Treatment of Breast Asymmetry according to Seattle Cosmetic Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Lisa Lynn Sowder

Quick Facts

• Costs: $6500 – $10,000 depending on what procedure(s) are done.
• How much it hurts:  Quite a bit the first 2 days.  Usually on the third day, you can’t wipe the smile off your face.
• Time off work or school:  1 – 2 weeks depending on occupation.
• Time until driving again: 5 – 7 days or until you are off narcotic pain meds.
• Time in post-operative bra: 3 weeks.
• Time off the gym:  usually 4 weeks.
• Time off the slopes:  usually 4 weeks.
• Time off the kite board: usually 6 weeks.
• How long it “lasts”:  depends on the procedure(s) done, patient age and if the patient has children and/or weight changes after the surgery.
• Patient satisfaction :  high

Breast asymmetry is a condition I see frequently despite the fact that breast asymmetry is “under the radar” in our cool and cloudy Western Washington climate where a woman is more likely to wear a down vest than a tank top in June.

Fortunately breast asymmetry is usually quite mild and can addressed by making slight alterations in breast augmentation, breast lift or breast reduction. When breast asymmetry is more severe (more than one cup size difference between breasts), the treatment is more challenging. Every case is different and it requires at least a couple of visits to formulate a treatment plan.

I have used every tool in my breast surgery surgery toolbox to treat breast asymmetry – augmentation, lift, reduction, fat injection and liposuction!  Which procedure(s) I use depends on what you want and need.

In some patients, I recommend doing the correction in two stages. The first stage equalizes the breast size and shape, even if it means making the larger breast “too small” like the smaller breast and then, after a couple of months, augmenting both sides with breast implants. This is a relatively new approach that results in both breasts responding the same to gravity over the years and may improve the long term result of correction of severe asymmetry.

If you have breast asymmetry, take comfort in knowing that this is a fairly common problem and surgery can almost always improve symmetry.

The surgery is usually done in my AAAASF certified Seattle office operating room or at Seattle Surgery Center which is located adjacent of our office building. Patient go home the same day. Recovery can be as rapid as a few days or as long as a few weeks depending on the procedure(s) done.

Sometimes patients with brest asymmetry seek out a female, woman or lady plastic surgeon in Seattle and I certainly qualify. I understand “breast issues” and know how challenging navigating the lingerie department can be! I think my part time job after retirement will be the nice older “bra lady” at Nordstrom!