Women who are considering undergoing a breast augmentation cosmetic surgery should be aware that their natural body shape will have a defining impact on how their breasts finally appear after the procedure. The breasts are located over the muscles of the chest wall, while underneath those muscles are the ribs. These ribs connect to the body at the spine, creating a unique breast anatomy.
The shape and position of the breasts is influenced by the woman’s unique body shape. The plastic surgeon should discuss these aspects with the patient at the time of initial consultation. Breast augmentation ‘before and after’ pictures can be used to aid this explanation process. Dr. Hisham Seify is a board certified plastic surgeon providing breast augmentation and other procedures to patients in Newport Beach, Orange County, CA, and surrounding communities.
Spine and Rib Curvature
Ribs and spine will usually have a slight curvature, which influences the appearance of breasts on the chest wall. However, many surgeons may make the mistake of treating it as a less important aspect of breast augmentation plastic surgery. In reality, when the breast implants are surgically placed, it will have a magnified impact on the shape of the breasts.
The base on which the breasts rest is constituted of the ribs, spine, and breast bone. If these components are curved in a peculiar way or have asymmetry, then the breasts may point in divergent directions. In such cases, once the breast implant will be placed, it can considerably affect the resulting breast mound.
Drooping of one of the shoulders will occur when the woman stands up, if the ribs or spine have a curvature. The patient can understand this aspect better with the help of breast augmentation before and after images. Dr. Seify is a leading cosmetic surgeon who receives patients from Newport Beach, Orange County, CA, and nearby areas for breast implant surgery.
Impact on Posture
When the ribs and spine have a slight curvature, it will usually affect the patient’s posture. One hip or shoulder will typically be higher than the other, making this anomaly easily noticeable. When one shoulder or collarbone is higher than the other, it may cause breast asymmetry or breasts at different heights. All these aspects should be taken into consideration when the breast surgeon prepares a breast augmentation surgical plan.
Anomalies of the Breast Bone and Ribs
Sternum, or the breast bone as well as the ribs typically come together to form a barrel that will be slightly flat on the front. Ribs can create different shapes at times. One side of the ribs might project further than the breast bone. In some cases, the breast bone may not be flat and may project further than the ribs.
The breasts will usually sit on the ribs close to the breast bone. Therefore, any variation in the foundation will make the breasts appear differently on the chest wall. When the breast implants are inserted, these aberrations are likely to appear magnified. This makes it imperative for the surgeon to identify and address these concerns prior to breast implant surgery.