All You Need to Know About Breast Asymmetry Surgery: Is It Worth It?

There are a few things you should know:

1. No pair of breasts is perfectly identical
2. You’re not alone. Studies show that 88% of females have some degree of breast asymmetry.
3. There is a solution for every problem, and this problem calls for breast asymmetry surgery.

Let’s dive deeper to learn more about breast asymmetry, why you opt for a correction surgery, and whether or not it’s worth it.

Breast Asymmetry- What is it?

Puberty is the time when a woman begins to develop her breasts. They may appear asymmetrical until the breasts stop growing. However, females may experience asymmetrical breasts later in life due to multiple reasons, such as:

• Hormonal changes
• Pregnancy
• Breastfeeding
• Taking birth control pills

Breast asymmetry is a condition where one breast has a different volume, size, shape, or position. Sometimes asymmetric breasts may also occur due to the difference in areolar or nipple characteristics and any combination of these. Some examples of asymmetric breasts are:

• Breast hypertrophy- where one breast is large, and the other is small.
• Breast hypoplasia- where both breasts are small, but one is smaller compared to the other
• Asymmetric breast ptosis or unilateral-where both breasts are droopy, but one is lower than the other.
• Breast positional asymmetry is where one boob is positioned lower or higher than the other.
• Tuberous deformity where the breast shape is unusual with varying extremities like areolar herniation, breast constriction, and size discrepancy.

How Does it Affects Women?

In most women, breast asymmetry is barely noticeable and minor. However, in some women, it may differ by the cup size which can lower self-esteem and confidence. The condition can also make them:

• Self-conscious
• Avoid social interactions
• Face difficulty finding clothes

Women with uneven breast contours may resort to temporary solutions for disguising the difference, like losing clothes and avoiding swimwear. However, the best solution to the problem is breast asymmetry surgery. For many females, the surgery results are life-changing; it can give them an amazing confidence boost and enable them to easily wear the clothes they want without being conscious. Before we discuss breast asymmetry correction surgery, let us first look at the condition’s underlying causes.

Common Breast Asymmetry Causes

Though there are numerous breast asymmetry causes, the most common ones are:

Underdevelopment of the breast bud on one side

The development of breasts in some women may be asymmetrical during adolescence. As a result, they may have a difference of a half cup or multiple cups. The underdeveloped boob is characterised by the following:

• Small volume
• Inframammary crease is unusually high
• The narrow width of the chest
• Ribs less prominent
• The high position of the nipples
• Small areola

Moreover, women with breast asymmetry due to underdevelopment of the breast bud may see an increase in this problem after pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Tuberous Breast

Instead of developing in a round shape, tuberous breasts develop in a tubular form. Their base is narrow, and the areola is protruding and enlarged. In such a condition the nipple of the constricted breast points downward and the breast seems elongated instead of round. Sometimes both or only one breast may be affected. Furthermore, some women with asymmetrical breasts have one underdeveloped breast on and one tuberous breast.

Congenital Issues

Congenital issues like Pectus Excavatum where the breastbone is sunken into the chest. The condition is caused by the excessive connective tissue growth which joins the sternum (breastbone) to the ribs.

Another congenital issue that can cause asymmetric breast is Poland Syndrome. It is a condition where the newborn baby has underdeveloped or missing chest muscles. Most often, the condition affects one side of the body. The severity and extent of the abnormalities vary from individual to individual.

Previous Breast Surgeries

Breast asymmetry may also occur because of lumpectomy and breast biopsy. These procedures can minimise the breast size and create scar tissue- elevating one side. Other causes of severe breast asymmetry include Mastectomy, old breast implants and poor breast augmentation procedures (mismatched implants). The latter is usually because the procedure is performed by an under-qualified or unskilled surgeon. They end up using improper techniques and making wrong choice for implants resulting in breast asymmetry.

Corrective surgery may be required to improve and correct implant placement. However, it must be performed by a certified and highly-specialised surgeon to maximise predictability and avoid further complications.

What is Breast Asymmetry Surgery and is it Worth it?

It is a surgical procedure for correcting uneven breasts and restoring their balance. The procedure is performed to either reduce or enlarge the size of one breast so that the chest looks fuller, more symmetrical, and balanced.

When it comes to breast asymmetry surgery, it isn’t the same for everyone. In fact, undergoing cosmetic surgery is a personal and big decision which ultimately only you should make. The surgeon can provide you with quality guidance and complete information but whether to move forward with it or not is totally up to you. Unlike labiaplasty, breast asymmetry surgery is only advisable for females above 18 years of age and with fully developed breasts.

