DOWNLOAD GUIDE
Considering breast surgery? Information is just one click away.
Breast Asymmetry Corrective Surgery in Melbourne Australia
Breast Asymmetry surgery for uneven/ asymmetrical breast and/or nipple position also known as lopsided breasts is a common yet complex procedure that requires extensive training, precision planning, and surgical techniques.
Fortunately, Dr Craig Rubinstein, Melbourne based Specialist Plastic Surgeon is one of the leading surgeons in Australia for correcting asymmetry of the breast or nipple/areola complex (NAC).
Breast Asymmetry Surgery can help with uneven, lopsided or asymmetric breasts. Furthermore, the surgery can also include relocating the nipple/areola positions to create a more harmonious and symmetrical looking breast.
What is Breast Asymmetry?
Most women have uneven breasts. Even though it is mild/unnoticeable for most women, for others it can be severe. Unfortunately, significant disparities in sizes or position can lead to not only pain but also postural and balance problems. In cases like this, corrective surgery may be required to improve generally daily life.
Furthermore, the differences between breasts can be so significant as to appear, in comparison, that two entirely different people have been combined into one. In these cases, a combination of corrective surgical techniques may be required to ensure that your breasts appear to be at least “sisters, if not close twins”.
What Types of Asymmetry can be corrected with surgery?
Breast Asymmetry
- Different volume, shape, position, breast crease position (IMC) of the breast.
Nipple/Areola Complex Asymmetry
Anterior Chest Wall Issues
- Different shaped chest wall behind the breast – concave or convex – can cause uneven breast development
There can also be other causes of breast asymmetry. For instance; postural problems (Scoliosis), other diseases (Breast cancer, Poland’s syndrome or effects of past surgery) and Iatrogenic causes.
Breast Asymmetry Before and After Gallery
See more of Dr Craig Rubinstein’s previous breast asymmetry patients in the full past patient before and after gallery
What are the Techniques for Reducing Breast Asymmetry?
Because both breasts are different, different approaches may be required for each breast. For example;
- Make the Smaller breast Bigger and symmetrical
- Or, make the Bigger breast Smaller and symmetrical
- Alternatively, make both breasts smaller and symmetrical
- Or, make both breasts bigger and symmetrical
Surgical Options for Breast Asymmetry
There’s no one best surgery option that suits all patients. In fact, Breast Asymmetry correction is one of the most highly customised and surgically complex procedures performed by a specialist plastic surgeon.
As a result, the options depend entirely on your particular physiology and asymmetry. Possible surgical options include unilateral (one side) or Bilateral (both sides) surgeries including:
- Breast Augmentation Surgery – using implants or additional fat grafting (to enhance a breast)
- Lift with Implants Surgery (to reposition and enhance a breast)
- Or, Lift without Implants Surgery (to reposition a breast)
- Reduction Surgery (to reduce a breast)
- Nipple/Areola reshaping surgery (to match the other nipple-areola complex)
- Other Breast Implant Surgeries to change existing implant sizes or remove existing implants
Most asymmetry surgery relates to cosmetic improvements. However, some women experience pain from large, heavy and/or ptotic breasts. As a result, surgical intervention may reduce pain and shoulder-strap dig-ins.
What is Involved in Planning for Corrective Breast Asymmetry Surgery?
Thorough pre-operative planning and customised procedure designs are critical to getting a highly satisfactory outcome.
Surgeons may use intra-operative sizers during surgery. These breast implant sizers are sterile “sample” implants inserted during the surgical operation to precisely check and get the correct size to achieve your ideal breast proportions.
In fact, our surgeons will typically also use additional Liposuction during surgery to ensure a great result. We prefer to use the Microaire liposuction device.
Dr Craig Rubinstein typically performs several advanced assessment measurements as well. For example;
- Breast volumetric tests
- Computer-generated modelling with Vectra 3D
- MRI imaging studies are usually recommended
Can Breast Asymmetry Scars be minimised?
- Even though surgery leaves scars, it is possible to take steps to minimise them.
- Experienced surgeons like Dr Rubinstein are extremely careful about scar placement and minimisation, with surgical scars generally fading over time.
- Furthermore, Dr Rubinstein’s team conducts follow-up treatments using special Laser and Healite II to minimise your scars.
- Moreover, if you look after your scars and follow instructions most scars will be barely visible after 12 months.
- Silicon tapes and gels can also help.
Risks and Complications of Breast Asymmetry
See the specific surgery pages for risks and visit our Plastic Surgery Risks page to find out more on general surgical risks and risks of plastic surgery.
Breast Asymmetry is an ongoing concern for many Women
Unfortunately, some breasts are still problematic after surgery. There’s a chance you may need further surgery, an asymmetry correction procedure. Breast asymmetry cases are reviewed frequently – just after surgery and at the 2-8 week marks (depending on recommendations by your surgeon) and then annually after 1 year.
Further Reading – Medical References on Breast Asymmetry
Dr Craig Rubinstein is a leading specialist in asymmetric breast surgery. As a result, he published an entire chapter on breast asymmetries in the Medical Textbook: Surgery of the Breast that many Plastic Surgeons refer to for their procedures.
References:
US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. December 2018. Breast asymmetry pattern in women with idiopathic scoliosis [online]. Available here
Also, US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. December 2018. Correlation between scoliosis and breast asymmetries in women undergoing augmentation mammaplasty [online]. Available here
As well as, US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. December 2018. Both Bilateral Breast Volume Discrepancy and Asymmetric Anterior Chest Wall Shape Contribute to the Unsightly Breast Contour in Female Right Thoracic Idiopathic Scoliosis [online]. Available here