It appears that the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is now hawking breast work for men. For men with excess breast tissue, or mild gynecomastia, pectoral etching is an excellent alternative to pectoral implants, according to a study in December’s Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Involving targeted liposuction, it leaves virtually undetectable scars, has no potential rejection issues and offers permanent results. For a more balanced look, men often have both abdominal and pectoral etching, which I think is just another way of saying lipo on both boobs and tummy.

Well, what a relief! All this time I’ve had the nagging feeling that the plastic surgery industry preys on women’s insecurities, but actually, it is an equal-opportunity predator.

Men’s cosmetic surgery is slowly climbing. In 2006, 1.1 million men underwent plastic surgery, up 8 percent since 2000, according to ASPS statistics. More than 400 pectoral implant procedures were performed on men last year, up 99 percent since 2005.

In regard to pectoral etching, Henry Mentz, MD, ASPS Member Surgeon and co-author of the above study, says in this article, “Many men simply don’t know the procedure is even out there let alone that it’s a safe, effective option for them.” The plastic surgery industry has of course been spectacularly successful in making sure ALL women know that breast implants are an option for each and every one of us. I wonder how many of the same tried-and-true methods it used there will translate across genders. It’ll be interesting to see how the male population responds.

TAGS: gynecomastia