A new study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery reports that breast asymmetry has a significant mental health impact on teenagers

1. ASPS Study Reveals Mental
Health Impact of Breast
Asymmetry on Teenagers

2. Breast asymmetry where one breast is different in size and/or shape from the other
is a common condition. However, it can pose both physical and psychological
challenges, which is why many women opt to correct the flaw through cosmetic
breast surgery.
A new study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical
journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), reports that breast
asymmetry has a significant mental health impact on teenagers. The researchers at
the Boston Children's Hospital found that many factors were impacted, such as self-
esteem, emotional well-being, and social functioning. According to a report on the
study, breast asymmetry is not just a "cosmetic issue" but has negative
psychological and emotional effects as well. The research suggests that early
intervention could provide mental health benefits for teenagers with relatively mild
breast size differences.
The main points of the study are as follows:
 The study evaluated psychosocial functioning and health-related quality of life
in 3 sets of women: with breast asymmetry, without breast asymmetry, and
with macromastia (overlarge breasts)
 The average age of the women was 17 years for all groups
 The participants with breast asymmetry included 59 adolescents and young
women (12 to 21 years)
 For the women with asymmetry, the breasts differed by at least one bra cup
size
 About 40 percent of girls with asymmetry had tuberous breast deformity, a
congenital condition in which the breasts don’t develop normally
 When compared to girls with "normal" breasts, several aspects of mental
health and well-being were lower in those with asymmetry
 Breast asymmetry was linked with significantly lower scores for emotional
well-being and self-esteem, after adjustment for differences in body weight

3.  Those with asymmetry were also noted to have "borderline" issues in social
functional and eating behaviors and attitudes
 The psychological effects noted were more or less similar for girls with overly
large breasts, women with differences in the breasts after breast cancer
surgery, and boys with enlarged breasts
The researchers concluded that "The observed impaired psychological well-being of
adolescents with breast asymmetry may indicate the need for early intervention to
minimize negative outcomes". However, they opine that a cosmetic procedure is not
always the first preference and that weight control and mental health counseling
could be tried in the first phase.
Girls who have completed development and still have breast asymmetry would
experience important emotional benefits with surgical intervention. However,
evaluation by an experienced cosmetic breast surgeon is critical to determine
candidature and enjoy an optimal outcome.
Contact
Houston Plastic and Craniofacial Surgery
6400 Fannin, Suite 2290
Houston, TX 77030
713-791-0700
713-791-0703 fax