Breast Asymmetry: What to do about it?
January 13th, 2015
Breast asymmetry is a very common concern among women, adolescents and adults alike. No one is born with perfectly symmetric breasts and mild to moderate differences in breast shape, or a 1-2 cup size difference, or position in the developing adolescent are to be expected. Moreover, breast asymmetries that persist beyond puberty affect more than half of all women! In fact, one study in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Journal, out of 100 women who wanted breast augmentation with implants, 88 percent had natural asymmetries. At a time when our body and mind are changing rapidly, when is breast asymmetry a cause for concern? Having uneven breasts may impact a young woman’s body image. Let’s review the pros and cons of surgical intervention with an emphasis on newer techniques such as using lipo-suctioned fat to correct asymmetry, called fat transfer.
A recent study published in the December issue of the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Journal highlights the psychological impact of breast asymmetry on adolescents. The study suggests that patients with breast asymmetry have poorer emotional well-being and lower self-esteem than their female peers. This is not a surprising revelation given that high rates of breast dissatisfaction have been reported within the adolescent female population, especially during early adolescence when there is greater variance among peers. Psychological issues are important in this group of young women, and these issues include social embarrassment, low self-esteem, depression and isolation from classmates. Problems that occur relate to sexual relationships and cultural beliefs. The majority of these patients are young, healthy individuals, and the psychological and social impact of these conditions is significant. Physicians and parents should be aware that seemingly small differences to an examiner’s eye might have a considerable impact on the sometimes fragile psyche of an adolescent.
Surgical options for correction exist. These include improving breast symmetry by combining different techniques using implants, autologous or your own fat transfer, liposuction, breast reduction and/or myocutaneous flaps. Correction of breast asymmetry often involves multiple surgical procedures. The best policy is early intervention with education, support and counseling. The key steps in successful management are diagnosis, appropriate referral, counseling, optimal timing of surgery and avoiding unnecessary surgery in a developing young adult. In the rare instance that the asymmetry causes such distress that your doctor recommends surgery, please consult with an experienced plastic surgeon about your options for surgery.
Newer techniques such as autologous fat transfer, offer a less invasive way to correct breast asymmetry with more natural appearing results. Fat grafting is natural, flexible and versatile. It allows the plastic surgeon to gradually sculpt and reconstruct the breast to a natural looking shape and feel. Like other reconstructive techniques, fat grafting is a staged procedure with results achieved over time. Fat is harvested from the abdomen, flanks and thighs and then is injected into the breasts through small incisions. This is an outpatient procedure, with each stage carried out every 3 to 6 months. The number of stages required for completion varies on an individual basis. The results are long-lasting and the patient also receives the added benefit of liposuction at the donor sites.
When is the right time to have breast enlargement?
May 6th, 2013
When is the right time for me to have breast enlargement?
I am frequently asked when a patient should consider having cosmetic surgery more often than almost any other question. It is the most common question that I get from patients during an initial consultation. Whether it is for breast surgery, nose surgery, tummy tuck or facial rejuvenation: When is the right time seems to be an important concern. Generally speaking, a cosmetic surgery discussion might be in order when you are significantly bothered by a particular physical feature. However, there are specific considerations with each surgery.
Let’s talk about breast augmentation or enlargement. A young woman who is not done growing and breasts are not fully developed, is not a candidate for augmentation at this time. However, the surgery is appropriate for women in their early twenties or older women who have diminutive breasts and wish to be bigger. I also commonly see women with a loss of breast tissue after having children and notice that their breasts have gotten noticeably smaller.
According the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (ASPS), more than 300,000 women have traditional breast enlargement surgeries each year. Today there are three choices for breast enlargement surgery. Each option is unique and patients should fully understand their choices. Silicone implants and saline implants have been the main two choices for quite some time, but lipo fat transfer is now another choice to add breast volume. Fat transfer is an ideal choice for women preferring a more natural way to increase breast size, without the placement of implants.
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