Asymmetrical Breasts Due to Breast Reduction

A breast reduction is a complex operation that is subject to some inherent degree of difficulty in predicting the long term outcome. I am sure your surgeon's intention was to deliver a good result. Your best bet is to return to him/her and discuss your concerns. A relatively simple procedure could provide you with an improved result. However, perfect symmetry may never be possible.

Most women have some asymmetry of their nipple position, areolar diameter, breast volume and other variables. Check with your plastic surgeon and review your pre-op photographs. Almost certainly you had some breast asymmetry prior to surgery. Post-op breast asymmetry is occurs, and can be addressed with a variety of safe and effective techniques.

Occasionally, revisions are required after any operation. If the nipples are not symmetrical, an operation with incisions will be required to fix it. This will get more complex if the shape and volume are asymmetrical as well. It is impossible to give specifics with the information at hand but a good plastic surgeon should be able to give you a good result.

There are many talented surgeons who are capable of providing revision procedures for you. Meet a few, evaluate their proposed plan, and your instincts will tell you who is right. It's wise to choose a board certified plastic surgeon that has a lot of experience with breast work.
I know this is a bland answer, but I'm confident you'll find qualified, talented, experienced surgeons in your area.
Dr. Kaufman

Hi there,
There are board certified plastic surgeons with vast experience in management of complicated breast issues and secondary surgery. You should look for board certification, and (ideally) an extra year of training (called a fellowship) in breast surgery. Many doctors frequently manage difficult problems related to prior breast surgery, and I do think that your problems can be improved. Find a surgeon with the right combination of training and experience that you like and feel you can work with and discuss your goals and concerns with them. I hope that helps.

Thank you for the question.

Some degree of breast asymmetry after breast reduction is not unusual. The breast asymmetry can often be corrected ( to a large degree) with revisionary surgery. The exact type of procedure that you will benefit from will depend on your exam and goals.

Consider consultation in person with no experienced board certified plastic surgeons.

Best wishes.

There is always a potential for some asymmetry both before and after breast surgery. If you have questions about your results you should contact your original surgeon. Give your body enough time to heal correctly before jumping to conclusions. If you no longer feel comfortable with your original surgeon consult with a board certified plastic surgeon in your area. Make sure to obtain your medical records from your first procedure and bring a list of questions.

The first thing I think of when a nipple appears 2 cm higher than the opposite side is too much volume in the inferior pole of the affected breast. Why? Most doctors do not miss nipple placement by 2 cm. More likely, excess lower pole volume pushes the nipple higher. This is important because treatment would involve adjusting volume as opposed to making difficult corrections to nipple height!

Some degree of asymmetry is not uncommon after breast reduction, but if you are dissatisfied with your results you should first consult with your plastic surgeon to discuss this and see what advice he/she may have. Sometimes there are limitations due to the patient's anatomy, and your surgeon would be aware of this. If you seek a second opinion make sure you find a plastic surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and has extensive experience in breast surgery.

I'm sorry you're having this problem. I'm sure you're frustrated.  Assuming your surgery was at least 6-8 months ago and you are fully healed, there is no reason you shouldn't seek a second opinion regarding revision breast surgery.  There are many of us who have a lot of experience with such procedures. Be sure you see only surgeons who are Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.  Meet with 2-3 surgeons, look at lots of before/after photos, then decide.