According to new research, while many men once spent November cultivating a cracking moustache, more are now opting to use this chilly month to banish their man-boobs instead.
The new trend, dubbed 'Moobember' has taken the UK by storm in recent years, with men of all ages seeking cosmetic treatment to rid themselves of their 'moobs or 'moobies'' in time for the Christmas.
As the festive season approaches, a consultant plastic surgeon has revealed in the news he sees an annual rise in the amount of men having cosmetic procedures which make them appear in better shape before the onslaught of socialising, late nights and parties begins.
It's true that November is actually the key month for men with male breasts because it's too late to get toned in the gym. Now the festive season starts in early December, many male patients realise they need a quicker-fix in the run-up to Christmas and New Year. They want to look their best, so the less invasive the procedure, the quicker the recovery.
With plenty of non-surgical treatments available, treating men with 'moobs' can be simple and pain-free- and I'd imagine much quicker than growing a moustache. (I know this because my other half struggles to grow facial hair to begin with.. but anyway..)
The issue of man boobs, properly known as gynaecomastia, can be divided into two basic types - 'true gynaecomastia', where the breast like appearance is caused by an excess of glandular tissue, often caused by over-exposure to certain hormones, and 'pseudogynaecomastia', which is due to fatty tissue. If the problem is 'pseudogynaecomastia' it can be treated using combined radiofrequency and ultrasound technology, which non-surgically removes fat and tightens the skin. No downtime and no scars- in fact treatments like this can take just 4 hours over 4 weeks.
These findings support the 2013 figures from BAAPS which reported male breast reduction surgery had dropped by 18% in the UK- likely due to men seeking non-surgical alternatives. Man boobs don't bother everyone, and in most cases are harmless. You should speak to your GP if you're concerned about the size or tenderness of the breasts.