Ask Tug: Compression and Slimming Undershirts. Shapewear for Men.

1/20/09 – What started off as an article primarily to address a readers question about whether or not there was an undershirt that would help flatten his chest area, has expanded quickly into post about men’s shapewear (compression and slimming undershirts).

Here’s my theory – compression undershirts have been around for a while, but they have been primarily designed for and marketed to men looking to help mask the effects of gynecomastia (man boobs). I’m just guessing, but at some point last year, some smart marketing person must have had a light bulb go off in their head and decided that these same compression undershirts could be marketed in a new way and could address a new and different market need. I also suspect that some of the companies that are now offering shapewear for men have gone to some extent to enhance the designs of some of the early generation compression undershirts so they look more like undershirts, and have a more masculine, sporty design.

So, with all that said, the article below addresses not only the reader’s original question, it also provides information on various men’s shapewear undershirts.

Here’s the original title of this article:

Ask Tug: Is there an Undershirt or Wifebeater that will hide or mask the effects of Gynecomastia (puffy nipples)?

I’m really glad this reader wrote in to ask his question. It’s an important topic we haven’t discussed here yet and it’s about time we did. Here’s his email:

Hey how are you? I found your blog while looking for a solution to my problem.

It’s not really a problem but it’s something that I deal with everyday. I am looking for an undershirt or a wifebeater preferably that will help me hide/flatten my chest area. I am not overweight or anything like that…I am actually in good shape.

The thing is that to me my chest and nipples look like they are “popping out” more that I would like them to… I am very self conscious and it is something that I get embarrassed about, even though people around me tell me that you can’t really notice it.

Basically what I’ve been doing is putting a wide elastic band around my chest area and then i wear my wifebeater on top. It’s something that I’m getting tired of doing everyday…so I was wondering if you know of any brand of wifebeater that can help me with this problem that I have without having to put something else under it?

I was reading about compression shirts form “under armour”…but i haven’t been able to find one that looks like a tank top from them. They all have long sleeves and are usually dark colors. Plus, I don’t even know if a compression shirt would work for what I need.

Thank you very much, and hopefully you can help me out.
-J

Hi J,

Thank you so much for writing in with your question. This has been a topic that I’ve wanted to write about for some time, but I just haven’t had the time to address it, that is, until now.

The good news is, there are some undershirts that I can refer you to that are specially designed to address your particular need. But, before I tell you about them, I wanted to share some information about the condition you’re experiencing with your nipples so you realize that you’re not alone. In fact, roughly 33%-50% of males (adolescent & adult), including those who are in good shape such as yourself, experience some form of this condition.

The medical name for the condition is gynecomastia (alternate spelling: gynaecomastia). It’s also referred to a man boobs (moobs), puffy nipples, and excessive chest fat. Men experience this condition in varying degrees of severity and it ranges from slightly puffy nipples to a complete feminine appearance.

If you’re still a young male, there is a good possibility that you will grow out of it.

For your reference, here are a few websites that provide some good information about the topic:

1. Gynecomastia in Men
2. Male Puffy Nipples – Why Do They Happen?
3. How To Get Rid Of Man Boobs (Moobs), Eliminate Puffy Nipples, and Burn Chest Fat

If you’re looking to eliminate the condition altogether, remedies range from dieting, taking special supplements, to plastic surgery (liposuction).

To address your original question about whether or not there are tank tops or undershirts available that will help mask your nipple area, I have a few recommendations:

