"Man Boob" Surgeries Increasing

Men who are overweight and use drugs like marijuana are more prone to the condition. Not surprisingly, losing weight and avoiding drugs can help the problem. But many men choose to go under the surgeon's knife for an immediate fix. And the numbers are increasing.

Statistics from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons show that the number of British men having breast-reduction surgery rose by more than 25 percent in 2007 compared with 2006. Because of the severe psychological effects suffered by those with gynaecomastia, "This is a problem which should be taken very seriously," said Raj Ragoowansi, a consulting plastic surgeon at St. Bartholomew's Hospital in east London.

Some doctors, however, say undergoing the surgery isn't necessary because of the apparent commonness of the condition - with up to 50 percent of men experiencing it at some point in their lives. Cosmetic surgery for British men overall is increasing. In 2007, it rose by 17.5 percent over the previous year. In Britain, the five most common forms of surgery for men are nose jobs, liposuction, eyelid operations, ear corrections and face and neck lifts.