What is Synmastia?

Symmastia (sometimes synmastia) is a very rare complication related to breast implant surgery. In symmastia, the breast implants migrate toward the center of the chest, eventually overcoming the tissue separating them to create one breast.

Symmastia is most often related to a surgical error or poor planning on the part of a plastic surgeon. This is just another reason it is so important to select a Board-certified plastic surgeon, such as Dr. Nick Slenkovich. During the creation of the pockets for the implant, some inexperienced plastic surgeons will aggressively dissect the tissue between the breasts. They may be responding to a patient’s request for cleavage creation, but when overdone the remaining tissue may not be sufficient to hold the breast implants apart.

Another error that contributes to symmastia is attempting to use breast implants that are too large or too wide for a patient’s chest, and they cause the skin and fat in the center of the chest to separate from the breastbone. Selecting breast implants of an appropriate size and profile can help prevent this complication. During your breast augmentation consultation, Dr. Nick will take body measurements to help you determine the best size and profile to meet your goals.

Women with a depressed breastbone (pectus excavatum) are more at risk for this complication, but an experienced surgeon can still provide a good result.

The good news is that because symmastia is most often associated with a surgical error, you can dramatically reduce your risk of this complication by working with an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon.

Please call or email us today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Nick Slenkovich, who can talk to you about this or other potential complications associated with breast implants.