its fat or skin for sure? Is there any way? When I'm standing up Im pretty comfortable with my stomach besides the little bit of skin u can see (in the pic) at the bottom, but when I sit its disgusting. I find myself constantly slouching because I cant feel my stomach go over my pants/shorts. It's getting pretty serious with how much/often its bothering me but I really dont want to go back to the gym (unless its a temporary thing, just to fix things). I have more/bigger pics and let me know if you need any different pics. btw im not sure how accurate those handheld things are but i was down to like 8-10% body fat too. stomach/skin was still there and so was the chest. (i say was, incase its gotten worse since but i dont rly think so) .Thanks so much guys.
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This might be a question to take to a doctor if you are at this point of frustration.

I hear the surgery costs anywhere from 3000-8000 dollars, and that socialized medical systems like Canadian healthcare will pay for it if it's causing mental stress.

I was told of a woman at a family members work that got full loose skin surgery covered here. However I don't know if you are American or where you are from as to whether that possibility applies to you. In the USA I believe it's tough luck with every insurance provider.

For myself. I am facing the question of if I have it or not as well which I will find out in another 30 or so pounds. Personally, If I had to pay for it I would find some way to, coming up with even 10k to deal with it would be worth it to me.
 
It's not that much money if you think of it. It's like buying a motorcycle or something of that size. Something that can be saved up for.

And the question to ask is, is surgery worth it assuming it's actually needed to solve the problem. To me the answer is an emphatic yes. Personal happiness is worth far more than many of the things we spend money on day in day out.

There is a gynecomastia forum I found on the boards here the link for which escapes me, but a forum search for gynecomastia should turn it up, or a google search.
 
Medical insurance generally doesn't cover cosmetic surgery anyway. This isn't a medically necessary procedure, so it's highly unlikely that you'd be able to have it covered.

The problem is that you stopped working out and you won't go back to it. Going to the gym as a "temporary thing" is not going to solve your problem either. If you're not going to maintain the muscle, then you're going to get saggy and "skinny fat" and have the issues you have.

Getting the flat chest and fit look means you have to maintain it. You can't be lazy and expect your body to look the way you want it to.
 
My medical insurance covers breast reductions. Why would this be any different? We would evaluate two or three doctors' recommendations and if they agreed that it was medically necessary, we'd pay for it. Heck, our insurance company paid for a sex change operation for a guy to become a gal. If it's really important for you to have them reduced, you'll have to go through some hoops, but in the end insurance might actually pay for it. I've seen stranger things paid and I've seen sadder things denied.
 
My medical insurance covers breast reductions. Why would this be any different?
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I would bet that if you looked into it, it covers breast reductions that are medically necessary - for your health. There are women who need reductions because they are large enough to cause pain/back issues. I am willing to bet that if you just want to "look better" .. the insurance won't cover it.

And "I'm not willing to go to the gym and fix this the right way" probably isn't going to be considered medically necessary.
 
KaraCooks said:
I would bet that if you looked into it, it covers breast reductions that are medically necessary - for your health. There are women who need reductions because they are large enough to cause pain/back issues. I am willing to bet that if you just want to "look better" .. the insurance won't cover it.

And "I'm not willing to go to the gym and fix this the right way" probably isn't going to be considered medically necessary.
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That's what I said, though. Medically necessary. I don't need to "look into it" ~ I had a reduction through my company. By "my company" I mean the plan I administer. With two doctor's recommendations, we will do just about anything. The OP only needs to do what his insurance tells him to do, which will generally include two doctor's recommendations, a lengthy statement of medical necessity, pictures, and the ability to cover the co-pay. If we deny it, you can appeal with two other doctors and by then, we definitely cover it.

As I said, we covered a sex change operation. Ugliest woman I ever saw but that's what the guy wanted, was to be a woman. He got two doctors to write extensive reports as to why it was in his best interest mentally and physically to become a woman, we sent it for review to the highest level at the company, and they approved it.

If we received all the necessary paperwork from covered physicians, we'd pay for this guy to have surgery. Basically it says in our guidelines "covered with necessary statement of medical necessity" and in today's world, you can generally find a doctor who's on your side and will write the letter.
 
