One of the common myths around breast anatomy is that they should be identical in size and shape. However, matching breasts are in fact a rarity and rarely look exactly the same. It’s even common to find fully developed breasts slightly out of proportion and this is generally driven by genetic growth variations.
Asymmetrical breasts can often be noticed as soon as puberty. During the adolescent years, one breast may grow quicker than the other but it’s unclear the natural cause of asymmetrical breasts during this period. Here, we’ll look to discuss the causes of asymmetrical breasts and whether you should be concerned about the matter.
Conditions that could cause asymmetrical breasts
Juvenile Hypertrophy
Juvenile Hypertrophy is a rare condition where one breasts naturally grows larger than the other. Although there isn’t a significant cause for this, it is believed that it could be down to hormone sensitivity.
It’s a condition that tends to form around during puberty and occurs when the breasts go through significant breast enlargement over a 6-month period before a longer period of slower, sustained breast growth. This can be corrected through breast surgery.
Pregnancy
There are many hormonal changes that take place during pregnancy as the body prepares for breastfeeding. This can make the breasts larger or lopsided which can be common during pregnancy.
In some cases, breasts can be uneven compared to the other as the baby may prefer one breasts compared to the other. As long as your baby is healthy and getting the required breast milk that they need, there would be no need to worry about lopsided breasts.
Hypoplastic Breasts
Another cause of asymmetrical breasts is hypoplastic breasts, also known as underdeveloped breasts. They tend to look small and thin and appearance and appear spaced out on the chest wall. The areola may also appear very large.
There is no driven cause for hypoplastic breasts, but they can be due to hormones in the body, or caused by injury or a medical condition.
Atypical Ductal Hyperplasia
ADH is a condition where excessive growth tissue occurs in the breast’s milk ducts. Although this isn’t a direct symptom of cancer, ADH can increase the chances of cancer in the future.
It occurs when there are more cells lining the air duct than normal which are irregular in shape and size. This will form lumps in the breast which are harmless, but it may affect their appearance one way or another.
Coping with asymmetrical breasts
It’s important to remember that asymmetrical breasts are common, and shouldn’t be anything to worry about. However, when differences of 30% or more occurs, this can be difficult to deal with in everyday life and can be hard to conceal with normal attire.
Getting a professional bra fitting can help with disguising the asymmetrical breasts and resolve any problems that you may be dealing with. If at any time you find your uneven breasts becoming more of a problem than normal in your daily routine, you’re more than welcome to consult with our team here at UK Aesthetic.
We have a range of breast surgery procedures available that can help to resolve your issues, whether it’s breast reduction, breast lift or breast augmentation. If you’re considering either of these surgeries, be sure to contact us today so we can discuss your options during your consultation.