Global survey indicates that gynaecomastia is on the rise
Moobs, man boobs, male breasts – whatever they are called, they are certainly not wanted. Requests for a chest reduction procedure to remove these appendages are on the rise in my Leamington cosmetic surgery clinic and a recent survey performed by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons show that this is a global trend.
What is gynaecomastia?
This refers to an over-development of the male chest area; this can either be the result of an excess of glandular breast tissue or an accumulation of fatty tissue in the chest or a combination of both and it can appear ‘breast-like’ in appearance.
All men have a small degree of glandular breast tissue in the chest, but why it develops in some is not always clear. It can be the result of certain medications,such as just a single use of steroids in body builders, but is often caused by hormonal changes which is why the problem can develop at or just after puberty or later on in life.
Liposuction vs male breast reduction for gynaecomastia
The first step is for your plastic surgeon to diagnose the cause of the problem as this can determine whether you require a surgical procedure to remove the glandular and fatty tissue, similar to a breast reduction or mammoplasty, or whether liposuction alone can improve the appearance of the chest.
I will take into account the degree of skin elasticity and the amount that the skin has already stretched. If the skin is not likely to shrink to the new contour of your chest, then we may need to excise some skin during the procedure.
Demand for gynaecomastia surgery
This growth in male cosmetic surgery is reflected here in the UK; the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons carries out an annual survey of all its members to publish cosmetic surgery figures every year. At the beginning of the year, they found that the two procedures that tackle male chest reduction had dramatically risen. Gynaecomastia procedures had jumped by 13% and male liposuction procedures had grown by 20% on the previous year.
Despite this rise, the UK still falls behind other countries in demand for gynaecomastia procedures. Brazil is still the home of the body beautiful and performed 12.4% of all worldwide procedures, with the US and India following closely.
For more information on the gynaecomastia procedure and to see whether you’re suitable for liposuction or chest reduction surgery, please call 01926 436341 to arrange a consultation.