Breast Asymmetry

Women who have breasts that look different from each other have what’s called “breast asymmetry”. While virtually all women have breasts that show minor differences from each other, others have differences that are more noticeable.

There are different causes of breast asymmetry.

Congenital Breast Asymmetry	During adolescence, a woman’s breasts may grow differently from each other. There may be one breast larger or perhaps one that sags more than the other. Sometimes one breast appears to have developed normally and the other seems under developed or malformed.
Tubular Breast Deformity	This type of asymmetry can vary from mild to severe and is associated with complex developmental issues. Breasts can appear very narrow while others seem to have breast tissue “herniating” through the areola.
Post Surgical Asymmetry	Following cosmetic procedures like breast augmentation, breast reduction or breast lifting, a women’s breasts can heal differently from each other. This can appear in the early postoperative period or many years later.

The management of breast asymmetry is individualized and rarely follows a straight forward “cook book” formula. Some cases are simple to correct through a patient’s previous incisions or through one of the breast lifting incisions described above. In complex congenital or tubular breast deformity patients, the desired results can be achieved using a staged approach. In these difficult cases, two and sometimes three outpatient procedures may be required to achieve the goals outlined in the initial consultation. As with all cases of breast rejuventation, each patient is unique and the management strategy chosen will depend on both the shape and form of her breasts and the realistic desires of the patient herself.

If you would like to know more about breast asymmetry or if you are interested in making an appointment, please contact us.