Asymmetric breasts are a lot more common than many people think. Based on one retrospective analysis of 100 patients, 88% of women had some level of breast asymmetry or uneven breasts. While 65% dealt with over one asymmetry parameter. It is completely normal for the breasts to vary in size. Genes will mostly impact these variations. For example, your grandmother or mother could have had uneven breasts, which is why you may have asymmetric breasts.
Tubular breasts and congenital breast asymmetry are some of the more typical breast abnormalities causing asymmetric breasts. Other causes can also lead to a change in terms of the volume or size of the breasts. Such as hormonal fluctuation and trauma.
When a woman is ovulating, the breast tissue can also change. That is why the breasts appear more sensitive and fuller. Even if for some women the difference in size may not be that big of a deal, for others it can be a real concern. Breast asymmetry correction surgery can help.
Dr Jeremy Hunt is one of the plastic surgeons in Sydney offering breast correction surgery for Asymmetric Breasts.
What Causes Asymmetric Breasts?
The question is, what causes breast asymmetry? When your breasts start to develop, that’s when you can notice the asymmetry. One breast can grow faster than the other and appear to have more volume, while the other can’t match its size and volume. A disproportion in breast size is quite common. There could be roughly a 15% to 20% difference between the breasts. Problems such as these are often not that noticeable. But, with bigger imbalances, many women tend to look for treatment to get even breasts.
Women often have uneven breasts. There is no exact indication as to why that happens. But, when it comes to severe differences in breast size and volume, it could be due to:
- Disease impacting the breast tissue
- Developmental problem
- Injury
- Hormone changes
- Birth control pills or hormonal contraceptives
- Pregnancy
- Congenital factors
- Effects of medical treatment
For many women, this could have severe negative social and psychological implications. When it comes to diseases, atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) can impact breast tissue cells. This is a relatively prevalent lesion recorded in around 5% to 20% of breast biopsies. Although it’s not cancerous, it is classified as a high-risk precursor lesion because of its connection to probable progress to ductal carcinoma. This condition develops when milk ducts experience drastic growth. Due to this ailment, more cells line the duct than they normally would. That’s why those affected can have uneven breast size and shape.
Juvenile hypertrophy is also known to make one breast larger than the other. This is a rare ailment with unknown causes. But it is estimated that it’s connected to hormone production and sensitivity. Those affected can experience considerable breast growth and many opt for breast asymmetry correction to fix the discrepancy.
How Do I Balance or Even Out My Asymmetric Breasts?
Every patient has unique cosmetic and physical concerns they want to address. Particularly when it comes to the physical appearance of their breasts. So, can asymmetrical breasts be fixed? Absolutely.
There are plenty of breast surgery options that can help
1. Breast Augmentation Mammoplasty
Breast augmentation mammoplasty is one of the most practical options for fixing uneven breasts. The procedure often relies on implants to give the smaller breast that increase in volume. The goal is to create a more balanced look. The treatment is tailored to the patient’s needs. When looking to get breast augmentation mammoplasty, it is critical you have realistic expectations. Don’t expect the final result to be impeccably symmetric.
2. Fat Transfer to Breast – Breast Augmentation Fat Grafting
Some women don’t want to use implants to get the desired breast enlargement. Fat transfer to the breasts is a procedure that can correct mild asymmetric breasts. During the procedure, Dr Hunt will harvest fat from a different area of the body, usually, it is either the tummy, thighs or buttocks. He will then inject the purified fat into the breasts and sculpt and fill the smaller breast. This procedure requires skills, so make sure to choose an experienced plastic surgeon.
3. Breast Augmentation Mammoplasty and Lift Mastopexy
When there is a significant discrepancy in breast size and volume, it might be recommended to get a combined breast lift mastopexy and augmentation mammoplasty. Or a one-sided breast mastopexy if necessary. That’s because it’s important to work with the positioning and shape of the breast. With both procedures, the cumulative effects of weight loss, breastfeeding, pregnancy, and old age can be mitigated.
4. Breast Reduction Mammoplasty
Women with one much larger breast than the other often choose breast reduction mammoplasty surgery. They find the smaller breasts to be physically appealing or more comfortable to live with. For many, the bigger breast adds pressure to their spine and causes back shoulder or neck pain. That’s because the heavier breast is pulling the woman’s upper body forward. This is causing persistent tension in the back, shoulder, and neck muscles. Breast reduction mammoplasty takes out glandular tissue, breast fat, and skin to reduce the weight and size of the breast/s.
Breast reduction mammoplasty results should be regarded as permanent. But, with time, especially if you’ve gained a few extra kilos after the procedure, the breast can change. This can also happen due to hormonal fluctuations, pregnancy or ageing.
5. Breast Implant Correction Surgery
Many women opt for larger breast implants, only to realize that the size is putting a heavy strain on their back. Women also get this surgery out of concern that their implant might have migrated or ruptured. Implant migration or rupture can cause uneven breasts. If an implant has ruptured, then a breast implant revision is necessary. Dr Hunt will replace the old implants with new ones. This also alters and improves the appearance of the breast. If necessary, the breast implant pocket can be reshaped to reposition the implant.
Patients can also choose to use smaller or larger implants depending on the desired result. The need to get revision surgery might be triggered by a desire to change the size of your breasts or you are feeling pain from the capsular contracture. While fixing the discrepancy, patients can also change the style of implant, such as from silicone to saline or vice versa.
