Background: Three-dimensional scanning offers new opportunities to enable objective and quantitative analysis of the breast. The authors introduce an innovative method of performing a thorough analysis of breast asymmetry by means of three-dimensional scanning.
Methods: One hundred breast augmentation patients underwent preoperative three-dimensional scanning. The coordinate system was established and the three-dimensional breast model was analyzed using software. The discrepancies of nipple level, nipple to midline distance, inferior mammary fold level, breast width, breast projection, breast volume, and anterior chest wall projection were measured.
Results: The mean discrepancies of nipple level, nipple to midline distance, inferior mammary fold level, breast width, breast projection, and anterior chest wall projection were 4.9±3.7, 4.1±3.5, 4.7±3.5, 4.6±2.7, 5.4±4.1, and 4.4±2.9 mm, respectively. The mean discrepancy of breast volume was 48±42 ml. The incidence of significant asymmetry of nipple position was 72 percent. The incidence of significant asymmetry of the breast mound was 94 percent (patients with at least one parameter with significant asymmetry), and the incidence of asymmetric inferior mammary fold level, breast width, breast projection, and breast volume was 44, 46, 46, and 76 percent, respectively. The incidence of significant asymmetry of the anterior chest wall projection was 36 percent. None of the patients was completely free of asymmetry. Ninety-two percent had at least two parameters of asymmetry and 72 percent had at least three parameters of asymmetry.
Conclusions: A thorough evaluation of breast asymmetry can be carried out with the authors' innovative method. This study indicates that three-dimensional measurement of the breast will probably play an important role in implant selection to correct breast asymmetry.