Is Breast Reduction Surgery Possible on Only One Side?

If someone wants to have breast reduction surgery on only one side,

this is actually a somewhat special case.

It can be classified into two types:

First: cases with congenital asymmetry

Second: cases where asymmetry developed later in life

In other words, this can include cases where breast cancer develops in one breast, leading to mastectomy surgery, and unfortunately results in asymmetry afterward.

First, among congenital cases of asymmetry,

there is the condition known as

'Poland syndrome',

which was described by Alfred Poland in 1841.

Poland syndrome is a combination of various symptoms,

but it is especially characterized by hypoplasia or

aplasia of one breast.

Simply put,

it can be described as

'one side of the breast has not developed properly.'

Because the difference between the two sides of the chest is extremely large,

treatment for this condition is not easy.

In such cases, to achieve symmetry between the left and right sides,

there are limits to surgery that reduces only one side.

In most cases, both sides are operated on

to achieve balance.

Surgical method for congenital breast asymmetry

Smaller breast side

Augmentation surgery with an implant

Larger breast side

Reduction surgery to match the height of the areola

This is how it is performed.

Congenital asymmetry is

not necessarily caused only by such special conditions.

Even without a special cause such as

Poland syndrome,

there are occasional cases where one breast is normal,

while the other side alone is unusually large and sagging.

However, even when a person believes that only one side is sagging,

in many cases the opposite breast is also sagging,

after all, just to a lesser degree.

Therefore, in cases of congenital asymmetry,

both sides are generally operated on together,

but

if a person strongly wants surgery on only one breast,

or if one breast is large and sagging while the opposite breast is

extremely normal, then

in such cases, reduction surgery on only one breast is possible.

Next is the more common case than congenital causes,

where asymmetry develops later in life.

A representative example is

asymmetry that occurs after breast cancer surgery.

In general, the side that undergoes breast cancer surgery

(the side that had the tissue removed)

becomes smaller,

so many people want to reduce the healthy breast to match that size.

In many cases like this,

the side that has undergone surgery and become smaller

also has deformity or sagging,

so rather than operating on only one side,

both sides are often operated on together.

In fact, doing both sides together is the only way

to minimize differences in size and shape between the left and right sides,

which is why bilateral surgery is recommended.

However, depending on the case, there are situations where surgery on only one side is unavoidable.

Especially after breast cancer surgery,

if side effects from radiation therapy occur and

the inflammatory response in the tissue is severe,

there is no choice but to operate only on the healthy breast on the opposite side.

In such cases,

there are also instances where unilateral surgery is performed only on the healthy side

to make it as similar in shape as possible to the side that underwent breast cancer treatment.

For those considering reduction surgery after breast cancer surgery

to achieve symmetry,

there is something I would like to emphasize.

If breast cancer has occurred in one breast,

the risk of breast cancer developing in the opposite breast may increase by about 3 to 4 times.

Therefore, when breast cancer patients

plan reduction surgery,

it is important to make sure there is no cancer present before surgery

through mammogram and ultrasound examinations.

Breast reduction surgery on only one side!

Was that helpful in answering your question?

To achieve symmetry,

it is more advantageous to operate on both sides than on only one side.

Since there are also cases where surgery on only one side is unavoidable,

I hope you will find the appropriate surgical method for you

after a careful consultation with a specialist.