Can Uneven Boobs Be Fixed?
Breast asymmetry (uneven boobs) is a common concern among women. Many women find that after weight loss, pregnancy, or just due to aging, one breast is slightly smaller, larger, or differently shaped than the other.
Naturally, some degree of unevenness is completely normal. On the other hand, significant asymmetry can cause problems when it comes to a woman’s self-esteem, exercise, intimacy, and choices in clothing.
The good news is, uneven breasts can certainly be fixed with plastic surgery.
Why Are My Boobs Uneven?
Patients often come into our office seeking information on breast asymmetry surgery, but their first real question is: “Why are my boobs so uneven in the first place?”
There are a few breast asymmetry reasons that may be the culprit.
1. Genetics
Over the span of your life, genetics play a significant role in breast size and shape. Most women automatically have a slight difference in the size and shape of the breast tissue in each of their breasts — with some excess breast tissue on one side or in one area (this is how breast asymmetry occurs).
As puberty, pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight changes, perimenopause, and menopause take place, these changes only become more noticeable.
2. Weight Fluctuations
Changes in weight can affect breast size as well. Just a small difference in body fat distribution (caused on purpose by dieting, because of hormonal changes, or for any other reason) may lead to noticeable changes in symmetry over time. More significant weight fluctuations can cause even more variety in size, shape, and position.
3. Breastfeeding and Pregnancy
Pregnancy and breastfeeding can cause significant changes in breast size and shape over time. Even if you don’t notice this while you are breastfeeding or pregnant, in the years after your childbearing years, it may become apparent that your boobs are uneven and possibly droopy and lacking volume as well.
4. Trauma or Injury
Physical trauma, injury, or illnesses like breast cancer can also cause asymmetry. The breast cancer itself or the techniques used to treat breast cancer can lead to an asymmetry and even varied breast position. To restore breast symmetry, surgery is often needed.
Options for Correcting Asymmetrical Breasts (How to Fix Uneven Boobs)
1. Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentation can fix uneven breasts when one breast is smaller or differently shaped than the other. This procedure involves breast implants being placed in one or both breasts.
2. Breast Reduction
If your goal is not to match your new breasts to your larger breast size but instead, to your smaller breast size, go for a breast reduction. This will remove excess skin, tissue, and fat from the larger breast (or both) and match the size and shape.
3. Breast Lift
A breast lift, or mastopexy, is another option. This is good for patients who want to fix sagging breasts and who don’t care about breast procedures increasing the size of their breasts.
That’s because this surgery removes excess skin and excess breast tissue — thus, not only fixing uneven breasts but also lifting the breasts. A breast implant, conversely, adds volume.
4. Fat Transfer
Fat transfer breast augmentation is a less invasive option for correcting uneven breasts. The downside to this procedure is that only slight changes can be made. If you have just a small discrepancy between the size or shape of your breasts, this may be the best option for you. It creates a natural looking breast appearance and also allows you to have some liposuction performed on other areas of your body.
5. Combination Procedures
In some cases, a combination of procedures may be needed to correct asymmetrical breasts. This will be discussed with you at your consultation appointment.
FAQs: Asymmetrical Breast Surgery
Is breast asymmetry surgery permanent?
Yes, surgical correction for breast asymmetry is considered permanent. You will have better and longer lasting results if you maintain a healthy lifestyle.
What does breast asymmetry surgery cost?
Your breast asymmetry surgery cost will vary depending on the type of procedure, the surgeon’s experience, and the location of the surgical practice. In order to correct uneven breasts, a number of procedures can be used, so the cost often changes quite drastically from patient to patient.
You will want to schedule a one-on-one consultation appointment with your plastic surgeon in order to get details about the cost of this procedure.
Can you fix uneven breasts without surgery?
Surgical procedures would be necessary in order to address breast asymmetry permanently. However, if you’re looking for a temporary change in breast shape, padded bras and other nonsurgical options are available.
Does insurance cover breast asymmetry surgery?
In most cases, insurance does not cover breast asymmetry surgery because it is cosmetic. But you are free to contact your provider and inquire about coverage for breast lift surgery or breast augmentation surgery because of asymmetric breasts. In rare situations, breast asymmetry correction may be covered.
Can breast asymmetry affect my posture?
Yes, severe breast asymmetry can sometimes affect a patient’s posture. If one of your breasts is larger than the other and physically weighs more, it can cause you to slightly lean that way when walking, sitting, and standing.
Book a Consultation Appointment with Dr. Sieber
If you are unhappy with your uneven breasts and would like to seek plastic surgery to ideally correct one or both breasts and restore symmetry, contact us today. Double board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. David Sieber performs breast asymmetry correction on patients at his San Francisco practice.
