Men like it tighter

An increasing number of metrosexual males are going in for breast correction surgeries

Hrithik Roshan, Ranbeer Kapoor, John Abraham, Dino Morea left millions of women drooling over their naked torsos. And what's true for Bollywood also applies to the metrosexual Indian male in an equal measure, if not more. While millions are hitting the gym and pumping iron to get into shape, an increasing number is also not afraid to go under the knife to become a hot property.

Steroids, genetic disorder and obesity cause formation of breasts in men

For a man who's carrying a pair of breast-like-chest, beaches, swimming pool, and religious ceremonies are moments of embarrassment. Considering this, the metrosexual Indian men are going in for breast correction surgeries or gynecomastia.u00a0

"It's undoubtedly on the rise. I will put it at 40 per cent annually. Men want to look good, which is possible only if every curve of your body is maintained the way it should be. And shirt is something which you want to take off carefree. An unusually increased breast area is certainly a cause of worry for men who go to salon for bleaching, slog at gym, visit spa, or who are associated with glamour industry," said Dr Anup Dhir, senior cosmetic consultant at the Apollo Hospital.

Senior cosmetic surgeon at Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital Dr Mohan Thomas said out of every 1,000 men who consult for male breast reduction at least 160 actually go under the knife. "The reasons vary from individual to individual but in most cases it is professional pressure, the knowledge that it is a painless procedure and attending several Indian religious rituals that demand a man to take his shirt off," said Dr Thomas, who is also founder of the Indian Society of Cosmetic Surgery.

"There are no medicines which can correct male breasts and only corrective surgeries can help. Two years ago only 10 per cent of the people who consulted for surgeries actually came took it, now it has doubled. Even actors come in for the surgery," he added.

Overall obesity excessive use of steroids and genetic disorder are some of the reasons for the formation of male breasts. The surgery depends on the amount of fat deposit and the level of drooping in the chest area.

There're three grades of operation. Grade one (where drooping is less) can be addressed by a minimal access two-hour surgical procedure with high definition liposuction and local anaesthesia. If the drooping is more and the nipples appear smaller then a combination of liposuction and minimal access surgery is done, which normally takes three hours. It comes under grade two.

Grade three cases are where drooping is or more than one finger plus. This requires an extensive surgery involving removal of skin in the area. Though the patient can return to work in a day or two, the number of resting days may vary from a day to five days. There're also certain restrictions on exercising, swimming, weightlifting and driving.

"I used to look at my visible nipples and it actually felt really odd. That's when I decided to get operated. I didn't even feel the pain. Yes there were minor discomforts which vanished within a week of operation. I look good, and feel better," says Ranveer Pratap Singh, who got operated early this year.u00a0u00a0

Male Bra
Male bra (also compression bra or vest and Gynecomastia vest) refers to brassieres that are worn by men. Adolescent boys and middle-aged men sometimes develop breasts. Male bras typically flatten rather than lift.

Rs 40,000-Rs 2,00,000
estimated cost of male breast reduction surgery