Kellyana said:
That's what I said, though. Medically necessary. I don't need to "look into it" ~ I had a reduction through my company. By "my company" I mean the plan I administer. With two doctor's recommendations, we will do just about anything. The OP only needs to do what his insurance tells him to do, which will generally include two doctor's recommendations, a lengthy statement of medical necessity, pictures, and the ability to cover the co-pay. If we deny it, you can appeal with two other doctors and by then, we definitely cover it.

As I said, we covered a sex change operation. Ugliest woman I ever saw but that's what the guy wanted, was to be a woman. He got two doctors to write extensive reports as to why it was in his best interest mentally and physically to become a woman, we sent it for review to the highest level at the company, and they approved it.

If we received all the necessary paperwork from covered physicians, we'd pay for this guy to have surgery. Basically it says in our guidelines "covered with necessary statement of medical necessity" and in today's world, you can generally find a doctor who's on your side and will write the letter.
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I've spent some time looking over the gynecomastia forum, The general consensus was that no one was having any luck getting U.S. insurance providers to pay for it.

It isn't treated the same way as breast reduction for women is by the medical or the insurance industry.

If I remember right there was even a thread titled something to the effect of petition to get the insurance providers to start paying for this kind of surgery.

Many of the men on that forum were recommending getting the surgery done outside the U.S. even in India for the cost reduction. Some were saying as low as $2500 dollars.

Personally though I wouldn't be one to take a chance on discount cosmetic surgery, and you want a doctor where you can get lots of feedback and examples of results.
 
yeah i have a problem with money
and i dont even mean like, being poor
im extremely tight with my money and have been saving since i was 13, so I have the money really.
the only possible way i think i could ever even consider paying for all of this is if i know its the last choice.
and then im scared like, that im just gonna find something else that bothers me, for example the stretch marks im covered in.

@ocd, there is way too much out there to find that specific post, but u can search the forum by specific words or the username of the person if that can help me find it at all (with ur help of course)

@kelly and kara, again i have no medical insurance otherwise i would probably be right on that.

@kara i think it goes a bit past "wanting to look good" not sure if u really caught this by my post but...now more my stomach than anything, is something that is, with a bit of exaggeration (sp?), torturing me mentally. i, worked, my, ass, off t get this far...and even before i stopped working out (not that, again, i think much has changed), was not even close to satisfied....6 pack coming in and all....i still had that skin at the bottom.

@kelly how long would i have to be (approx) on an insurance for them to cover something like this? ive been saving every dollar ive made since the age of about 13, 14...as tormented by this as i am, i dont know if i can commit to spending 1/5th of my life savings on it.



2500...is like, not all that big of a deal ive heard of that too i think...but between that and, what i guess would be a slight? tummy tuck, im probably looking at a fortune.

i apologize for slow communication, this is a topic...that...i put off thinking about...as much as possible. im honestly considering seeing a psychiatrist.
 
@karacrooks, i think i kind of gave up when i took a 30 min drive to see someone who, is sorta in my same exact position, hired as a personal trainer who (as well as others) said it was something that i was just going to have to deal with. as far as the "breasts" go ...pretty much just got "its not gyne." just looks like an underdeveloped chest. opinions? embarrassed by it pretty greatly.
 
Hey, I don't think that is gynecomastia but it may be and I don't think that is stomach fat. All of it looks like excess skin. Which I don't think insurance covers, but i think surgery is the only way to get rid of it. I once weighed 210 pounds at age 17 and than lost weight and dropped down to 150 lbs by age 20. But for some reason I never expericed any excess skin. Did you lose your weight in a very short time?
 
about 6 months. might be a little fat but shouldnt be much i dont think if any. when i sit it looks disgusting...thats what gets to me. and when i bend over my (not only does my stomach look as bad as when i sit down....no worse) but my chest becomes....an ugly shape because its fat.

so if its not gyne then what? work my ass off until it finally flattens all the way? (considering muscle burns fat)? i worked my ass off for that 6 months and....thats all its gotten me. i ate probably one big sized "bad" meal, in that six months (between the little bit that i picked at stuff between that time, adding up to a meal.) thats how strict i was with it.

what do i do?
 
i worked my ass off for that 6 months and....thats all its gotten me.
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Six months is the tiniest percent of time in relation to the rest of your life. 6 months is nothing. It's a drop in the bucket. Life doesn't happen in 6 months.

Keep working. When you've lost weight - especially a large amount, it can take a year or more for your skin to restore itself, and to become tighter.

Keep working out. Keep eating healthily. Quit obsessing.
 
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