Fun fact: the Guinness World Records™ holder for the largest natural breasts has had the record since 1999 and measures in at a whopping 70in. (that’s over 5 feet) around her chest. In fact, her breasts are so large that she her true bra size isn’t even manufactured in the United States; she wears the largest size that’s made which is a 52I! While the average bust size is currently a 34DD, breasts come in all shapes and sizes. Some women may be perfectly content with their breasts but for some women, breast abnormalities and quirks can leave them feeling self-conscious, embarrassed or even physically bothered by their natural breasts. To help correct such concerns, these women can turn to breast surgery.
Uneven Breasts
The vast majority of women experience some degree of breast asymmetry (when one breast is larger than the other). For some the size difference can be overtly alarming and create stress on patients who are not comfortable with their noticeably uneven breasts. When addressing this type of breast asymmetry, a breast augmentation would be the place to start. Breast augmentation increases the overall size of the breasts using a silicone or saline breast implant. Ranging in size, texture and shape, implants help us to create breasts that are not only more aligned in size but also gives them a youthful boost. The goal is for a breast augmentation patient to feel good about the way they look no matter what they’re wearing. In my experience, I’ve found that the most satisfied patients are those who have significant breast asymmetry. For these patients, breast surgery allows them the flexibility and freedom to change their clothing style to embrace more openness with their bodies. As a plastic surgeon this is uplifting to witness and something I hope is just as uplifting for the patient as well.
Sagging Breasts
Pregnancy, weight gain/loss and aging are just a few factors that can contribute to breasts that sag far lower than desired. In this instance a breast lift (mastopexy) would be a good recommendation because it raises the position of the breasts higher up on a patient’s chest by addressing skin laxity and increasing their firmness. To achieve this, I would remove excess skin and tighten the surrounding skin to better support the newly contoured breasts. Breast lifts do not increase the size of the breasts, they merely give them a “pick me up” so a breast augmentation could be performed at the same time if a patient wanted to go to a bigger size additionally.
Enormous Breasts
On the opposite side of the spectrum to small breasts lies enormous. Women with overly large breasts that are disproportionate to their body frame can endure physical challenges that interfere with leading a healthy and active lifestyle. Large breasts can create limitations in exercise for instance because the excess weight the chest is carrying is too uncomfortable to get maximum benefit. Chronic back and neck pain are also persistent issues many women have to deal with on a daily basis and they really shouldn’t have to do that in my opinion. To help relieve these stressors, a breast reduction would be the procedure to consider. I’ve had the pleasure of working with breast surgery patients for over 20 years now and I can say the limitations and physical discomforts are a lot for patients to burden. When performing a breast reduction, since our goal is to reduce, I start by determining the optimal size and position in regards to your chest so that we can achieve the look most comfortably suited for you. I’ll remove underlying breast tissue and reshape/lift the remaining tissue to form the newly sized breasts – ones that are more manageable and less of a hindrance for being unrestricted and healthy.
With breast surgery results you want the breasts to have a natural look that is suited for the patient, their lifestyle and their aesthetic goals. As a double-board certified plastic surgeon, breast surgery has benefited women (and many men) by allowing them to reclaim their confidence and even improve their overall health. I welcome the opportunity to help patients achieve the look they want and encourage anyone interested in exploring their breast surgery options to contact Southern Plastic Surgery with any questions we can help answer!