Shop Now: Even though our bodies appear symmetrical—2 ears, 2 eyes, etc.—the fact is most of us have slight discrepancies, and perfect symmetry is fairly rare. That’s certainly true for women’s breasts. It’s estimated that more than 85% of women have breasts that are different sizes. In many cases, the difference is barely perceptible. But for some women, the size difference is pronounced enough that they ask if breast augmentation with implants at our Baton Rouge practice can help.
The answer is absolutely. Even women who are happy with the size of their breasts in general but are self-conscious because one is larger than the other can get breast implants to even out their appearance. Symmetry is universally considered a hallmark of attractiveness, whether found in nature, our faces, or a woman’s breasts. In this blog post, we’ll describe how breast augmentation improves breast symmetry and explain the potential causes of natural unevenness.
How Does Breast Augmentation Help Asymmetry?
When we talk about breast augmentation and asymmetry, most people think of conditions where the size difference is obvious. But almost all cosmetic or reconstructive breast surgeries, including breast lift and breast reduction, actually take into account some degree of asymmetry. Correcting minimal or moderate asymmetry is one of the unsung benefits of getting breast implants, and using different sizes of implants is how plastic surgeons create an appealing balance.
In other cosmetic breast surgeries, such as lifts, a surgeon reshapes the breast using existing tissue, creating virtually symmetrical results. If the difference in size is significant, a breast lift is usually combined with augmentation using implants.
What Causes Breast Asymmetry?
As I mentioned earlier, nearly all women have some degree of breast imbalance. One study involving more than 300 women found that 90% of them had asymmetric breasts. The reasons vary, although many women simply have breasts that are slightly different sizes.
Besides genetics, other reasons for breast asymmetry include:
- Hormonal changes: Breast tissue can change during ovulation. It’s common for the breasts to look bigger because they actually swell from water retention and blood flow. Taking birth control pills can also affect breast size.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Changes to the breasts’ appearance after having children is common.
- Trauma
Underlying medical conditions, such as hypoplasia (tubular breasts), can also cause breasts to develop at different rates, although this is fairly rare.
If the asymmetry of your breasts bothers you, cosmetic breast surgery can help. It’s important to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon who can complete a thorough physical exam and discuss possible solutions. Together, you and your surgeon can determine the appropriate course for correction, while fulfilling other aesthetic goals such as enhancing volume and shape for natural-looking results. You can see the types of outcomes produced by breast augmentation in our gallery of before-and-after photos.
If you’re interested in discussing breast surgery at our practice, contact us using the online form to request a consultation or call us at one of our 4 locations. Call (225) 399-0001 (Baton Rouge), (225) 399-0011 (Downtown Baton Rouge), (985) 902-7770 (Hammond), or (225) 900-7002 (Denham Springs).
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