By Plastic Surgeon Dr Dirk Kremer. 

When people think about breast reduction cosmetic surgery, most people automatically envisage a woman undergoing the procedure to help alleviate pain in the chest, neck or back because of large breasts. Large breasts can affect a woman's physical and mental health, but new figures from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) show that men now make up around 40% of all breast reduction procedures performed in the United States.

The new figures published by ASPS show that male breast reduction surgery, which is also known as gynecomastia surgery, accounted for nearly 27,500 of the 68,106 breast reduction procedures recorded in the US to date. Overall, breast reduction surgery has risen in popularity in the US by 110% since 2000, with male breast reduction surgery up 35% in the same time period.

Why do men suffer from gynecomastia?

Gynecomastia is the swelling of male breast tissue in boys and men caused by a hormonal imbalance whereby some men have more oestrogen and less testosterone in their system. Gynecomastia is commonly reported in young boys going through puberty as this is when their hormonal levels change the most, however, gynecomastia has also been linked to weight issues, such as being overweight or losing significant amounts of weight quickly. Medicines which influence the level of testosterone in the system (such as prostate cancer medication and steroids) have also been known to cause gynecomastia.

Unlike large breasts in women, which can have serious physical complications if not treated, gynecomastia has very little in the way of physical complications, making it a primarily cosmetic issue. However, it’s common for men who suffer from the condition to feel unhappy with their appearance, which can lead to mental conditions such as depression and anxiety, both of which can have serious implications if not treated properly.

Why are more men having breast reduction surgery?

As gynecomastia has no serious physical complications for men, the main reason for the rise in gynecomastia procedures is purely appearance based. As with women, men have become increasingly sexualised in the mainstream media, and this is putting unnecessary stress on young men to look perfect and match an unrealistic view of masculinity. I frequently meet male patients who say their chest isn’t flat and muscular enough, making them feel unhappy and emasculated.

I believe that everyone is beautiful just the way they are, but I do accept and understand that because cosmetic surgery has become more common and accepted over the last 20 years, many men feel like they are now able to visit their plastic surgeon to ask for a gynecomastia procedure without fear of being judged by their family or friends.

Many men make the mistake of thinking that gynecomastia can be cured by doing more exercise and eating healthily. It is true that men who are overweight will likely have smaller breasts following weight loss, but for men who aren’t overweight and are suffering from a hormonal imbalance, only plastic surgery can reduce the size of their breasts.

Thankfully, gynecomastia surgery is very simple with few complications, and is often performed under local anaesthesia. During the operation, the excess fatty tissue is removed with a vacuum, suction cannula. If the gynecomastia is caused by breast gland tissue, it is removed with scissors trough an incision along the lower border of the areola. A liposuction is often performed at the same time to ensure the best possible results.

If you are feeling unhappy with your appearance and believe gynecomastia surgery will help you regain your lost confidence, please contact my office here on Harley Street today. During our initial consultation, I’ll explain everything about the plastic surgery procedure and discuss with you the next step. To book a consultation, please email info@harleystreetaesthetics.com, call 0845 519 7232 or fill out my online enquiry form.