Breast Asymmetry: Types, Causes, and Treatments

Posted February 28, 2017 in Breast Asymmetry, Breast Augmentation, Breast Lift, Breast Reduction, Breast Revision

Symmetrical bodies are more beautiful, according to a study conducted by Dr. William Brown and colleagues at Brunel University. However, no one’s body is 100 percent symmetrical. Minor asymmetries are quite common and can be identified in various areas of the body. In women, noticeable asymmetry of the breasts can be devastating and awkward. Breast surgery can correct breast asymmetry and give your breasts a more balanced, even, and natural appearance.

Common Types of Breast Asymmetry

Breast asymmetry is surprisingly common. Usually, it is a difference of size, where one breast is larger than the other. This condition may naturally occur slightly more often among young women going through puberty. Breast asymmetry in puberty is usually attributed to the surge in hormone levels associated with ovulation and menstruation. For most women with breast asymmetry, this size discrepancy is not even noticeable. However, for some, breast asymmetry can be obvious and may cause self-image issues and embarrassment. Some women use bra inserts or padded bras to create the appearance of even breasts. Women who get breast implants without addressing their breast asymmetry may find that the implants cause the asymmetry to be more noticeable. Rare surgical complications from breast augmentation can also cause breast asymmetry.

Other common breast asymmetries include:

• Shape
• Nipple placement
• Position on chest wall
• Degree of sagging

Other Causes of Breast Asymmetry

Other types of breast asymmetry are far less common. For instance, juvenile hypertrophy of the breast is a rare condition in which one of the breasts grows significantly larger than the other. Traumatic injuries to the chest can interfere with breast development or cause noticeable asymmetry. Scoliosis of the spine or deformities of the chest wall can also cause the appearance of breast asymmetry. Sudden differences in breast size (not associated with puberty) that portray unnatural asymmetry may be indicators of cysts, lumps, fibroids, fibroadenomas, or other masses that should be evaluated by a physician.

How Breast Surgery Can Help

When slight differences occur in breast size and appearance, they are generally of no concern. When the difference is greater than one cup size, breast surgery can rebalance the breasts and alleviate any associated distress or anxiety. The following breast procedures can help correct breast asymmetry:

• Breast Augmentation: Different sizes or shapes of breast implants can be used to rebalance the breasts.
• Breast Reduction: Surgically reducing the size of the larger breast can correct breast asymmetry. Breast reduction can also relocate or resize the areola(s) so that they appear more symmetrical.
• Breast Lift: A breast lift can improve the position of one or both breasts and bring them into balance with each other.
• Breast Revision: Breast revision, performed as a secondary procedure to breast augmentation, can remove implants with or without replacing them to correct breast asymmetry. If desired, both implants can be exchanged for implants of differing sizes to improve breast symmetry.

Some women may benefit from undergoing a combination of these procedures. For example, it is not unheard of to undergo breast reduction for one side and breast augmentation for the other. Dr. Taleisnik will customize your breast surgery to meet your needs and help you achieve more attractive and natural-looking breast symmetry.

If you have breast asymmetry that has caused you to feel uncomfortable with your appearance, schedule your personal consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Andrés Taleisnik. Dr. Taleisnik will help you customize your breast surgery to give you the balanced and beautiful results you seek. To schedule your appointment, please call (714) 538-8549 or fill out our online contact form today.