Enquiries about male breast reduction surgery soar by 65% in just a year


  • Moobs – officially known as gynaecomastia – affect up to 40% of men 
  • Most inquiries are from men aged just 18-34, specifically those aged 25-34
  • Can be caused by imbalance of sex hormones oestrogen and testosterone
  • In women, demand was highest for tummy tucks and weight-loss surgery 

Madlen Davies for MailOnline

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Forget boob jobs – the number of men seeking ‘moob jobs’ is soaring, new figures reveal.

More and more body conscious males are enquiring about operations to reduce the size of their breasts, known as ‘man boobs’ or ‘moobs’.

Enquiries to treat moobs – officially known as gynaecomastia – have risen by 65 per cent compared to last year, according to figures from industry comparison site WhatClinic.com. 

Notably, two thirds of those are from men aged just 18-34, with the highest demand from men aged 25-34.

Gynaecomastia is a common condition thought to affect 40 per cent of men and the proportion appears to be rising.

High-profile sufferers include Ricky Gervais, Simon Cowell and TOWIE’s James Argent. 

TOWIE’s James Argent is one famous moob sufferer.  The condition, known officially as gynaecomastia, affects up to 40 per cent of men – and the proportion appears to be rising

The condition can be provoked by an imbalance of the sex hormones oestrogen and testosterone.

It can also be triggered by certain medication like antidepressants, heart and liver pills, some cancer drugs, anabolic steroids and illegal drugs like cannabis. 

Surgery can help to remove excess fat from the breasts – but starting prices for a ‘moob job’ are around £3,700.

Enquiries about all kinds of weight loss surgery have gone up 49 per cent in the past 12 months, WhatClinic said.

Interest in gastric band surgery – most popular among women aged between 45 and 54 – has increased by 74 per cent in the past year, the figures show.

GYNAECOMASTIA: THE FACTS

Gynaecomastia is a common condition which causes men’s breasts to swell.

It can appear as a small amount of extra tissue, or, as prominent breasts.

It’s also referred to as ‘man boobs’ and can be caused by a hormone imbalance where the male affected produces too much oestrogen.

Losing weight or exercise will not affect the condition as it’s not caused by being overweight.

The main treatment is surgery to remove the excess breast tissue.

Meanwhile enquiries about the second-most expensive procedure – a gastric sleeve – have shot up by 61 per cent, mainly in women under 34.

Gastric balloon treatment – a temporary weight loss solution that is removed after six months – saw the smallest increase of just 25 per cent, despite being one of the cheaper surgery options available.

But the biggest rise is for gastric bypasses – the most expensive treatment in the research – up 150 per cent.

Tummy tucks saw an increase of 82 per cent in enquiries over the past year, with three out of five coming from women. Of those, 60 per cent were aged between 25 and 44. 

With an average starting price of £9,000, it is over double the amount of some other weight loss treatments. 

Emily Ross, director, WhatClinic.com, said: ‘According to the NHS, the UK has the highest obesity levels of any country in Europe and is one of the most obese English-speaking countries in the world.

‘With NHS resources already under pressure, obesity brings increased risk of many serious illnesses, as well as the negative impact on quality of life and wellbeing.

‘It’s hardly surprising that people seek surgical solutions.

‘However, drastic measures are in no way a “quick fix”.

‘Many bariatric procedures are most effective when in conjunction with serious, long term changes to diet and exercise.’ 

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