Breast Asymmetry

What is breast asymmetry?

All problems that occur in the breasts such as one breast not being the same in volume, shape or size compared to the other, or different diameter from one nipple level to the other due to congenital or developmental disorders such as pregnancy and breastfeeding or hormonal imbalance are called breast (breast) asymmetry.  In breast asymmetry correction surgery; considering the demands of the patients, breast structure and size, one or more of the reduction, enlargement, reconstruction or fat injection methods are applied to one breast or both breasts to correct the asymmetry between the breasts.

How does breast asymmetry occur?

The difference between the breasts in terms of shape, size and placement, and the fact that the diameter of one nipple is not the same as the other is defined as “breast asymmetry”. These conditions, which are expressed by patients as “breast deformity” or “breast disproportion,” are breast asymmetry. Size differences in the breast may be congenital or developmental.

• Congenital breast anomalies; some breast anomalies (such as tuberous breasts) do not occur over time due to factors such as age, giving birth or disease, but are congenital. It is recommended to correct congenital breast asymmetries at the first opportunity at the age recommended by the plastic surgeon.
• Breast asymmetry, in other words, size differences in the breast, may occur due to reasons such as breast infections before breast development, differences in the sensory cells of the breast tissue during adolescence, and menopause.
• Breast asymmetry may occur when the breasts grow during pregnancy and breastfeeding do not shrink at the same rate at the end of the period.
• Asymmetry problem may occur, since both breasts may not shrink or grow at the same rate in excessive weight changes.
• Diseases experienced in one or both breasts for internal or external reasons may cause breast asymmetry.
• Asymmetry problem may occur in women who experience volume loss in their breasts due to aging.
• Trauma and surgery may cause differences in shape and size between the breasts.
• Breast asymmetry may occur after surgical interventions for breast cancer.

What are the symptoms of breast asymmetry?

• Breasts are of different shape and size.
• One of the breasts is underdeveloped or not developed at all.
• One of the breasts is normal while the other is large or both large and drooping.
• The breast areola (the brown coloured area around the nipple) is different in size or shape.
• The difference between the nipple level and in the diameter
• The difference in shape and size between the breasts is obvious.

What psychological problems does breast asymmetry cause?

In women, it can cause significant disorders that affect life and social life, especially with a lack of self-confidence, to psychological distance from the opposite sex. If we list the asymmetry problems;

• The person who loses self-confidence moves away from social environments.
• She does not want to get close to the opposite sex before marriage or during the intimacy with her partner.
• She has problems such as not being able to wear the clothes she wants due to her constant effort to camouflage her breasts while choosing clothes.
• It creates physical and psychological problems due to different breast sizes in underwear.
• The psychological trauma caused by the obvious breast disproportionation, especially in adolescence, negatively affects the whole life of the person.

Treatment of breast asymmetry problems

• How is it diagnosed?

Breast asymmetry is diagnosed after the examination and measurements made by the Aesthetic, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon. The necessary treatment method is determined according to the extent of the disproportion and deformity between the breasts and shared with the patient.

• Preoperative
  • The first stage is the stage where the patient is examined and expectations are listened to. After the examination, the breast asymmetry degree is determined and shared with the patient.
  • The breast shape, the condition of the breast skin, the position of the nipple and the age of the patient are the factors affecting the surgery. The method to be used in the surgery is decided according to the degree of asymmetry.
  • The most appropriate surgical technique is decided. Determination of reduction of the excessively large breast, enlargement of the small breast with a breast implant (silicone-prosthesis) or fat injection.
  • Before the surgery, breast ultrasound is requested from patients under 40 years of age and breast mammography is requested from patients over 40 years of age.
  • The use of aspirin-type blood thinners should be discontinued at least one week in advance.
  • Smoking and alcohol consumption should be stopped at least 1-2 weeks before and should not be used during the recovery period after surgery.
  • On the day of surgery, jewellery should be removed, make-up should not be worn, hair care products such as hair gel should not be used, and comfortable clothes should be available for post-operative comfort.

• How is the surgery performed?

Breast asymmetry problems are treated with breast aesthetic surgery. Depending on the technique to be applied, the operation performed under local or general anaesthesia is completed in an average of 30 minutes to 2.5 hours in operating room environment.

If both breasts are small but different in shape; in order to eliminate the asymmetry between the breasts, it is corrected with implants of different sizes (breast-prosthesis) or fat injection methods. If one breast is normal and the other is small, a breast implant or fat injection is applied to the small breast. If one breast is normal and the other is very large, breast asymmetry problem is eliminated with breast reduction surgery. If there is nipple asymmetry, nipple aesthetics is performed so that both nipples are in the same position. In gynecomastia surgery seen in men, both breasts are brought to the same size by liposuction or breast reduction. You can click on the link for detailed information about gynecomastia.

