A man who taped his chest under his armpits to hide his “man boobs” finally had them surgically removed.
For years, 23-year-old Sam Sawyers lived with what he described as “C cup breasts” caused by gynecomastia.
The rare condition affects thousands of men in the United States, yet many suffer in silence due to shame.
Now, after undergoing life-changing surgery overseas, Sam says he feels free in his own skin for the first time.
Growing Up With ‘Man Boobs’
Sam first noticed something was wrong with his chest during puberty.
“I thought I was just really fat,” he admitted. “By 10 years old, I already weighed like a grown man.”
Like many boys, he blamed it on weight gain — not realizing the real cause was gynecomastia.
Gynecomastia happens when hormone levels fluctuate and cause excess breast tissue in men.
It affects one in three boys during puberty, though most cases fade. For Sam, it never did.
School Bullies Made Life Hell
Sam says he faced relentless bullying in school.
“Kids would poke me every day. They’d touch my chest and make jokes,” he recalled.
The constant harassment crushed his confidence. He refused to take his shirt off in public, even on the beach or at the pool.
“I’d swim in a t-shirt. I wouldn’t even sunbathe without clothes,” he explained.
Even after losing five stone — nearly 70 pounds — Sam’s chest never changed.
“I was shredded, down to five percent body fat, and they were still there,” he said.
Desperate, he began taping his chest under his arms to hide the tissue.
“It ripped my skin, I’d bleed through the tape. It was horrible,” he said.
“I felt like I had C cup boobs resting on my stomach every single day.”
Sam’s fitness coach eventually suggested gynecomastia.
“I’d never even heard of it. I thought ‘man boobs’ just meant you were overweight,” Sam admitted.
A doctor confirmed the diagnosis, but surgery in the US wasn’t cheap.
“I was quoted nearly $30,000 for the procedure and skin removal. I couldn’t afford that,” Sam said.
Flying Abroad For Surgery
Sam started researching cheaper options and found a clinic in Poland. There, the entire procedure cost just $6,000 — a fraction of US prices.
He flew out in July, and surgeons removed the breast tissue and tightened the skin. To his surprise, recovery was painless.
“I didn’t really have any pain. It was nowhere near as bad as I thought,” he explained.
Sam says the surgery completely changed how he feels about himself.
“Before, I wasn’t taking care of myself. I was drinking every weekend, not planning for tomorrow,” he admitted.
“Now, I focus on the future. I want to better myself every single day.”
For the first time, he feels comfortable in his own body.
“The scars don’t bother me. Honestly, I think they look kind of cool,” he said.
Sam is already planning things he never would have dared before.
“Going to the beach shirtless is top of my bucket list,” he said.
He’s even shared topless photos online, showing off his transformation with pride.
“I finally feel confident in my own skin,” he said.
Now, Sam wants to raise awareness of gynecomastia so other men don’t suffer like he did.
“If I knew what I had at 12, I’d have gotten it fixed straight away,” he said.
“I missed out on so much because I didn’t know. For years, I blamed myself.”
Experts say the condition affects thousands of US men every year, but many never seek help.
“It’s more common than people think,” Sam said. “Guys shouldn’t be ashamed to talk about it.”
Support From His Girlfriend
Sam admitted he hid his chest from his girlfriend for an entire year.
“I wouldn’t even take my top off around her,” he explained.
Thankfully, she supported him through his entire journey.
“It made all the difference. Having that support gave me confidence to go through with surgery,” Sam said.
Now working as an assistant site manager and online coach, Sam shares his journey on social media.
He wants others struggling with body image to know they’re not alone.
“You can change your life. You just need to take that first step,” he said.
While he wishes he had known about gynecomastia earlier, Sam is just happy he acted when he did.
“I’m more comfortable in my skin now than I’ve ever been. And I’m excited for the future,” he said.
Featured image credit: Kennedy News and Media
