The stigmatization of this type of surgery for men is different than it is for women undergoing a similar procedure. While female breast enhancement surgery is common and usually well accepted, surgical breast alterations for men are still highly stigmatized. The boys and men who suffer from gynecomastia often do so in silence. Some men who discuss their problem with their primary physician are told to lose weight or, if they are children, told that it is “baby fat” that it will disappear with age. Other men are ashamed because they think it detracts from their masculinity. But this is changing. The most recent statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons notes that while the rate of cosmetic surgeries increased only 1% from 2013 to 2014, breast reduction in men increased 14% from 2013 to 2014.
According to Dr. Mordcai Blau, a board-certified plastic surgeon who operates the only dedicated gynecomastia center in the world, this change in attitude can be traced to a newfound confidence in the surgical procedure used to correct gynecomastia. It is only recently that plastic surgeons have realized the importance of removing the entire gland, rather than simply using a liposuction procedure to remove fat from the male breast. Removing the entire gland, not simply suctioning out fat, is what leads to a successful result in gynecomastia surgery.
Now, men who seek this procedure can be more confidence that they will obtain safe and cosmetically appealing results. In his book, Masculinity, Defined: Gynecomastia and the Search for Perfect Pecs
