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| Symmastia | Symmastia is also known as “breadloafing” or “uniboob” or “kissing implants”. This local breast implant complication is usually a consequence of over-dissection of the tissues in the cleavage area. Some surgeons do this hoping to create, or increase cleavage.
With the condition of symmastia, the implants practically get together in the middle of the chest, creating the appearance of one breast, in place of two. Symmastia seems to be more widespread amongst thin women, for the most part because of the fact that thin women typically have less tissue or fat covering the sternum. Sometimes it happens that the surgeon tries to liberate some of these tissues, so as to get the implants closer together. If you have a qualified and skilled plastic surgeon, you shouldn’t have to worry about this complication. Symmastia is the least common of all cosmetic breast augmentation complications.
Women with pectus excavantum are more disposed towards symmastia, particularly if they do not find a surgeon who is practiced at placing implants in women with chestwall deformities. Pectus excavatum (a depressed breastbone) will provoke the implants to incline inward, in the direction of the cleavage area. This produces more force on the tissues in that area, and may lead to symmastia. Some doctors advise putting smaller implants in women with pectus excavantum, as this will decrease the amount of pressure that is located on the cleavage area.
Symmastia may not be obvious exactly after surgery. On the other hand, it can become visible at anytime after surgery from a few days to several months later.
In order to correct symmastia, the fat and underlying skin tissues will have to be reattached to the breastbone. Often, with submuscular implants, the scar tissue is moved away from the pocket, and then rolled up. This gives the sutures something to adhere to, or “hold on” to. Permanent sutures are used to hold the sternal skin down. The remainder of the pocket has to be sutured as well, typically with permanent sutures, therefore providing barriers, which will keep the implants from moving across the breastbone again.
In order to remove all pressure from the middle of the chest (sternum or breastbone), the pocket typically has to be made larger, or, the implants will have to be exchanged for smaller ones. Once the surgery is finished, a thong-bra is usually required, along with something like a rolled up ace bandage, which is used in between the breasts to put tension on the sternum.
It is very important to be aware that all of the sutures that are used should be internal sutures. External sutures will only add to the scarring, and is not advised, because this repair must be done internally.
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