Since we’re on a plastic surgery kick…according to members of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, breast reduction is the most common cosmetic procedure among 13-19 year olds (girls and boys combined). Members performed 17,269 in 2006. A set of photos available here shows is how trivial the difference is between the before and after pictures. These men were diagnosed with “moderate” gynecomastia. The belief that men are flat chested and women are breasted is not based in biology. In reality, there is a great deal more overlap between men’s and women’s bodies than we’re comfortable with… so off to the plastic surgeon.
Lisa Wade, PhD is an Associate Professor at Tulane University. She is the author of American Hookup, a book about college sexual culture; a textbook about gender; and a forthcoming introductory text: Terrible Magnificent Sociology. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
Comments 13
Anonymous — March 6, 2008
Is it just me, or has patient four has the nubs of his nipples removes or reduced or something?
Gwen — March 6, 2008
None of these men have "man boobs" that I even would have noticed. And afterward, there is barely any difference. It is awful these men are undergoing this surgery. I wonder if they THINK they look different afterward, or if they're disappointed with the results.
American Women Athletes Part Two: How intersex athletes are punished by the gender testing system | The Angry Black Woman — September 5, 2009
[...] But these criteria don’t always line up and sex-linked charactertics aren’t binary. Examples of “syndromes” that disrupt these trajectories abound (e.g., Klinefelter’s syndrome). And all kinds of practices, including surgeries, are sometimes used to force a binary when there isn’t one (e.g., intersex surgery to fix the “micropenis” and “obtrustive” clitoris and breast reduction surgery for men). [...]
The Question Of Caster Semenya’s Sex » Sociological Images — November 25, 2009
[...] But these criteria don’t always line up and sex-linked charactertics aren’t binary. Examples of “syndromes” that disrupt these trajectories abound (e.g., Klinefelter’s syndrome). And all kinds of practices, including surgeries, are sometimes used to force a binary when there isn’t one (e.g., intersex surgery to fix the “micropenis” and “obtrustive” clitoris and breast reduction surgery for men). [...]
Waiting Room Reading 3/25 « Welcome to the Doctor's Office — March 25, 2011
[...] more interesting images about cosmetic surgery, see our posts on breast reduction for men, Asian eyelid surgery, botox and breast implants as empowerment, and the relationship between [...]
Censored Cover Raises Question: Why Are Breasts “Obscene,” But Not Chests? : Ms Magazine Blog — May 18, 2011
[...] and men have chests. Many men have chests that look a bit or even a lot like breasts (there is a thriving cosmetic surgery industry around this fact). Meanwhile, many women are essentially “flat chested,” while the bustiness of others is an [...]
peaches — May 18, 2011
Pics are messed up. First "after" for pt 3 is a pt 4 photo
peaches — May 18, 2011
^ when you click to zoom
hair loss — July 7, 2011
This is an example of mild case gynecomastia, and images of young people. Although the age group that is commonly affected with Gynecomastia is from 13 up to 30 years old, the condition can still develop especially if you are taking corticosteroids for a long time now. It is also possible to have Gynecomastia if your lifestyle involves lesser chest muscle activity.
Mrob75 — December 21, 2011
With millions of people needing a myriad of life or death surgeries, this seems like such a trivial unnecessary surgery...Get real, people.
Steve — March 14, 2013
Looks to me like all the adolescent patients lost their natural nipples. Sorry surgeon that alters the true makeup of their bodies.
Stacey — April 21, 2015
There are several types of gynecomastia for males. Most males developed an excess breast volume which is often the size of a tennis ball. Usually surgery is the most common procedure for male breast reduction "man boobs". Interesting page I found: https://maleplasticsurgerynewyork.com/gynecomastia