Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Why do men have nipples? The basic reason is familiar to anyone who has seen or read Jurassic Park: all vertebrate embryos are female to begin with, requiring certain hormones at certain stages to transform them into males. In addition, nature is frugal, so it requires a good reason for men to not have nipples before natural selection would lead to their absence, even if the nipples are largely cosmetic and nonfunctional.

Although there is no evolutionarily-sufficient reason for men to not have nipples, there are rigid social standards about what is acceptable for men's nipples. Essentially, breasts are one of the main components of sexual dimorphism, and society has taken its cues from nature in this area. Men's breasts should not look like women's breasts, either in terms of size or shape or the presence of pronounced nipples with large, colored areolas. If your breasts are enlarged as a result of Gynecomastia, you can receive treatment, and the same is true if your nipples are enlarged.

If you are embarrassed to take your shirt off, either in front of women or other men as a result of your enlarged nipples, you need not worry any more. Whether your nipples are too long or too wide, or if you have large, pronounced areolas, nipple reduction can make your chest appear more masculine.

To learn more about nipple reduction, contact Dr. Placik today for a consultation.