The female breast can change with pregnancy and age, resulting in droopiness of the breast and nipple. Surgery to improve the contour of the female breast is known as breast enhancement surgery and can include a breast lift, breast reduction, breast augmentation or breast implants (saline or silicone breast implants), or a mommy makeover that includes any of the previous surgeries and liposuction, tummy tuck, or liposculpture.
Recently, I had a patient who came to my office for breast augmentation, but she was concerned about the asymmetry in her breasts and especially her nipples. On examination, measurements with a caliper and breast measuring tape showed that the nipple and areola on one side was approximately 1 cm (less than half an inch) lower than the other side. In addition, the nipple and areolar complex was above the inframammary breast crease on both sides.
Additional measurements of the breast showed that the base width of each breast was similar and that the overall breast dimensions were similar on both sides. The clinical exam essentially showed that although the breasts were slightly different in size, there was a 1 cm difference in position of the nipple and areola.
Breast asymmetry is common among women who are contemplating breast implant surgery. In my office in Los Angeles, I see many patients with varying degrees of breast asymmetry, and I have found that the asymmetry is the norm, rather than the exception.
In this particular case, the measurement played only a small role in the determination of the right breast implant size, dimension, or type of surgery. After careful discussion, we both agreed that a breast lift would not be needed as a differential dissection in the submuscular implant placement may improve overall breast symmetry after surgery. In other words, I recommended that the patient undergo a standard submuscular (under the muscle) breast implant with a special technique to even out the breast shape during surgical dissection.
I would also recommend that the patient undergo the breast implants alone without breast lift and after surgery, we can monitor the position of the nipple to see if any further lifting is needed on one side. The minor crescent breast lift can be performed easily on one side using a crescent shaped excision of skin on the upper part of the areola.
Breast asymmetry and nipple asymmetry is common and there are simple ways to correct the difference without excessive scar placement or surgery...