Synmastia Repair
Synmastia is a term used to describe the joining of the breasts at the midline. This is a problem created by the overdissection of the central pocket during breast augmentation. It can happen when breast implants are placed below or above the muscle, but it's purely a problem caused by surgery.
Even though the condition is somewhat rare, it happens to women across the country and right here in Sacramento. Plastic surgery in California can legally be performed by physicians whose formal training is in another field of medicine altogether and whose hands-on experience may be limited. That's why Dr. David Kaufman and Dr. Christa Clark urge you to choose a well trained, board certified plastic surgeon whenever you're considering surgical changes to your appearance.
In plain English, synmastia is caused when a pocket is created too close to the midline. Once this tissue over the sternum is lifted up, it can be very hard for it to be returned back in place. Implants may appear to join each other in the center of the chest, sometimes even creating the look of one large implant. Therefore synmastia is occasionally called "breadloafing" or even "unibreast" or "uniboob."
Repairing synmastia is a challenge. Once the skin bridge over the sternum has lifted, it is hard to anchor it back down. There are two primary schools of thought. One is to remove the breast implants and allow everything to heal again. This is a good strategy for patients who are dealing with the problem early. For women who have endured synmastia for a longer period of time, there are several techniques for improving breast appearance. At Kaufman & Clark Plastic Surgery in Sacramento we often use AlloDerm or another skin replacement to tack the medial skin back down. Our technique also depends on the degree of synmastia present.
Get Started Today
Consider an appointment at Kaufman & Clark Plastic Surgery in Sacramento, whether you're planning your first procedure or surgery or correcting a problem. You'll find out why patients fly in for surgery from across the United States and even from other countries to work with us.
We're located just north of Sacramento in Folsom at 2220 East Bidwell Street. Request a consultation online or call us at (916) 235-8838.
