Hate your man boobs? Then freeze them off!

ExcESS breast tissue — known medically as gynaecomastia — is thought to be a common condition, but experts say it’s difficult to estimate exactly how many men are affected, though one study suggests it affects up to one-third of men, most commonly in teenagers and the elderly.

It’s just a cosmetic problem, in that it’s not painful or harmful, but can cause psychological distress.

It’s impossible to say how many men have true gynaecomastia, says Ian Banks, professor of men’s health at Leeds Medical school. ‘ Some men will just have an accumulation of chest fat called pseudo-gynaecomastia.’

This looks like breast tissue, but is essentially just excess fat.

With gynaecomastia proper, there is a rubbery, firm mound of tissue directly behind the areola and nipple, and this may be surrounded by fat accumulation, adds Dr Sach Mohan, a cosmetic physician at the Revere clinic in Harley Street.

It is caused by underlying hormone imbalances — primarily a rise in oestrogen levels. Excess body fat can cause oestrogen levels to rise, as fatty tissues produce this hormone.

It can also be down to liver problems (if oestrogen is not broken down in the liver, it builds up in the body). Other causes of true gynaecomastia include falling levels of testosterone as a result of ageing. Rarer causes include lumps in the testicles. Moobs can also grow as a result of drug treatments, including nitrates for heart disease, medication for stomach ulcers, and drugs and hormone treatments such as those for prostate cancer. Bodybuilders who use anabolic steroids may also develop moobs.

‘If you go to see your GP about moobs they will give diet and lifestyle advice to help you lose weight and, if they suspect gynaecomastia, a hormone blood test,’ says Professor Banks.

‘Treatment of gynaecomastia will depend on the underlying cause; in most cases it is caused either by obesity or liver problems that have raised oestrogen levels.’ Sometimes, hormone replacement therapy — such as testosterone injections — is needed. For pseudogynaecomastia, losing weight will help reduce chest fat, and there are cosmetic procedures to remove it, adds Professor Banks. In rare cases, breast reduction surgery may be available on the NHS, but only if it is a persistent problem that has caused severe psychological distress. Dr Mohan says newer cosmetic treatments such as coolS cu l p t i n g, a non-invasive fat- reduction procedure, is an increasingly popular treatment for pseudogynaecomastia. ‘ Moobs are more common with a rise in obesity levels and more men are seeking treatment because they are selfconscious about them. ‘coolSculpting is a good option: the fat cells in the breast area are frozen and damaged so they commit cell suicide. Unlike liposuction, they don’t have to be sucked out, so it’s non-invasive, permanent solution. It costs £1,400 for a single session and takes 90 minutes.’ Professor Banks says it sounds like a credible treatment but advises seeing your GP before booking any cosmetic appointments to find out if you have an underlying health problem that needs treating.