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Breast asymmetry is a condition in women where one breast has a different size than the other one. Most women have a slight difference in size, position, and shape of their two breasts and sometimes nipples too; it usually is not a cause for concern. You know what I mean ladies.
However, significant unevenness in breast tissue or density can sometimes lead to breast cancer. This can be diagnosed through a regular test that will identify any abnormalities in the breast tissue.
One of the most common abnormalities detected through mammogram tests is breast asymmetry. Fat grafting is one of the most popular ways of correcting breast asymmetry. Other than fat grafting, breast reduction is also an option to address this issue and if you're decided to get one in the future, you should also know how much a breast reduction can cost before diving. So, be sure to do your research.
If you're interested in correcting breast asymmetry, here's what you need to know.
Causes of breast asymmetry
It is SO common that it affects almost half of all women. Trauma, hormonal changes, and puberty can change the formation of the breasts including size or volume.
During ovulation, breast tissue has a tendency to change making the breasts feel fuller and more sensitive. They also start to look bigger as blood flow and water retention help their growth. Yet they return to their normal size during menstruation.
Types of breast asymmetry
It is very common for women to have different-sized breasts. However, usually, the density and structure in such cases are similar. A breast exam called a mammogram can help identify and evaluate breast’s internal structure.
Asymmetrically dense breasts can be classified into four categories based on the difference in density:
- Asymmetry
- Global asymmetry
- Focal asymmetry
- Developing asymmetry
Treatments for correcting breast asymmetry
Breast asymmetry can be treated in a number of ways in order to reduce size difference or to improve breast positioning. The options include breast implants, breast reduction or fat transfer also known as fat grafting.
Patients experiencing huge asymmetry due to pregnancy or genetic disorder often can benefit from a breast augmentation.
With pregnancy, the body experiences a lot of changes. This includes breast-size variation caused by a higher presence of glandular or milky glands in one of the breasts. Unfortunately, this can become a permanent feature post-pregnancy causing asymmetry.
Is fat transfer a viable option for correcting breast asymmetry?
One of the most popular and effective ways of correcting breast asymmetry is through a fat transfer. To clarify, this means using the patient’s own fat to improve the size and density of the breast.
In short, fat transfer breast treatment is a gradual process with natural-looking results.
How breast augmentation via fat transfer works?
For a fat transfer, living tissue is removed and placed into the intended area carefully so it can survive.
The removal process needs to be very gentle on the fat tissues. It's not easy to add fat to a new area on the human body. The placement of fat needs to be done using specialized instruments to be able to properly join the narrow tubes of both tissues.
The newly added fat needs a fair amount of blood supply for it to survive. This means the fat has to be as close to blood vessels as possible, generally beneath the skin.
The fat survival rate is between forty to eighty percent. After the procedure, you should avoid putting weight on the area and ice the area often to avoid the risk of inflammation.
Advantages & disadvantages of fat transfer
To determine if the procedure is right for you, you need to know the benefits as well as disadvantages of fat grafting.
Following are the advantages of fat transfer:
- Body fat is the safest and most natural material that can be used for filling.
- It reduces the risk of allergic reactions.
- Makes your breasts look and feel natural.
- The possibility of scars, rippling and long-term breast thinning is low with fat injections as compared to implants.
- The maintenance required with fat grafting is less compared to breast implants.
Following are the limitations and disadvantages associated with fat transfer procedure:
- Patients seeking a significant change might not be satisfied with one fat grafting procedure.
- The cost of fat transfer is generally higher than that of augmentation with implants.
What to expect during the recovery period?
After correcting breast asymmetry, the patient might experience redness, bruises, and swelling. Use a compression bra or bodysuit post-surgery to minimize the effects of swelling, enable healing, and facilitate an improvement in the results. You should avoid vigorous exercise about three or four weeks after your surgery.
If you are planning to undergo a fat transfer procedure get a consultation and advice in Manhattan and Los Angeles from Dr. Douglas Steinbrech. He's a celebrated breast augmentation plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and selected as one of the top American Plastic Surgeons by the Consumers’ Research Council of America.
If you’re in need of a breast specialist in New York, contact Dr. Steinbrech for quality service today!
Interesting article. Not something I have ever had to deal with but I am sure a lot of women have.