Women undergo breast augmentations for many reasons. They may want to enhance their appearance, with a bigger chest. Maybe they desire symmetrical-sized breasts. Perhaps they wish to return to their pre-pregnancy breast shapes and sizes. Whatever the motive, every woman considering this procedure should achieve their desired results safely and correctly.
Some patients develop symmastia, a rare condition that occurs after a breast augmentation. If you’re experiencing signs of this disorder, it’s crucial to contact a surgeon who can remediate it with revision surgery. Dr. Anthony Buglino has experience correcting symmastia, as well as other complications that may arise after breast augmentation, to help you attain the body you want.
What Is Symmastia?
The symmastia is an unusual condition where the breast implants are too close together at the center line of the chest, causing the skin to lift away from the breastbone. This often appears as though the pair have fused together as one, instead of existing as two separate breasts. The condition is sometimes referred to as “kissing breast implants,” “bread loafing,” or “uniboob.” It can also be painful. Symmastia can develop immediately after augmentation, or several weeks later.
There is a chest wall deformity that can seem like symmastia, but is not the actual condition. This causes a depression in the chest, shifting the implants inward toward one another. An expert surgeon can help you identify whether you are experiencing pectus excavatum, or true symmastia.
If you’re experiencing signs of this disorder, it’s crucial to contact a surgeon who can remediate it with revision surgery.
What Causes Symmastia?
Symmastia is typically caused by an inexperienced surgeon who doesn’t specialize in plastic surgery or have the correct certifications. He or she can make mistakes that result in this rare condition. These can include removing excess breast tissue from the cleavage area, choosing a breast implant that’s too large or wide for the body frame, or placing the implants too close. Sometimes, a patient’s chest tissues or pectoral muscles will push the implants together.
How Can You Prevent Symmastia?
You can’t fully prevent this condition from occurring, however, you can reduce your risk by engaging a board certified plastic surgeon. He or she will possess the training, experience, and expertise to complete the breast augmentation correctly. You should also think about the possibility of symmastia when selecting your implant size and shape. You’ll want to discuss the best dimensions for your body with your surgeon, who will take your goals and anatomy into account when making a recommendation.
How Do You Treat Symmastia?
The only way to remedy symmastia is by visiting a board certified plastic surgeon with experience in reconstruction and revision. Dr. Buglino specializes in breast reconstruction utilizing either breast tissue or implants. The cause of the symmastia and way the augmentation was performed determines the type of revision procedure you’ll need.
If the surgeon had performed a submuscular augmentation, which involves placing the implant underneath the pectoral muscle, the pocket will need repairing to create a natural distance between the breasts. When positioned above the pectoral muscles (subglandular revision), the implant may need to be removed and replaced under the muscle. If overly large implants, your surgeon may have to switch your original size for one more proportionate with your frame, to ensure they don’t fuse together.
The fourth option is an internal bra procedure (capsulorrhaphy) utilizing sutures to reposition the breasts farther apart. If your symmastia is caused by excess fat, your surgeon can also simply remove this from the sternum area.
