28 Apr What Is Breadloafing? 3 Ways To Correct Symmastia After Breast Implants
Not Your Average Loaf Of Bread
Breast augmentation involves placing a silicone or saline implant into the breast. This surgical procedure adds size and volume to the breast, which many women desire. Breast shapes and sizes can change due to genetics, weight changes, or pregnancy. Implants provide renewed confidence and hope for thousands of women every year. Despite the success of implants, there is a chance of complications. One particularly rare complication is breadloafing or symmastia. If breadloafing occurs, the patient can feel self-conscious and will need to correct the issue.
What is breadloafing?
Symmastia or breadloafing is a rare complication that can occur after breast augmentation surgery. In some cases, the breast implants move too close together, creating a unified, single boob or breadloaf appearance across the breast. This can occur when the implants are placed too close to the midline of the chest. Sometimes, the connective tissue between the breasts becomes too weak to support the implants. There is no way to predict if or when someone will experience symmastia. Furthermore, without surgery, the condition is difficult to correct. Here are 3 revision options for women with breadloafing.
1. Moving the implant
Before breast augmentation, the patient and surgeon will decide where the implants will be placed. The surgeon can install the implant on top of the chest muscle or behind the chest muscle. If the implant is on top of the chest muscle, known as subglandular augmentation, the chances of breadloafing are slightly higher. The surgeon can move the implant to a submuscular location to lower the risk.
2. Adjusting submuscular implants
What if the implants are already behind the chest muscle? In this case, the surgeon will need to repair the capsule created behind the muscle wall. The pocket may have shifted to the center of the chest. During the revision, the implant is adjusted, and more separation is made between both breasts. If the implant is too large, the doctor will discuss reducing the implant size to prevent breadloafing. Large implants can shift to the middle of the chest during the healing process.
3. Try capsulorrhaphy
Sometimes the surgeon can make adjustments without moving the implant or capsule. This procedure is called capsulorrhaphy. The surgeon uses special tools and techniques to adjust the capsule and implant. Additional space is made at the center of the chest to create a more natural look. In some cases, the surgeon may remove excess fat in the area. In addition, there may be changes to the incision location, size, and breast placement. The procedure may take several hours and requires a short recovery.
Keeping breasts separate
While symmastia is rare, the condition can cause visible changes to the breast that may alarm patients. Other symptoms of the complication include tight skin, discomfort, pain, and a breadloafing appearance. Should these signs appear, seek help immediately. The surgeon can locate the root cause and suggest the necessary treatment to restore natural-looking breasts.