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Developmental irregularities of the chest wall and spine

The platform upon which the breast mounds are positioned is composed of the breast bone (sternum), muscles, ribs and the spine. If an asymmetric curvature exists in this platform then the breasts are likely to be pointing in directions. Breast implants can magnify these different positions or if the breast implants are not positioned correctly, then these asymmetries can be made disproportionately worse.

The spine naturally has a curvature from forward to backward in the midline of the body. This midline curvature does not really have any negative connotations for breast implants. When the spine has a curvature variant that turns from ‘left to right’ or ‘’right to left’ then these types of ‘side to side’ curvatures may influence how level the breast mounds will appear on the chest wall. The side to side curvatures will influence a woman’s posture. This can be noticed by one hip being higher or one shoulder being higher than the other. If a shoulder is higher then the collar bones will be asymmetric and so will the positions of the breast mounds. This asymmetry can be noticed by one nipple or inframammary fold being higher or lower than the other.

The ribs and breast bone or sternum meet in the midline of the body and form the front of a chest that resembles a barrel. The front of the chest is typically not completely round but rather a bit flat on the front side. Ribs on occasion do not curve the same amount and one side may protrude further out than the other. This will result in one side actually being slightly further out than the other and therefore the breasts will be in different positions. The breast bone or sternum can also have an irregular bend or position. It may be bending further outward or inward. When the breast bone is bowed outward or sunken inward, the ribs will be bent as well.

Since the breasts sit on the ribs, these curvatures in the platform will influence how a breast mound looks as well as its nipple position. Often a woman has never noticed their physical attributes and irregularities or ‘anomalies’ until they are pointed out at the time of their physical examination. These anomalies of the chest wall are typically magnified by breast implants. It is important for a woman to visualize and appreciate their natural unique characteristics prior to having breast implants placed. They are usually readily accepted by the woman and allow them to have realistic expectations of their breast augmentation result.