How can you minimize the risk of symmastia? (photos)

Question

I just recently upgraded from saline to silicone (now 550 cc's HP round under the muscle). I'm still recovering, but so far my cleavage has gone from a 3-4 finger gap to about a 1 finger gap, and I'm thrilled! My question is, is there anything I could/should do to avoid getting symmastia? I trust that my PS was careful not to get too close in the middle, I'm just wondering if there is any way I could cause it by moving around to much, sleeping a certain way, or something like that. Thank you for your input.

Jimmy S. Firouz, MD, FACS · Answer

Symmastia will ultimately only occur if the surgeon has over cut/over dissected your sub pectoralis muscles.  This is just one of the many reasons you want to be sure you have all breast surgeries (and other cosmetic surgeries) performed by a board certified plastic surgeon!

Nana N. Mizuguchi, MD, FACS · Answer

With the appropriate surgery, true symmastia is a rare complication. I really don't think that you can cause symmastia.  Some patients anatomy are more prone to it.Best Wishes,Nana Mizuguchi

Steven J. Rottman, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question. Symmastia is a serious, but rare complication that can occur after breast augmentation. The problem occurs when the breast implant crosses the midline between the breasts, essentially joining the breasts together. Symmastia can be obvious or it may be subtle, becoming visible only when the patient is lying down. The basic causes of symmastia are oversized breast implants and over-dissection of the breast pocket.  It does not appear that you have symmastia, so the chances of you developing it post-operatively are extremely low. Keep wearing your support bra and wait for the swelling to subside.

Jeffrey D. Wagner, MD · Answer

If you do not have symmastia, you should not develop it as long as you give your implant pockets time to heal without vigorous medial displacement maneuvers.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

Your chance is almost nil with a submuscular pocket. It is related to technique by your surgeon. Good luck.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

It is a technique issue that your chosen surgeon is aware of>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Thomas M. DeWire Sr., MD (retired) · Answer

Beth,Simply stated, in submuscular augmentation if the pectoralis muscles are not released (cut) medially to "enhance cleavage" symmastia will not occur.  I have reconstructed many referred cases of symmastia, but I have never seen it occur without surgical cutting of the medial muscle origins along the sternum, or aggressive release of the lower pole muscle origins extending up along the lower sternum where the implants can bottom-out and then migrate medially causing complex symmastia/bottoming-out.  I hope that this helps.  Information concerning symmastia prevention and treatment is found at the link and related gallery that follows:

How can you minimize the risk of symmastia? (photos)

Answers (7)