Can U Tell Me Why my Breasts and Areola Are Different Sizes? (photo)

At 2 months your result looks quite good, though I do appreciate your concerns and see the discrepancies described. Size could simply be swelling or a reflection of you own natural breast asymmetry. I suspect the same surgeon marked and performed the surgery on both breasts, so the most common answer to post-op asymmetry is difference in bruising, swelling, and scar tissue. There could also be a small collection of fluid (serum) or blood that has not reabsorbed and could be aspirated. If this persists long-term, taking a bit more tissue from the large side is easily performed under local anesthesia.

Areola symmetry is frequently a hard thing to achieve. Skin is stretchy, and the surgeon cannot both hold the tissues taut AND make the cuts. S/he has to rely on assistance for this step, and once cut, it is notoriously hard to recut for improvement (at the initial procedure). I operate with the same nurse assistant (in my own AAAASF-accredited on-site surgical facility) I have been privileged to work with for many years, and we usually get it right, but this may not happen in a hospital or surgicenter where the surgeon works with a different crew, resident, or nurse assistant every time.

Once your breasts have healed, stretched, and scar tissue matured for 6-12 months, the larger areola can be reduced (again under local anesthesia, in most cases) to better match the other side. Don't be too hard on your surgeon; this is a good result, and the "fix" for a better result is not too big a deal! For several example of my own breast lift patients and their scars, click on the web reference link below. Best wishes! Dr. Tholen

   Breast size discrepancy should not be affected by a breast lift as only a few grams of skin are removed.  The size disparity may have existed before surgery.  Wait 6 months and then consider revision.

Hi.....If you had only a lift and no removal of breast tissue, then you only had the volume of the skin removed.  It would therefore not cause a size discrepancy if it was only the removal of the skin.  A preexisting size difference would have had to be present.  As far as the areolas are concerned, I will assume that you have no stimulation or other cause for contracture of the areolas.  In the normal state, if the areolas are different in size, then they can be corrected quite easily.  You are only two months away from your procedure so I would have you wait at least 6 months or more to do a revision.  Remember too that no procedure is without the possibility of a complication so do not take a revision lightly.