By Megan Rauscher
New York - Surgery to correct "breast asymmetry" can dramatically boost self-confidence and quality of life in young women with this condition, according to a study presented at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) meeting in San Francisco.
Breast asymmetry is a relatively common problem in which a woman's breasts differ in size or shape, Dr Walter Erhardt, chair of the society's public education committee, explained in an interview with Reuters Health.
"Most women have some degree of breast asymmetry," Erhardt said. "A significant degree of asymmetry is a little more uncommon but every year I'll see between seven and ten young ladies in their 20s or even younger who have a very severe breast asymmetry - one or more cup size difference - and that, for a young woman can be a devastating thing, creating significant problems for them with clothes and in school."
In addition to size differences, the shape and look of the breasts may also differ markedly. For example, a woman may have one breast that significantly droops while the other does not, making for a very noticeable unbalanced look.
In severe cases, Erhardt said, breast augmentation, breast lift, and breast reduction are often used to correct breast asymmetry and create balance between the breasts.
At the ASPS conference, Dr Elvio Garcia from the Federal University of Sao Paulo, Brazil reported results of a study involving 35 women who underwent surgery to correct breast asymmetry.
Post-surgery, Garcia and colleagues noted "progressive improvement" in quality of life as measured by the Short Form Health Survey. Six months after having the surgery, all women displayed statistically significant improvement in vitality, mental health and self-esteem.
In his busy practice, Erhardt said he has observed first hand how surgery to correct significant breast asymmetry "helps tremendously with a woman's self-confidence and self esteem. There is a remarkable change in the personalities of these young ladies - you can see it in their faces."
For more information, visit www.plasticsurgery.org.