A Matched Set: Achieving Symmetry

Breast symmetry is the ideal outcome of any breast reconstruction surgery. It's especially important when one breast is your original or natural breast, and the other is reconstructed. You want to feel balanced and look even. However, after breast reconstruction, several factors can get in the way of the look you want:

• Size: The new breast will generally be somewhat larger than the natural breast. As the surgery heals, there will be less swelling and the breasts tend to equalize. If this doesn't happen, your surgeon can remove fat (by liposuction) to reduce the size of the reconstructed breast.
• Weight gain: The natural breast gains weight as you do, but the implanted side does not gain nearly as much weight. This may become a problem if you gain weight through the course of your treatment and afterwards.
• The droop factor: The natural droop of a normal breast is difficult to match. It's easier for a surgeon to reduce and lift a sagging natural breast, to help it match the new, reconstructed breast. Over time, however, the natural breast may continue to droop or sag. The reconstructed breast continues to hold its upward tilt. That's fine in a bra, but it may annoy you in the buff.

Your surgeon may also recommend surgical adjustment of your natural breast to help it better match the shape, position, or placement of the reconstructed one. This can be done while you're already under anesthesia for breast reconstruction, or some time later. Be sure to find out who will pay for this kind of breast symmetry procedure! (It could be you.)