Breast Asymmetry after Primary Augmentation
It is not unusual for patients to arrive in Dr. Linder's office in Beverly Hills or Las Vegas who have had breast augmentation and are unhappy with the symmetry of their breasts. Breast asymmetry can occur before surgery or can be associated with a surgery done incorrectly. With breast asymmetry that occurs on a natural basis, patients should have qualified Board Certified Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons performing the operation who have the experience with breast augmentation and breast revision surgery to regain symmetry of a woman's breast. An innate knowledge with time and experience is needed in order to create even breasts. It is obvious that no woman has absolutely symmetric breasts and that asymmetry is the normal. However, it is the job of the Board Certified Plastic Surgeon to create as close an appearance of symmetry as possible so that the breasts both within the bra and outside the bra do not appear to be greatly different.
There are many ways of recreating breast symmetry after a patient has had breast augmentation. If the patient simply has a discrepancy in volume, then one implant can be increased in normal saline solution as long as it is within its normal range of the implant manufacturer's volume range. If, however, the implant has already been filled to its maximum range and that breast is still slightly smaller than the other side, then a new implant should be placed of a larger size and should be increased accordingly. If, however, the woman has asymmetry associate with a skin laxity problem, then a breast lift or breast reduction may be required. Normally, these can be done using an anchor scar or the Wise-pattern technique, removing skin and/or skin and fat and glandular tissue to reshape and regain symmetry with one side to the other. If an implant should rupture over time, then obviously the breast will become greatly asymmetric and this will require replacement of the implant. Removal and replacement of the implant will be done under general anesthesia and sometimes an open capsulotomy versus capsulectomy release and/or removal of scar tissue will be required as well.
Congenital breast asymmetry is a different story altogether. In this case, a woman may, for example, have a Double "D" on one side and "A" on the other. Correcting this may require multiple stage surgeries, including a reduction on one side with a large implant on the other or implants of different sizes on both sides with a reduction and/or lift on the lax side. These may require secondary surgery to fine tune the breasts in order to regain perfect symmetry and we tell this to the patients during their initial consultation.
Stuart Linder, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a Beverly Hills and Las Vegas Breast Revision Surgeon who enjoys performing breast augmentations, breast revisions, breast lifts, breast reductions and breast reconstructive surgery. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Plastic Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a Member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
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Contributing Writer: Dr. Stuart A. Linder
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
January 2006
"Rippling” Visibility of the Implant Edge
Stuart A. Linder, M.D., F.A.C.S. Las Vegas Breast Revision Specialist
4180 South Grand Canyon Drive Las Vegas, Nevada 89147
Phone: (702) 434-7205
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