The Cosmetic Surgery Blog

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) released statistics showing the geographical location of what types of cosmetic surgery are being performed where in the U.S. It shows some interesting trends from the different regions, as well as seems to imply that those who get cosmetic surgery generally get the same kind if they are in the same location. For example, you're more likely to have a tummy tuck in California because those around you are getting the same procedure. Maybe it's follow-the-herd mentality, or maybe it's something else – like the weather, or diet.

While some of the groupings of states might seem a little strange, here are the findings (50 states, plus D.C. and Puerto Rico):

• New England – Highest rates of male breast reduction surgery (30%); lower body lift (30%); nose reshaping (29%); lip augmentation (29%); calf augmentation (27%); upper arm lift (27%); thigh lift (26%). Experts say the results here may have to do with the variation in climates in the Northeast.
  
• East North Central (Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana) and West North Central (North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Iowa) – Highest rates of buttock lift (30%) and dermabrasion (29%). While doctors in this area believe these findings skewed, if we go with what the ASPS claims, 990 people had buttock lifts in these states.
  
• 
  East South Central (Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee) and West South Central (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas) – Highest rates of hair transplantation (48%) and cheek implants (39%) – Perhaps because so many cosmetic surgeons specializing in these particular procedures live in these states is the reason why nearly half the hair transplants took place here.
  
• South Atlantic (Delaware, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, North and South Carolina, Puerto Rico) – Highest rates of buttock implants (25%) – As with the doctors in East North Central and West North Central states, it is believed that these statistics are skewed.
  
• Mountain (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming) and Pacific (California, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, Alaska) – Highest rates of breast augmentation (37%); forehead lifts (36%); chin augmentation (35%); eyelid surgery (34%); liposuction (31%); facelift (31%); tummy tuck (30%); pectoral implants (30%); breast lift (30%); ear surgery (29%); breast implant removals (24%) – Probably due to weather and the Hollywood influence, this area has the widest range of procedures performed. It might be interesting to see how things might change here if California was in a category by itself.
  

There are many types of procedures listed here, and if you live in any one of these states, and are interested in any of them, please contact an experienced cosmetic surgeon in your area. They might be better at explaining why so many people are getting the same procedure in your city or county.

The picture of men and their breast size hit the pop culture circuit on Seinfeld when Kramer and Frank Costanza decided to market bras for older men. The argument over what to call it ("The Bro" or "The Manzier"), as well as the scene of Kramer helping Mr. Costanza put the bra on, was just a tiny part of what made the show so great. However, there may have been lots of guys out there watching the episode who didn't think it was so funny.

Gynecomastia, a condition in which there is excessive development of the breast tissue, affects an estimated 40 to 60 percent of men. It is more commonly occurs in infants, but it usually goes away. However, it may come back when boys hit puberty and there is a small chance that it is there to stay. Gynecomastia is due to an imbalance in the estrogen-to-androgen hormone ratio, where estrogen has the higher balance of the two.

This condition can cause extreme embarrassment and psychological issues in teenagers who are affected. Because society puts a high premium on the way we look and kids are figuring this out at younger and younger ages, it isn't just teenage girls who pay attention to the way their breasts are developing. And puberty is just one of the causes for male breast enlargement in teens.

Other Potential Causes

• Steroid abuse
  
• Obesity
  
• Marijuana use
  
• Tumors
  
• Genetic disorders
  
• Castration
  
• Side effects of other medications
  

It can be argued that some of these, obesity (when caused by diet), steroid abuse, and using marijuana, are personal choices, but the other causes are out of the kids' hands - though it could also be argued that teens who abuse steroids and marijuana probably don't want gynecomastia, either. And one remedy for obesity is to lose weight, but this may not solve the problem 100% of the time.

Because feelings of shame, embarrassment, and humiliation are common with this condition, and because we live in a society that has its ideas of masculinity firmly embedded in its' psyche, teenage boys may hide themselves away. Sure, we can tell them over and over that beauty is only skin deep, and that worrying about the way they look isn't "what guys do," but this isn't realistic. One option, which some teenage boys have taken advantage of, is male breast reduction surgery.

Male Breast Reduction Surgery

According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, male breast reduction surgery was one of the five most popular cosmetic surgical procedures for men last year. Just over 20,000 men went through this procedure.

If the procedure involves the removal of glandular tissue, a cosmetic surgeon will use a scalpel. If the cosmetic surgeon is removing fatty tissue, liposuction may be required. Sometimes male breast reduction procedures require the removal of both glandular and fatty tissue. The excess skin is then removed to give the chest a more natural, or "masculine" appearance.

Many teenage boys will suffer in silence with gynecomastia, and maybe not all of them would choose male breast reduction surgery even if they knew about it. But the option to help guys with their self-esteem is out there.

If you have questions about male breast reduction surgery, and would like to know more about it, please contact an experienced cosmetic surgeon.