Aesthetic preferences for male breast: Analysis of 2282 surveys on the Chinese population

As the prevalence of male breast surgery rises in China, there is a growing need to further investigate the aesthetic standards associated with male breasts among Chinese population.

An interactive online survey featuring computerized images of a Chinese male breast was developed. Various attributes of male breasts were manipulated through digital editing using imaging software (Adobe Photoshop CS5; Adobe Systems, Inc., San Jose, Calif.). Participants were asked to evaluate the images and identify the most attractive male breast. Demographic information was gathered, and analysis of variance was employed to clarify preferences regarding male breast aesthetics.

A total of 2282 complete responses were obtained. Of these, 1244 (54.5%) were from female participants, while 1038 (45.5%) were from male participants. In the frontal view, 66.17% of respondents favored a 2 cm nipple-areola complex (NAC), and 72.6% preferred a 5/8 NN-to-Chest ratio. In the lateral view, 57.8% preferred a flat breast projection, and 54.29% favored a 30° superior pole projection angle. Significant correlations were identified between gender, age, practice type and marital status.

Our study outlines the characteristics of an aesthetically appealing male breast. The analysis of the 2282 survey responses can provide valuable insights for surgical decision-making in chest contouring and reshaping procedures.