Tens of thousands of men are putting themselves a risk of enlarged breasts and the need for surgery due to steroid abuse, a top plastic surgeon has warned.
Dr John Skevofilax, has carried out more than 600 gynecomastia operations since 2020.
And he says at least 50% of those patients were taking image and performance-enhancing drugs (IPEDs) at the time.
According to the UK Anti-Doping Agency (UKAD)* there are more than one million, predominantly male, steroid users in the UK.
Dr John believes this could leave many thousands of men at risk of suffering from the potentially painful condition.
“Tens of thousands of men are at risk of getting gynecomastia because they are taking IPEDS.
“Many don’t seek any advice before starting taking them, and the link between these drugs and this condition is well known.
“And while some men are comfortable having breast reduction surgery, there will be many who don’t because they are embarrassed.
“And it’s these people who will suffer in silence from the physical and emotional damage caused by gynecomastia.”
Gynecomastia is a condition of overdevelopment or enlargement of the breast tissue in men or boys. The breasts become larger and may grow unevenly.
Signs vary from a small amount of extra tissue around the nipples to more prominent breasts.
Causes include steroid, cannabis and alcohol abuse, obesity, hormone imbalances and puberty.
Former Love Island star Thomas Powell livestreamed his own gynaecomastia operation with Dr John in April to raise awareness of the condition.
And in an interview with New! magazine he admitted he got the condition because he “injected testosterone”.
