What is breast asymmetry?
Breast asymmetry refers to the inequality of shape, position or size between the breasts. In reality, mild breast asymmetry affects the vast majority of women, but when the asymmetry is very noticeable it can be detrimental to a woman’s body image and thus affect her self-esteem and confidence.
Three types of breast asymmetry can be differentiated:
- Anisomastia: very noticeable difference in the volume and size of the two breasts.
- Anisothelia: unequal nipple and areola.
- Combined inequality of anosomastia and anosothelia.
What are the symptoms?
The symptomatology of breast symmetry is mainly aesthetic, it can manifest itself in a different shape, size, level of development or percentage of fat, for example. In the most severe cases there may even be a difference in the musculoskeletal structure or appear to be two completely different breasts.
Causes of breast asymmetry
Inequality in the breasts to a remarkable degree may be due to many causes, including breast pathology, developmental problems, hormonal problems, unknown syndromes, accidents, or stages of change in the body, such as pregnancy and lactation.
One of the pathologies that are related to breast asymmetry is breast cancer, so it is recommended to all women with this asymmetry to perform breast self-examination in case it detects early any other warning signs.
Can it be prevented?
Breast asymmetry cannot be prevented, it appears during development at puberty and there are no habits to avoid it beyond diagnosing and controlling possible growth disorders.
What does the treatment consist of?
The only solution for breast asymmetry is Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery. The techniques used in surgery may vary depending on the surgeon specialist and the characteristics of the patient, but in many cases a breast augmentation, reduction or a combination of both will be performed.