Correcting Breast Asymmetry with Surgery
Breast surgery is among the top five procedures requested by female plastic surgery patients. Some want bigger breasts, some want smaller breasts, but some just want their breasts to be the same size. It sounds unbelievable, but about nine out of ten women have breasts that are different sizes! This is known as breast asymmetry, and for most women, the difference is not significant enough to warrant a lot of attention. Some women, however, can have breasts that differ by a cup size or more. Breast asymmetry can cause these women a lot of problems with buying clothes, feeling confident in their body image, and secure in their looks. Breast surgery can give women breasts that are the same size by reducing and/or augmenting them.
Why Are Most Breasts Asymmetrical?
A lot of things about a woman’s body can be blamed on hormones and breast asymmetry is no exception. During puberty, hormones cause breasts to grow on adolescent girls, but not always at the same rate. By the time these girls have gone through the majority of their puberty, the constant change in hormone production can result in breasts that are two different sizes.
Puberty isn’t the only culprit, however; asymmetry can also be caused by serious injuries to the breast tissue or surgery.
How Does Breast Surgery Help?
Breasts can be lifted, reduced, or augmented to change their size and shape. Each set of breasts is slightly different, so each set will have its own set of needs in order to look naturally symmetrical.
If a woman wants her larger breast to match her smaller breast, a reduction will be the best course of action. Breast reductions involve removing excess breast tissue through incisions made around the areola and lower portion of the breast.
Conversely, if a woman wants her smaller breast to match her larger breast, an augmentation will be more appropriate. An implant made of silicone or saline can be inserted under the existing breast tissue to increase the size of the smaller breast. Sometimes a patient wants both her breasts to be a little larger; in that situation, a smaller implant can be inserted in the larger breast to ensure that the two are the same size and shape.
For most asymmetry patients, it will take a combination of reduction and augmentation to get the desired result. One breast may require more work than the other, or both may need extensive surgery. It all depends on the patient, the current size and shape of their breasts, and the size and shape they would like their breasts to be.
How Can I Know What My Breasts Need?
Your plastic surgeon will help you make that determination during your patient consultation. He’ll do a complete exam on you and get some information about your health history. Then he’ll talk to you about your goals for surgery – what size you think you would like, how you want your breasts to look, etc. Once he has all the necessary information, the surgeon will come up with a comprehensive plan for surgery to help you get breasts that are the same size and shape.
Breast Surgery from Dr. Shapiro
Dr. Daniel Shapiro has been a plastic surgeon for almost twenty years and performs several different cosmetic procedures for breasts. He will work with you to determine the best way to correct your breast asymmetry and get you a body that makes you feel confident and secure in yourself. To schedule an initial patient consultation, call us at (480) 451-1700, Monday through Friday, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm.
