This story is based on an interview with Andrew Tagliarino, 34, a hospital administrator from Long Island, New York. It has been edited for length and clarity.
I was in my late teens when someone made a comment that completely threw me off. They told me I’d be “more good-looking” if I were skinnier.
It was mean, but it spurred me to lose a total of 80 pounds, going from 250 pounds, which was too heavy for my 6ft height, to 170.
I was addicted to food
Food had long been an addiction, and I’d been bullied for my weight for as long as I could remember. I was targeted because I couldn’t do sports as well as the other kids.
When the coaches handed out ice hockey and baseball uniforms, I had to wait longer for my order because I needed a larger size than everyone else.
As I grew older, I became particularly self-conscious about my enlarged breast tissue, caused by a hormone imbalance.
It remained a problem after I lost the weight at age 20. I did intermittent fasting combined with exercise, including kickboxing, but my chest stayed the same.
I always wore a tank top with swim trunks on the beach. I purposely bought shirts with writing or patterns as camouflage.
Plastic surgery had been on the back of my mind for years, but I’d been worried about the anesthesia. However, as I approached my 30th birthday in the spring of 2023, I decided to go ahead.
The surgery cost $7,000
I researched the procedure, a specialized form of fat removal known as gynecomastia liposuction, online. My surgeon, Dr. Claudia Kim, of New York City, said I was an ideal candidate for the liposuction and skin tightening, which cost me $7,000.
It took around 90 minutes to complete. I woke up determined to follow the aftercare instructions, including wearing a compression vest for two months.
The results were amazing and natural. I’d never looked down and seen a flat chest before. I could finally wear block-colored shirts without worrying about how I looked.
A year later, I spent another $7,000 when Dr. Kim performed liposuction on my obliques and flanks. These were other stubborn fat spots that my exercise program couldn’t seem to remove.
My confidence has soared
I feel like a whole new person. My confidence has gone from a baseline of five to 10. I wear tighter tops and go bare-chested when I’m on the beach with my wife and 3-year-old son.
There is a bit of a stigma about men having cosmetic surgery, but it’s dissipating. I’m happy to share my journey if it helps other guys deal with body concerns.
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