6. Areola/ Nipple Reshaping Surgery
If you want to address congenital breast asymmetry, reshaping the areola and/or nipples can come in handy. These asymmetric breasts issues are often present since birth or might have developed due to ageing, hormonal, and developmental factors.
The primary types of such reshaping surgical procedures are:
- Areola reduction – the diameter of the bigger areola is reduced
- Nipple reduction – the enlarged nipple is addressed to fit the other breast
- Nipple lift – the downward-pointing or hanging nipple is repositioned to a more visually appealing height
- Inverted nipple correction – the nipple projection and its flat appearance are corrected
- Additional problems – some women experience pigmented areolas or extra breast tissue that they want to be addressed. This can also be taken care of with the help of surgery
Nipple or areola reshaping surgery could be carried out in conjunction with another breast procedure. But, this is something you should discuss with Dr Hunt. He will do a thorough examination of the state of your breasts and suggest the suitable course of action that would correct the issue.
What Types of Asymmetric Breasts Can Be Fixed With Surgery?
Surgery isn’t for everyone. But those who opt to use surgical procedures, can use them to correct their asymmetric breast position, shape, and volume. Including the crease position of the breast also known as the inframammary fold (IMF). The IMF is the natural lower boundary of the breast. The area where the chest and the breast meet. Women also choose breast asymmetry surgery for complex problems such as the different heights, shapes, and sizes of their areola or nipples.
It’s not uncommon to get a surgical procedure due to anterior chest wall issues. Various shaped chest walls behind the beasts (convex or concave) can make the breasts appear uneven.
There could also be other issues that have led to asymmetric breasts such as breast cancer, Poland’s syndrome, or a ruptured implant. Postural problems, like Scoliosis and Iatrogenic causes, can lead to breast asymmetry as well. Cases such as these are often the reason why women get surgery. To know if surgery would be the right approach for your problem, book a consultation with Dr Hunt now.
FAQs – Questions about Asymmetric Breasts
Is breast asymmetry permanent?
- By the time you are 21 years old, your breasts would be fully developed. And if breast asymmetry is present, there is a high chance that it will be permanent. For many women, the difference in size is not that big of a problem. They could use custom-made bras or padding to create that balanced look. But, when the discrepancy is too big and highly noticeable, that’s when women opt to have it corrected with breast surgery.
Can you get surgery on just one breast?
- Patients can choose to have a single breast implant to alter or boost the size and shape of their breasts. The idea is to get the breasts to match each other. But, in some situations, depending on the status of the bigger breast, this option may not be the most viable alternative for asymmetric breasts. That’s because it is difficult to create good results just by working on one breast. Usually, implants of different sizes are used to correct breast asymmetries.
What exercises can I do to even out my asymmetric breast size?
- You can’t really even out your breasts through physical activity. Plastic surgery is the only efficient solution to correct significant breast asymmetry.
Why is my left breast bigger than my right?
- Many women naturally have one breast bigger than the other or asymmetric breasts. This is nothing to worry about. However, in some cases, the differences could be bigger than one bra cup size. This is when you could schedule an appointment to discuss your options.
What kind of trauma causes breast asymmetry?
- If you’ve hurt the breast tissue, then you can feel tenderness, pain, or bruising. But, when the tissue has been heavily injured, it could also cause breast asymmetry. Radiation, trauma, and infection on one breast can cause uneven breast growth. Direct impact on underdeveloped breast, like from a car accident, could lead to damage to the fatty tissue.
Does Medicare or insurance pay for uneven breasts?
- If breast surgery is considered a medical necessity, then Medicare might cover a portion of the costs of the procedure. However, cosmetic changes are not covered by this type of insurance. Health insurance companies might pay for breast revision surgery, especially if it is linked with uneven breasts, capsular contracture, or breast implants.
Further Reading about Asymmetric Breast Surgery
- Read Dr Hunt’s Breast Surgery page
- Read Dr Hunt’s Breast Asymmetry Surgery page
- Read Dr Hunt’s page on Breast Augmentation Mammoplasty with Implants page
- See Dr Hunt’s Real Patient Breast Surgery Before and After Photos
Medical References about Asymmetric Breasts
- PRS article on Breast and Chest Wall Asymmetry
- PRS article on Adolescent Asymmetric Breasts /a>
- Article on Atypical Breast Hyperplasia
About Dr Jeremy Hunt – Specialist Plastic Surgeon
Dr Jeremy Hunt is a specialist plastic surgeon performing breast, body, face and nose surgery in Australia. He is a member of FRACS & ASPS and has over 20 years of experience providing plastic surgery in Sydney.
Careful, considerate and honest, Dr Jeremy Hunt works with you to find a solution that is suitable for your body and your lifestyle. Every patient is unique and requires a personalised approach to reach their goals.
Dr Hunt has provided his one-on-one service and attention to detail to thousands of women and men from the Sydney & Wollongong NSW area and across Australia.
Dr Hunt’s qualifications and education
Dr Jeremy A. Hunt MBBS FRACS graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine degree from Sydney University in 1990 and is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and a member of ASPS – the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons. He completed a Fellowship at the University of Texas in the United States, where he learnt from well-established and experienced plastic surgeons.
Next Step – Make an Enquiry or Request a consultation with Dr Hunt
Want more information before scheduling your consultation?
- Find out more about pricing, medical payment plans and paying for your surgery
- Request more information about the procedure – call on 1300 157 200 or contact us
If breast reduction mammoplasty is something you’re considering, Dr Hunt can thoroughly explain all the options to you in a one-on-one consultation.
- Make an Enquiry or Request a consultation with Dr Hunt
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health professional.