• Post-operative recovery process
  • The healing process of the asymmetry patient changes according to the applied aesthetic surgery method and technique. After the breast asymmetry surgery with only fat injection, the patient returns to her daily activities within 1-2 days, while it takes 3-5 days for the patient to return to her daily activities in breast augmentation, reduction, reconstruction or nipple aesthetics.
  • After the asymmetry correction procedures performed with breast reduction and augmentation methods, patients may feel pain for the first few days. With the painkillers prescribed by your surgeon, this period is completed with the least pain.
  • For the rapid recovery of edema and the comfort of the patients in the postoperative period after breast surgery, surgical – sports bra is used for 6 – 8 weeks. In line with the recommendations of the plastic and aesthetic surgeon, the patient stays away from heavy sports and activities for a few weeks.
  • The patient can take a shower 1-2 days after the surgery.
  • If the patient smokes cigarettes and consumes alcohol, it is recommended to take a break for a while in order to speed up the recovery process after plastic surgery performed in the treatment of asymmetry problem.

What are the prices of breast asymmetry treatment?

Sharing the prices of aesthetic treatments on the websites of healthcare organisations such as aesthetic clinics and hospitals in Turkey is banned by the Ministry of Health. You can use the communication channels below to get information about Prof. Dr. Şükrü Yazar’s current breast aesthetics prices for 2021.

• Phone: +90 212 257 1515 Pbx (You can call Mon-Sat: 09:00-19:00)
• WhatsApp: +90 541 334 3484 (You can send a message 24/7.)
• Pre-Appointment Form (You can use the option to submit a question.)
• info@sukruyazar.com (You can send an e-mail.)
• Contact (You can send your request using the contact form on the contact us page.)
• Address (Harbiye District. Valikonağı Street. Marmara Apt. No:16 Floor:1 D:2 P.K 34367 Nişantaşı – Şişli, İstanbul, Turkey)

You can learn everything you wonder about aesthetic breast surgeries by clicking on the picture below.

Breast Asymmetry Frequently Asked Questions

At what age can I have plastic surgery for my breast asymmetry problem?

The age limit for asymmetric breast surgery is considered to be 18 because of the criteria for the patient’s bone and breast tissue to be settled, but the age limit may decrease below 18 in psychological traumas.

I have an asymmetry problem in my breasts, I want to have surgery, is there any risk?

As in every surgery, some complications such as bleeding, infection, wound healing problems may develop in aesthetic surgeries performed for asymmetric breast problems. However, thanks to the new technologies and surgical techniques used today, these surgeries are almost 100% successful.

I am overweight and have a very obvious asymmetry problem in my breasts, can I have surgery?

Weight changes are one of the important causes of breast asymmetry. It would be more appropriate for the patient to maintain their current weight or to prepare for the surgery by losing weight with the help of nutrition and diet specialists before the surgery. It is important for the patient to maintain their weight after plastic surgery. The patient should solve the weight problem in order to live a healthy life and maintain a quality life. This stability will also eliminate many breast problems that may occur later.

I’m considering plastic surgery for my asymmetry problem, but will there be any scars on my breasts afterward?

No scars remain after the surgery performed with the fat injection technique. In the asymmetry problems that can be resolved by breast augmentation or reduction operations, the surgical-suture scars become less obvious over time.

Does breast surgery for asymmetry problems prevent breastfeeding?

Since milk ducts and milk glands are protected in asymmetric breast correction surgery, no problems are encountered that prevent breastfeeding.

When should the breast size difference be operated?

If there are disproportion and asymmetry that are small in degree and do not disturb the patient, it can be considered normal for the two breasts to be different from each other. In such cases, surgery is usually not required. However, situations such as one breast being normal while the other is almost absent, one of the breasts being too large or too small, deteriorate the physical appearance of the patients and negatively affect them psychologically. It is recommended to treat such disproportionate breasts with plastic surgery.

How is breast asymmetry (disproportion) diagnosed?

Patients who have this problem ask, “Can asymmetrical breast improve?” they seek an answer to the question. Correct diagnosis and measurements are required to correct this problem. As a result of the examinations and tests performed by aesthetic, plastic and reconstructive surgeons, the extent and causes of the asymmetry (disproportionation) are revealed. Accordingly, asymmetry treatment is planned.

Is asymmetrical breast a sign of cancer?

Breast asymmetry (disproportionateness) is caused by congenital and developmental problems, birth, surgery, menopause. Asymmetry is often not a sign of cancer. However, if there is a firmness or a palpable mass together with breast asymmetry and the related shape change occurs suddenly, a physician should be consulted without delay.

What should be considered before breast asymmetry surgery?

Before breast asymmetry surgery, breast ultrasound is requested from patients under the age of 40 and breast mammography is requested from patients over 40 years of age. Consumption of drugs with blood thinning properties, some herbal teas and nutritional supplements should be discontinued one week before the surgery. The physician should be informed about regularly used drugs and necessary arrangements should be made. Smoking and alcohol consumption should also be stopped 1-2 weeks before the surgery, and should not be used during the postoperative recovery period.

Breast asymmetry is a problem that can be resolved.