October 2008
This month, Patrick Mallucci discusses -
Breast asymmetry – Uneven breasts
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Breast asymmetry is very common, indeed a woman’s breasts are never perfectly symmetrical. However, in some women the difference is more obvious, and there is a whole spectrum of ‘unevenness’ from a mild discrepancy in size between the two breasts, to full development on one side and none on the other.
Breast asymmetry can be a cause of great distress, deeply affecting personal and social life. It is very common to hear about hampered relationships, lack of self confidence, social inhibition and simply the difficulty and embarrassment in choosing clothes and swimwear in particular.
It is also something which many find difficult to talk about with friends and family, it is not uncommon to come across girls in their late teens and early twenties whose families have been totally unaware of their predicament simply because it was something that had always been covered up and not talked about. Most women are unaware that breast asymmetry is actually very common and as aesthetic breast surgeons it is something that we see a lot of.
In general, once a significant difference has been established between two breasts by the early/mid teens it is a myth to think that the other side will ‘catch up’ – because it never does. This is the point at which it is advisable to start to seek medical advice and help. Many leave it until later and of course this is not a problem.
There are many options for the treatment of asymmetric (uneven) breasts depending on the nature and degree of the problem.
The aim of surgery is to create two breasts which are as similar to each other as possible. It is however, important that expectations are set at the right level, because naturally, two breasts which start off being completely different cannot be identical but they can be much more similar than they were.
The principles of the treatment are not only to adjust volume but also shape and dimension. Often it is not just that one side is smaller than the other but there, will also be a difference in the nipple height, the nipple areola diameter, the width of the breasts and the overall appearance. All of these issues need to be addressed.
Surgery usually consists of a combination of the use of implants with lifting and ‘evening-up’ procedures. The most common scenario is when the smaller breast requires an implant to ‘catch-up’ with the bigger breast, but the bigger breast will need a small lift and adjustment to make it look more like the enlarged smaller breast. Alternatively, if both breasts are small and uneven then sometimes different volume implants will be required to enlarge them by the same amount. Where both breasts are large but uneven, the larger of the two can be reduced and lifted to match the smaller one. Usually, surgery is a combination of these techniques depending on the situation and each case needs to be treated on an individual basis.
It is advisable to speak to your Mybreast surgeon about your specific problem and he/she will set out the most appropriate treatment for you explaining the aims, the options and the possible outcomes. Occasionally it will take more than one procedure to get things right. But this will be discussed at the time of your consultation.
The important message is that whilst breast asymmetry is relatively common it is something which can be dealt with by surgery and is generally a very gratifying procedure. As specialists in aesthetic breast surgery Mybreast surgeons will be delighted to advise on the best possible solution for you.
4 responses to Breast asymmetry – Uneven breasts
- mrs jeanette butcher says: November 3rd, 2008 at 9:18 pm
in 2004 i lost my husband i used to be a sise 12/14 with a dd bust i have 3 sons im 37years old,not long after i lost my husband my weight dropped off me,i didnt mind so much losing the weight but my bust i did,i love my nipples but my bust just droop and upset me,i thought about brest surgery for a while now,i dont want to go abroad as ive heard so many storeys,so i got intouch with the baps,i have saved £5000,but after reading about breasts it looks like i might need a uplift aswell,my best place for surgery would be birmingham as my dad lives there so could you please let me no if you have clinics there and roughly how much i would be looking at for implants and uplift i have looked on why go abroad and there start from £4999 but i dont like the look of the site,
thank you.
Reply to this comment - patrickm says: November 4th, 2008 at 10:49 am
It is impossible to say if you would require a lift or just augmentation without to be seen by a surgeon. It would be best advised for you to go for a consultation with a Mybreast surgeon to discuss your desired look and what surgery procedure would be best recommended for you. Mybreast have surgeons based in Birmingham and there is not pressure to proceed with a surgery after the consultation. A price quote can be obtained after the exact procedure is decided and the options of implants chosen.
Reply to this comment - Sam Little says: November 7th, 2008 at 12:31 am
Hello. I have already had a BA. I had uneven breasts and knew this before I had surgery so that was fine. Now my implant in my bigger breast has dropped considerably and I now have what is called a double bubble (on boths sides but greater on one side) I am scared this cannot be fixed and I am worried about further surgery. What would your advice be please?
Reply to this comment - patrickm says: December 4th, 2008 at 11:30 am
@Sam Little:
Thank you Sam and apologies for the delay in response! As mentioned in my blog, it is not uncommon to need adjustment after the sort of surgery you have had to even up your breasts. My advice would be to come and see on of our surgeons local to you in order to discuss the issues you have raised and hopefully a sensible plan of action can be outlined for you. Reply to this comment
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