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 Generally,
we have no idea how much the right side of our body is different from the left side.
Nevertheless, it is a known fact that can be easily proven if you take your picture
and process it using any editing software program so that your face was shown,
for example, as its left side and its exact mirror image. Then repeat this procedure
using the right side of your face. As a result, you get two pictures of two completely
different people, who have nothing in common but hair color.
Human body asymmetry
is a quite normal phenomenon, especially when we remember that the opposite
parts of our body correspond to different brain hemispheres (and, oddly enough,
the right hemisphere controls the left side, while the left hemisphere «looks
after» the right side), which have quite different «functional responsibilities».
In addition, each of us is either right-handed or left-handed, which stimulates
better development of muscles on one side of the body. This, in turn, often
leads to a slight, almost imperceptible curvature of the spine in the
appropriate direction (doctors call this phenomenon a physiological scoliosis),
which can be seen if you stand straight and put your both hands at your sides.
But in fact it turns out that you will not be quite right: the fingertips of your
right hand (if you're right handed) will be somewhat closer to the right knee
joint than the fingertips of your left hand - to the left knee joint. However,
you shouldn't worry about the body asymmetry. First, as it was noted above,
this is a normal phenomenon, common to almost all people, and second, as Chinese
wise men say, the closer to the symmetry, the closer to death. However, this
philosophical wisdom most likely implies that the absolute symmetry can only be
observed in inanimate objects, but the fact remains.
The asymmetry
is characteristic not only for different sides of the human body, but for
paired body organs as well: the left lung has two lobes, while the right lung
has three lobes; the right kidney is located below the left, etc. This is also
the case with breasts. Indeed, only one in four women possesses perfectly
symmetrical breasts. And this is the official statistics. The majority of women
have to some degree asymmetrical breasts. Fortunately, in most cases the asymmetry
is not obvious and is hard to perceive. However, there are exceptions, when the
difference between the breasts is up to one - two sizes, and sometimes more.
Causes of breast asymmetry may be numerous. Doctors suggest that breast size
differences are either genetic tendencies or random events in which paired
organs like the breasts just grow differentially with respect to starting and
stopping. The breasts are stimulated to grow under the influence of estrogen
hormone in young girls. It begins with breast budding and about two years after
that the first menstrual period occurs. The breast continues to grow for about
2-4 more years and it is during that time that there can be differences in
size. Catchup growth does take place but if you are now 21 years old and breast
development has gone on more than about 6 years, then it is unlikely to change
now until pregnancy or menopause. Those are the other two events that can
change size and shape of the breasts.
Besides,
this defect can be a result of improper breastfeeding, when the young mother
puts her baby to only one breast, and completely ignores the other. This is a
big mistake, because the formation of breast milk in the ignored mammary gland
is declining sharply, while the opposite gland has an incessant stimulus to its
production, which leads to an increase in the gland size. However, as in this
case we mean only the glandular hypertrophy, when breastfeeding period is over,
the difference between the sizes of the right and left breast gradually wanes
and the breasts are restored to their pre-feeding sizes. Things are different, if
significant breast asymmetry is caused by the uneven distribution of adipose
tissue. Typically, this cosmetic defect is present since birth, but in some
cases it may be the result of hormonal imbalances, such as due to uncontrolled
use of hormonal drugs. If it is a newly noticed size difference, the first
question that should be asked is whether or not there is any solid or cystic
growth in one breast that is making it larger than the other. In this case you
should consult a doctor in order to be sure that there are no breast masses
causing the discrepancy in size.
The three
major determinants of breast appearance are size, shape of the individual
breast and the position of the breast and nipple when standing in an upright
position. If two or more determinants are different you should consider seeking
medical help which based on the cause of the pathology will determine the
course of treatment. However, in some cases corrective surgery may be needed. Breast
asymmetry correction is achieved by breast augmentation or reduction of one or
both breasts. Sometimes a surgeon chooses to perform breast augmentation on one
breast and breast reduction on another to achieve perfect symmetry.
Surgical
breast asymmetry correction is successful in most cases, and women are
satisfied with the results. Results of cosmetic breast surgery are usually
better when there is only difference in size of the breasts. Some women try to
find alternative treatments for breast asymmetry. Although, some companies may
offer you medicines or certain substances that are supposed to treat breast
asymmetry, you should be aware that there is no other scientifically proven
method than surgical breast asymmetry treatment.
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