Mammary Asymmetry

Mammary asymmetry describes a condition where breasts are not the same size or shape as one another.  This condition can occur for several different reasons.  Likewise, there are several types of action that can be taken to correct mammary asymmetry and allow you to achieve breasts that are evenly set and are the same size and shape.

Congenital Mammary Asymmetry

Congenital mammary asymmetry occurs when your breasts are of a different size or shape outside of having had breast augmentation surgery.  A number of women have one breast that is naturally larger than the other.  It is also fairly common for breasts to be set at slightly different levels along the chest wall.  Congenital mammary asymmetry occurs without cause and can range from very minute difference to extremely pronounced mismatched breasts.

Surgical Mammary Asymmetry

Mammary asymmetry can occur following surgical breast augmentation for a number of reasons.  The first and most common reason occurs when a plastic surgeon fails to properly place breast implants during surgery.  This can happen in several instances.  First, the farther away a breast implant incision is made from the actual breast, the more likelihood there is for there to be error in placement.  While guiding technology such as an endoscope should be used during remote incisions, many surgeons prefer to place by touch and sight and so there is a higher likelihood that mammary asymmetry can result.

Another common cause of mammary asymmetry can occur when a proper pocket is not designed by your plastic surgeon prior to placement of your breast implant.  After making your chosen incision, the surgeon must design the area that will surround the implant to properly hold it in place.  If a pocket has not been properly created, mammary asymmetry can occur.

Breast implants can sometimes shift positions or fall out of place.  This can especially occur if the implants have been placed a long time ago or were not of as high quality materials as are available today.

Fixing Mammary Asymmetry

There are two options to correct both congenital and surgical mammary asymmetry, both involving surgical intervention.  First, additional surgery can be performed to remove any existing implants, re-sculpture natural breast tissue, and add new breast implants if necessary.  Second, any existing implants can simply be repositioned to attain balance in size and shape and placement, eliminating any mammary asymmetry.