It has been revealed that the HSE spent €207,000 on male breast reduction surgeries over the past four years.
The newly published figures comes as doctors and plastic surgeons have said the condition known as gynaecomastica is steadily rising in Ireland.
In a response to a question submitted by Fianna Fáil’s Robert Troy, the HSE confirmed the above figure which covered the cost of 46 surgeries since 2014 until August 2017.
Although the condition is easily rectified via liposuction or plastic surgery, doctors say the gynaecomastica is becoming more and more common amongst men and young boys.
They also say the condition which is caused by hormonal imbalance has left many men and boys feeling embarrassed about their body image.