It is unusual to measure a patient to determine their implant options and get identical measurements on both sides. Some degree of asymmetry is normal; perfect symmetry is rare. Most differences do not require any special attention since often the patient was not even aware. However, when there is a significant and visible difference, correction can be very rewarding.
Nipple areolar asymmetry can be improved in many cases with a vertical repositioning of the lower nipple using a crescent mastopexy. This leaves a very fine scar along the border of the upper half of the areola and can usually move the position up as much as 1 cm. More extensive mastopexy procedures can move the position to any position desired.
A good candidate would be a woman who feels self-conscious about the unevenness in her breasts. Although it’s virtually unheard of for a woman’s breasts to be perfectly symmetrical, sometimes the variance can be enough to be overly noticeable. This can be due to breasts not growing at the same pace during puberty or from simple idiosyncrasies in anatomy.
But if a woman feels her uneven breasts are overly visible, they are likely to make her self-conscious. She would be a good candidate for breast asymmetry correction surgery in Dallas, TX with Dr. Walker. Of course, a good candidate also needs to have realistic expectations and be healthy enough for surgery.
Dr. Walker often uses fat grafting as a subtle method for increasing the size of one or both breasts to attain symmetry. Taking unwanted fat from an area such as the flanks, purifying it, and then injecting it into the breasts is a great option because the procedure is basically two procedures in one. You lose the fat from where it is unwanted through liposuction, and then it is used to naturally augment the breasts. Fat grafting can be a successful option for these procedures because, unlike implants, grafting can be used in more specific, smaller areas to change the shape and size of the breasts. This is effective when the breasts are close in size, yet obviously asymmetrical.
As mentioned above, Dr. Walker uses different methods when correcting asymmetry. She will use these procedures to fit the situation:
A breast prosthesis or implant may be inserted below one or both breasts, and the implant volume is then adjusted. The use of implants is effective if the breasts are dramatically different in size.
Fat transfer can be used to increase the size of one or both breasts. Unlike implants, the fat can be injected into deficient sections or areas of the breasts to change the contour and shape. Fat transfer is best for patients who don’t have a large difference in size between the breasts.
In many cases, the woman is happy with the volume and shape of her smaller breast, so she wants to reduce the asymmetry by having reduction surgery to downsize the larger breast. Reduction surgery is akin to a breast lift, but it removes breast mass in addition to sagging, excess skin. The end result will be breasts that are symmetrical, smaller, and higher on the chest. Liposuction may be included to remove excess fatty tissue.
When the breasts are even in size, but one breast is positioned lower than the other, a breast lift is an effective option. In a breast lift Dr. Walker removes excess, sagging skin and repositions breast tissue to bring more of the breast mass back to a higher position on the chest. This firms and elevates the breasts. With asymmetry, it’s likely both breasts will be addressed so that they can have similar appearance after the lower breast has been elevated.
Dr. Walker sees every case of breast asymmetry as unique. She may feel the best solution is a combination of these techniques in a single surgery. For instance, if one breast is larger than the other plus it has descended with time and possible pregnancy and breastfeeding, it’s likely that the size will need to be changed (whether larger or smaller) and a lift will probably be part of the process as well. Contact Us Today!
This isn’t something you need to worry about. During your consultation with Dr. Walker, the two of you will discuss your goals and changes you’d like to see with your breasts. She will then examine your breasts to generate a plan to achieve your goals. She’ll discuss with you the methods she thinks could work, and the two of you will walk through the process.
