Guide to BREAST ASYMMETRY
Even slight differences in the size or shape of your breasts can be frustrating and cause discomfort or self-consciousness in your daily life. When you have uneven breasts, it can be a challenge to find the right sized bras and undergarments, and you may feel self-critical when going to the beach or wearing tight clothing.
Still, many women don’t realize that breast asymmetry, as it is often called, can actually be fixed. It’s also more common than you may think.
How is breast asymmetry fixed?
The condition can be corrected quite easily with cosmetic procedures such as the fat transfer process or a breast augmentation. In some cases, a breast lift may be useful to fix the problem. Or, you may opt for a breast reduction to reduce the size of one breast in order to make it more even with the other, smaller breast.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know about breast asymmetry, including how this common aesthetic issue can be easily fixed with help from a plastic surgeon.
All About Breast Asymmetry
When it comes to the female form, the breasts tend to be one of the most distinct and highly visible features. While every woman’s breasts naturally differ in shape, size, and proportion, most women at least enjoy the comfort of two breasts that are the same — or very close to the same.
A small percentage of women, however, struggle with the opposite: breasts that do not quite match each other.
Most often, the issue is that one breast has more breast tissue than the other. Of course, extremely small differences in breast tissue size and shape are only natural. Regular breast changes can be expected when a woman is pregnant, breast-feeding, or experiencing other hormonal changes during, for example, her menstrual cycle or menopause.
Issues that may require surgery, however, include those in which one breast is considerably larger than the other — at least a cup size or more.
This situation can bring about a number of related issues, some of which are cosmetic and others that may be medical.
Understandably, having two breasts that are differently sized can make many women feel self-conscious. For instance, the issue may become a larger problem where the woman’s intimate life is concerned. Or, she may feel uncomfortable in certain social situations — such as when she goes to the beach or chooses to wear a revealing dress to a party.
Any embarrassment resulting from uneven breasts surely isn’t mandatory; however, it is quite common. Helping women feel more confident and self-assured with their bodies is something that Dr. Sieber is passionate about. Women who have uneven breasts have a number of treatment options before them.
Breast Asymmetry Treatment Options
If you are struggling with breasts that are a different size, shape, or proportion, cosmetic surgery may be able to help. Depending on your unique situation and the goals you have for surgery, there are four different procedures that you may be able to choose from:
Breast Fat Transfer For Asymmetry
The fat transfer process is best for patients who have only a slight difference in the size, shape, or proportion of their breasts. When the difference is minimal, the least invasive procedure is often the best, and in this case, that would be a breast fat transfer for asymmetry.
How Fat Transfer Works
The fat transfer process involves removing unwanted fat from one area of the body and transferring it to the desired location that is to be augmented. In the case of asymmetrical breasts, the fat would naturally be transferred and injected into the breasts.
This means that the fat transfer process actually requires two steps. The first step is liposuction, which is used to remove or “harvest” the fat. The fat is usually taken from a place like the abdomen, flanks (“love handles”), or thighs.
The second step is to inject the harvested fat into the breasts. This must be done with a delicate hand and close attention to detail. Fat transfer is best for breasts that only require a slight adjustment in order to create symmetry.
Breast Augmentation
Depending on the breast volume asymmetry value a breast augmentation might be a good option. When the breasts have a more significant difference in breast tissue size, shape, or proportion, breast augmentation may be the best solution. This process involves the insertion of a breast implant into the smaller of the two breasts.
Breast implants are available in three materials: silicone, saline, or “gummy bear.” There are pros and cons to each option, and Dr. Sieber would be happy to discuss your optimal options with you.
Breast augmentation may require the patient to return every few years for an assessment of the implant. Although leaks are rare, it’s important to pay close attention to your new implant and follow the thorough care instructions provided to you by your surgeon.
Breast Lift
In some instances, a simple breast lift may help you achieve better symmetry of the chest. This tends to be the case when one breast sags and droops significantly more than the other.
A good way to check and see if a breast lift might be the best solution to your breast asymmetry is to see where your nipple line aligns with your breast fold. If the natural line of your nipple is below your breast fold, this usually means that a breast lift can help to perk up the breast and give you a more youthful appearance.
Breast Reduction
Lastly, if one of your breasts is significantly larger than the other and you would prefer that both of your breasts be more the size of your smaller breast, breast reduction surgery will be the best solution for you. Breast reduction surgery will require anesthesia and one or several incisions. At the incision points, your surgeon will go in and remove the necessary amount of breast tissue, skin, and/or fat.
Like breast augmentation surgery, breast reduction can be quite a significant procedure that require substantial downtime and recovery. As with any surgery, it’s important to follow the proper care instructions given to you by your surgeon in order to achieve optimal results.
Questions and Answers
Can asymmetrical breast tissue be indicative of anything else?
Asymmetric breast tissue has been found to be correlated with breast cancer. That doesn’t mean that every woman with breast volume asymmetry has breast cancer. But there is a correlation between those with higher asymmetry and breast cancer. There is a higher rate of developing breast cancer and cancer risk if you have a larger asymmetry between your breasts. It is important for all woman to regularly screen for breast cancer. If you are concerned about breast cancer due to your asymmetry, talk to your doctor about your breast cancer concerns so that a breast biopsy and breast ultrasound may be scheduled if deemed necessary.
What causes breast asymmetry?
Breast asymmetry manifests when one breast exhibits variations in size, volume, position, or shape compared to the other. This condition is widespread, impacting over half of women. Various factors contribute to changes in breast size or volume, such as trauma, puberty, and hormonal fluctuations.
Should I worry about asymmetry?
Irregularities in breast size are typically not a matter of alarm. Nevertheless, it is crucial to undergo routine mammograms to enable healthcare providers in the early detection of potential breast abnormalities. Research conducted in 2021 suggests that women with uneven breast density may face an elevated risk of developing breast cancer.
Can losing weight improve my breast asymmetry?
Losing weight can affect the contours of your breasts, yet the changes may not be uniform for each breast. Following weight loss, it is common to experience breast asymmetry, where one breast may appear larger or take on a different shape than the other. Additionally, women who breastfeed may encounter challenges related to breast asymmetry.
Are Your Breasts Asymmetrical?
Dr. Sieber is one of few double board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeons in the San Francisco Bay Area. He has helped countless patients achieve the look and feel they desire for their bodies, including improving their breast asymmetry through fat transfer, breast augmentation, breast lift surgery, or breast reduction.
If you are interested in learning more about any of the procedures listed above, contact us today to book a consultation appointment. There’s no need to continue feeling self-conscious or uncomfortable with asymmetrical breasts. Call today!
References
https://www.webmd.com/beauty/cosmetic-procedures-breast-augmentation#1
