Synmastia following breast augmentation

A very rare but potentially severe complication of breast enhancement plastic surgery using breast implants is when the breast implants are positioned too much towards the middle of the chest. This condition is known as synmastia which means ‘one breast’. This usually occurs because the plastic surgeon is trying to improve cleavage, or the skin is very tight and lifts up in the middle. This synmastia can also be the result of the plastic surgeon placing implants that are too large at the time of breast augmentation plastic surgery. Sometimes, it is simply due to the woman’s anatomy and genetic makeup. The synmastia complication results in undue pulling on the midline tissues. When the breast implant pulls the breast bone skin and tissues off of the breast bone, it makes the breasts come together. There is essentially no cleavage when the synmastia complication occurs.

Moderate synmastia after breast augmentation

The picture above is a relatively moderate but still concerning degree of synmastia. Her breast augmentation was done elsewhere and she sought out Dr. Brown for revision correction surgery. (See photo library for full set of pictures)

The synmastia complication can occur at the time of breast augmentation plastic surgery, shortly after or within a few months of the breast enhancement plastic surgery. It is best to attempt to repair this problem as soon as it occurs. This aids in preventing the stretching of the breast skin and diminishes the distortion or nipple asymmetries that can occur if the synmastia is left untreated for a long period of time. If the synmastia complication does cause abnormal breast skin stretching and nipple deviations, it is extremely difficult to correct in most cases. Some women will elect to have the synmastia complication corrected but will not address the nipple areolar distortions that may have occured with long standing synmastia.

Correcting synmastia involves a secondary breast plastic surgery. It can be corrected using several different techniques. The technique that is used depends on the woman’s unique set of circumstances and the surgeon’s experience with each.