Chest wall correction & augmentation - should I have surgery for the chest before doing implants?

Question

Hi, I am looking at breast augmentation and have asymmetry as well as some kind of chest deformity. I have never had this investigated but would like some advice as to whether I should have surgery for the chest before doing implants.

Harry T. Haramis, MD, FACS · Answer

All breasts are different right to left before and after any surgery. Also chest wall, muscle, rib differences which can be hidden by breast augmentation.

You don’t need any chest surgery, breast implants can lessen the normal, anatomic asymmetries.

An exam and consultation with a plastic surgeon is recommended to discuss your options including size and expectations.

Richard Baxter, MD · Answer

Everyone has chest asymmetry, and yours is relatively mild. You can certainly have breast implants and you may decide that nothing more needs to be done.

Leila Kasrai, MD, FRCSC · Answer

It would be a good idea to get chest surgery first. That way there is no risk of your surgery negatively affecting the results of your breast augmentation.

Ram Kalus, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question and photos. Chest wall asymmetry is extremely common and generally remains untreated, yet taken into account when making decisions regarding implant selection and placement. An evaluation in person would be required to thoroughly examine and assess your situation, but if you are not having any respiratory or functional symptoms from your chest anatomy, you are more than likely a suitable candidate for breast augmentation without any specific interventions relative to your chest wall.

Please consult with an experienced board certified plastic surgeon whose aesthetics resonate with you based on his or her Before and After gallery. Be open to the possibility that more than one opinion might be in your best interest. Best of luck to you.

Please consult with an experienced board certified plastic surgeon whose aesthetics resonate with you based on his or her Before and After gallery. Be open to the possibility that more than one opinion might be in your best interest. Best of luck to you.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

You can elect to have implants with your current chest asymmetry and do nothing more.  The augmentation can help to disguise it.  If you elect to have the chest wall addressed specifically it should be done prior to the augmentation and be completely healed before adding implants.

Karl William Schwarz, MD · Answer

Your chest is normal. I frequently see chest asymmetry with tall thin patients but that is normal and nothing is wrong with your chest. Also, no surgeon would ever consider altering your chest solely for cosmetic reasons. Patients who have surgery on their chest usually do so because they are having problems breathing or problems with their heart secondary to their spine or chest. I would proceed with a standard breast augmentation.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

It looks like you have mild pectus excavatum.
This can be surgery corrected.
The procedure is usually done by thoracic surgeons.
It’s either corrected by Repositioning the sternum or placing an implant above the deformity.
Some plastic surgeons may have experience correcting the deformity.
In significant cases, the sternum and chest wall can put pressure on the heart which can cost some cardiac abnormalities.
And mild cases there is usually no heart abnormality.
I suggest having a few in person consultations with plastic surgeons in your community to see what they have to say.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom MD

Chest wall correction & augmentation - should I have surgery for the chest before doing implants?

Answers (7)

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