Male breast reduction surgeries are more prevalent today than they have ever been. A large reason for the increase is because doctors are raising awareness about the health implications of the condition of gynecomastia, which is when men have enlarged breasts due to an imbalance in testosterone and estrogen. Many men have simply chosen to live with the discomforts, not knowing that there were medical procedures to address their particular situation, as evidenced by a piece in the Telegraph titled “What it’s like to be afflicted with ‘moobs’” by Gareth May.
May writes, “Man cans. Moobs. Chap baps. Call them what you will, man boobs are here to stay. The figures of men undergoing breast reduction surgery aren’t alarming, but they are certainly interesting: between 2009 and 2010 only 18 operations were performed on the NHS, but by 2013 to 2014 that number increased to 39. In the last five years, over 200 men have sought treatment for ‘moobs.’ Ian, 33, from Gloucestershire, is one of those men. At school, Ian was used to being the butt of the jokes: his bad skin and unfashionable hair made him easy prey for bullies. In an attempt to boost his confidence, he hit the gym. But despite the rest of his body reacting to the workouts, the fatty tissue on his chest wouldn’t give in.”
May goes on to discuss Ian’s choice to undergo surgery, as well as gives perspectives from doctors who address the seriousness of the condition.
Some articles suggest DIY methods to get rid of enlarged male breasts. Ross Edgley of GQ takes on the subject in a recent article titled “How to get rid of man boobs.” Edgley suggests losing weight; decreasing, if not eliminating, alcohol consumption; “eating like a man”; and working out on the bench press. When it comes to bench pressing, he writes, “Learn to love the bench press. Not only because it’s arguably the most comprehensive exercise for your chest, but also because large, heavy compound movements will help to tip your hormonal ratio back in favour of ‘heavage’ not cleavage. That’s according to research published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology who studied the ‘acute hormonal response to heavy resistance exercise’ and found ‘levels of testosterone significantly increased after heavy resistance training.’”
However, these methods can’t fix an imbalance of estrogen and testosterone. This requires male breast reduction surgery. When it comes to breast reduction surgery, you can trust Rex E. Moulton-Barrett, M.D. The world renowned surgeon holds the rare distinction of being board certified in two distinct surgical specialties, The American Board of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and The American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. If you’re considering male breast reduction surgery, contact us for a consultation.