1. Fitted/Stretchy tank tops and undershirts – There are a wide range of fitted (form fitting, body conscious) undershirts that are made out stretchy material (lycra, spandex, polyester, dow xla) that will fit you closely and comfortably. Form fitting full undershirts will likely provide more compressing effects since there is more fabric in the chest and arm area than with tanks tops. That said, while I am not able to suggest one that closely resembles a wife beater tank, here are some options for you to look at:
   - Men’s Stretch 2xist tank tops at Barenecessities.com
   - Men’s Stretch undershirts at Barenecessities.com
   - Also try searching for “stretch undershirt” or “stretch t-shirt” at hisroom.com and freshpair.com
2. Core Precision Undershirts from Equmen – Not available until January 2009, but these new high performance undershirts look like a new promising alternative that you might consider. I’m probably over simplifying it but they strike me as a cross between Compression athletic shirts and Spanx. They use a HELIX-MAPPING Body Response Technology that looks pretty interesting and is described further on their website. Based on the pictures, it appears they will offer them in tank top, crew neck, and v-neck styles and white, black, grey, and blue colors.
   See My Review Here: Undershirt Review: Equmen Core Precision Undershirt
3. RIPT FUSION – New men’s shapewear/compression “undershirt on steriods” from Yummie Tummie creator Heather Thomson. Dual fabric technology provides comfort in chest and sweep and provides compression in section midsection. Comes in v-neck and crew neck. Price: $58.
   International Customers can purchase RIPT Fusion at RibbedTee.com.
   See My Review Here: Undershirt Review: RIPT Fusion Body Sculpting Undershirt
4. Sculptees: Sculptwear for Men – Another new find from a reader. This company also offers a variety of compression tops and briefs. The collection includes tank tops and t-shirt compression tees (black and white) as well as a compression waistband and short and long briefs. Tanks cost $58 and Tees cost $78.
   See My Review Here: Undershirt Review: Sculptees T-Slim Crew Neck Undershirt
5. SPANX for Men Cotton Compression Undershirts, by Sara Blakely – (2/04/10) – Pre-Order SPANX for Men Cotton Compression Undershirts starting today.
   See My Review Here: Undershirt Review: SPANX for Men Cotton Compression Undershirt
6. Bodymax from Marks & Spencer (UK) – (12/30/2009) Due to release in early January 2010, UK retailer Marks & Spencer recently announced that they are launching their own men’s shapewear undershirts under the brand Bodymax. The retailer claims these special slimming undershirts will take up to 1.5″ off your waistline and with prices ranging from $19 – $24 USD (more than 50% less than most other slimming undershirts), M&S could change the face of the men’s shapewear market pretty dramatically.
   See My “Initial Thoughts” Review Here: Wanna See The New Bodymax Shapewear Slimming Undershirts for Men? Here Are My Initial Thoughts
7. Manshape Shapewear Support Underwear – I can’t take any credit for finding this product, but one of the company reps (duffy) stopped by the site and posted a comment down below introducing me (and the rest of the world) to their product line. They offer a Supportank ($31) and a Support Brief ($42.50). From the pictures on their website and on Underworks.com, their Supportank is designed very similar to the RIPT Fusion undershirt, with a cotton top and a 4-way stretch body/bottom.  Hmmm, maybe Heather Thomson should talk to Duffy to see about quickly adding a tank to the RIPT Fusion line!
8. Go Softwear – This company has offered their Waist Eliminator ($26) for some time, however, they recently released their own version of a Slimming Tank ($30).  It has a similar design to the RIPT Fusion undershirt and the Manshape Supportank in that the top part is made from cotton/lycra and the bottom part, which offers compression/slimming effects around the midsection/love handle area, is made from a nylon/lycra blend.
9. Undergear Shape Enhancer Underwear Products – A variety of men’s shapewear that includes slimming tanks, slimming partial body suits (briefs and boxer style), padded butt underwear, and padded front boxers. The tanks (Body Shaper Top & Body Trimmer Top) retail for $27.99.
10. Firm51 Gynecomastia Power T-Shirts – Got an email from the folks at Firm51 to let me know about their compression t-shirts that look like a regular cotton t-shirt. They offer their shirts in tank top, crew neck, and v-neck and they come in white and black. They also offer a double-layered vest for additional compression. From a quick look at their website, they seem similar in concept and look to the new product from Equmen. Powerful compression panels on the inside give you a flat & masculine chest. Firm51 is UK’s premier online seller of Power T-shirts & vest.
11. Slix Downsizer – (01/08/2010) – Launched in November 2009 -   50% Polyester / 37% Nylon / 13% Elastane. The Downsizer utilizes seamless construction and a slightly heavier weight than The Influencer to streamline your physique. Features: Seamless construction, Blended mesh knit that breathes and wicks moisture, Moderate compression, Raglan sleeves, Tagless. Colors: White. Price: $39.00
12. Ultimate Body Sculptor T-shirt for men from Julie France online – (01/15/2010) Just came across this new men’s body shaper / slimming crew neck undershirt. 84% Polyamide / 14% Spandex / 2% Cotton. Colors: White & Black. Price: $62.00
13. 2xist Form Shapewear Briefs Collection – Due out in July 2009 (Launched).
    Tug Exclusive! 2(x)ist Creative Director Confirms Mens Shapewear FORM Collection Launch Details
    2xist Launches Form Shapewear Line for Men
14. Compression athletic shirts – These types of shirts are more widely recognized for their use in sports, Under Armour being the most widely known and are typically made out of blends like polyester and spandex. Depending on the shirt, you may feel a little warmer when wearing one of these, but there are short sleeve versions available and they do a good job of compressing your entire torso area. Here are a couple of options:
    - CoolClothing USA Short Sleeve Compression Shirt
    - Short Sleeve Compression Shirts at hisroom.com
15. Gynecomastia Compression undershirts and tank tops – Specifically designed to address the needs of those who are self-conscious about their gynecomastia condition.
    - GC2 Compression tank tops and t-shirts
    - Underworks Cotton Concealer Tank Top, Muscle Shirt, and V-Neck Crewneck t-shirts
    - Underworks Ultimate Chest Binder
    - Underworks New Gynecomastia Body Shirt
16. I.S. Athletics slimming / shapewear products – This company offers pretty affordable compression tanks ($30), crew necks ($40), and slimming belts ($20). They also offer pretty sizable discounts on 3-packs and 6-packs. See their website for more information.
17. Other Men’s Shapewear Products – Manufacturers include Marena, Bella-Jane, Squeem, Yerone, and Chaleco. Many of the products on this site are compression garments that help guys recover from plastic surgery, but there are a handful of compression tank tops, muscle shirts, and crew neck tops to choose from that can be used for every day wear.
    Other Links:
    - Merena Group Website – Men’s Briefs, Body Suits & Vests

I hope the information helps you find something that works for your particular needs. If you decide to try any of the above products and find that it works for you, please be sure to write back in and let me know so I can share it with my readers.

Thanks again for writing in!
Tug

Other posts you might be interested in...

• Equmen Core Precision Undershirt – Spanx for Men?
• Upcoming Undershirt Review: Sculptees Shapewear Undershirts for Men
• Breaking News! Marks & Spencer Launching Bodymax Men’s Shapewear Undershirt Line