Over the years, breast asymmetry correction surgery has helped women of different age groups embrace their femininity confidently. It is because breast asymmetry can lower their self-confidence, especially when the difference is noticeable and pronounced. But after undergoing surgery, most women feel great about their bodies. Simply stated, corrective surgery helps:

• Boost their body image
• Flaunt their curves
• Enjoy intimate relationships
• Wear swimsuits without being self-conscious
• Renew a sense of vitality and self-belief
• Achieve aesthetic goals
• Get their dream bodies

So, if you, too, are distressed about your uneven boobs and feel shy and conscious, then you will find the procedure worth the money spent. After all, the mirror doesn’t lie. Schedule a free consultation with a board-certified surgeon to discuss your concerns and queries. Evaluate your options and risks to find out which type of breast asymmetry surgical procedure will suit you the best.

Best Options for Correcting Breast Asymmetry

There are multiple options you can choose from to treat breast asymmetry. Therefore, consult a board-certified and experienced surgeon to navigate through your choices and make the best decision according to the goals you wish to achieve.

During a consultation, the surgeon will carefully assess and examine your breasts to determine the condition’s cause and suitable options. They will discuss your preferences to tailor a bespoke surgical treatment plan exclusively for you.

Your breast asymmetry options include the following:

Breast Reduction

As the name suggests, it is a surgery to reduce the larger breast size and restore balance. Breast reduction is suitable for women who prefer smaller breast and feel that their bigger breast is unusually large.

Breast Augmentation

Breast enlargement in Manchester is quite popular among women of all ages. Not only is it preferred by women who desire large breasts but also among those with breast asymmetry. Breast enlargement procedure involves using breast implants to enhance the smaller breast and make it look similar to the shape and size of the patient’s larger boob. However, it is crucial to understand that the surgeon sometimes advises a second implant in the larger boob to ensure an equal bounce and lift. It is predominately because breast implants behave differently than natural breast tissue.

Furthermore, the breast implant size will depend on your preference. Sometimes patients want to match the larger breast size as much as possible, while others prefer to enlarge both boobs with implants. Nonetheless, all this should be discussed beforehand and during the consultation with the surgeon to create a result-driven treatment plan to the patient’s complete satisfaction.

Breast Uplift

Another breast asymmetry surgical procedure is breast uplift. Your surgeon may recommend this technique if the volumes of both breasts are the same, but one sits lower or is droopy. In such a situation, breast uplift can easily restore the symmetry of the boobs.

Areola Reduction

The areola is the pink and brown pigmented area surrounding the nipple. In this corrective surgery, the areola’s size is reduced to match the other breast proportions.

Nipple Reduction

If the breast asymmetry is characterised by a puffy or oversized nipple, the surgeon may recommend nipple reduction. This corrective surgery will help reduce the size while restoring the appearance of the nipple.

Evaluating Risks and Complications

All surgical procedures carry some risk. Some risks and complications associated with breast asymmetry surgeries are:

• Bleeding
• Infections
• Reactions to the anaesthesia
• Poor surgical wound healing

Nonetheless, you can quickly minimise the risk by getting the surgery performed by a qualified surgeon. Besides this, you must also understand that breast reduction and augmentation procedures can leave wider scars and lead to poor healing in smokers.

Some women might experience other complications, such as sensitivity or loss of feeling in the nipples. Rarely the areola and nipple may lose the supply of blood, causing the tissue to die. In such a situation, the areola and nipple are rebuilt via advanced surgical techniques. Also, after breast reduction, you may not be able to breastfeed from the operated breast.

Things to Know Post-Surgery

Are you considering breast asymmetry surgery in Manchester? Breast enlargement or reduction may be part of your breast asymmetry surgical treatment plan. Here’s what to expect post-surgery:

• You are likely to feel slight pain for a couple of days, mainly when you cough or move around and also experience slight discomfort. However, you may be prescribed pain relief medicines to help subside the pain.
• A few days after the surgery, you will be allowed to bathe.
• After a week, the surgeon may schedule an appointment to remove the tapes and replace them with a soft, supportive bra. You may be advised to wear the bra for some weeks 24×7 until you are healed.
• The first period after the surgical procedure may cause the breasts to hurt or swell slightly. But that is normal. Rarely women may feel random and shooting pain post-surgery for a couple of months.
• Furthermore, your surgeon may instruct you to avoid intimacy or sex for six weeks at least until your breasts heal and bruising and swelling disappear.
• As the swelling and pain gradually ease and subside, you can resume and increase activity like before. But don’t overexert yourself with strenuous exercise or heavy lifting. You will need at least six weeks to return to the usual routine. Taking a week off from work and getting sufficient rest is recommended to ensure optimal recovery. Also, don’t be hard on yourself. Give yourself six weeks before engaging in sports or rigorous workout routines. Patience is key to the best results post-breast asymmetry surgery.
• The surgery results may be obvious in six to twelve months. You will see your breasts smoothly settle into the desired shape and size. However, the shape of the operated breast may fluctuate due to weight changes, pregnancy and hormonal shifts.

Schedule a free consultation with us for more information about breast asymmetry surgery or to discuss your concerns and options. Our experienced and board-certified cosmetic surgeon can provide quality guidance and set up an individualised treatment plan to achieve the breast shape that will make you feel empowered and confident.