Breast Asymmetry After Reconstruction

Breast asymmetry means that there is a difference in the size, shape, or position of a person’s breasts. For example, one breast may be lower or a lot bigger than the other. Although breasts are never completely identical, breast asymmetry may become more noticeable after breast reconstruction surgery or radiation.

It’s possible for breasts to match each other and have a balanced appearance after breast reconstruction surgery. But there are a variety of reasons why you might have uneven breasts after reconstruction or radiation. Give your body a chance to heal and for all the swelling to go away so you can confirm whether your breasts are noticeably uneven.

Your breasts may look even after breast reconstruction surgery. But over time you might start to notice that the reconstructed breast no longer matches the other breast either because you’ve lost weight or, if you had breast implant reconstruction, the implant has moved.

Here are some other factors that affect symmetry:

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  Breast reconstruction after mastectomy or lumpectomy can make your breasts look uneven.

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  Radiation can make breasts look uneven, which is why many surgeons recommend that you complete radiation before having breast reconstruction.

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  Possible complications after breast reconstruction or radiation, including capsular contracture, breast implant rupture, and breast implant displacement, can also affect breast symmetry.

Surgeons are usually able to address significant asymmetry. Your surgeon may be able to make your breasts appear more even by replacing the breast implant in the reconstructed breast with a larger or smaller one. Or your surgeon might recommend having surgery to alter the other breast to improve symmetry.

Some other ways of treating breast asymmetry include:

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  breast lift

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  breast reduction

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  breast enlargement

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  liposuction

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  fat grafting

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  surgery to alter the other breast (such as having an implant placed to even it out with the reconstructed breast)