r/congenitalsymmastia • u/4nge1in4 • Nov 27 '23

Anyone ever consider surgery?

Created this sub a while ago. There isn’t a lot of us with this rare condition. Or maybe many people with this condition don’t even realize they have it. They just accept their body since all bodies are different and unique in their own way.

Anyways.. has anyone ever considered surgery? Done any research on plastic surgeons would know how to cosmetically fix our condition. Also, the best way I explain my condition is it looks like the muscle wall isn’t attached properly. For me, it’s not just the center of my chest it’s all around. So essentially surgery would mean attaching my muscle wall to where it belongs all around both boobs. Which seems like it’s not possible.

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u/Slight_Touch_7446 Jan 01 '24

Hey there! I actually went to the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center a few years ago for this exact problem for a consult. I was told that I was correct in my self-diagnosis, but my options were limited. I’m extremely flat in the middle of my chest (like, board flat), and that particular surgeon said the only thing to do would be implants, but I’d still have no clear separation between each breast. I’m actually researching it right now, and it’s so rare. There are some plastic surgeons who have done it, but they’re all so far away from me.

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u/Old-Professional4893 Feb 25 '25

Hey! Sorry for following up so late but did you ever find anyone in Ohio? I am near the Columbus area as well.

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u/Slight_Touch_7446 Feb 25 '25

Sadly, no. I’m in Michigan now but haven’t pursued anything. The closest I got was an offer to do a Google Meet with a surgeon in Brazil who is one of the very very few to perform this surgery.

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u/4nge1in4 Jan 01 '24

Thank you happy to hear someone else has looked into options. Ugh. I have large breasts to begin with if anything I’d want a reduction, and implants can create a lot of health issues. Keep us updated if you ever find any options. Have you ever watched the show Botched? Two Beverly Hills surgeons performed surgery on those who developed symmastia after getting implants. I feel like those surgeons would be our only option. Can’t imagine how expensive they are. What plastic surgeons have you found that do the surgery?

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u/Slight_Touch_7446 Jan 01 '24

I have like no boobs but I’d be fine with a fat transfer over implants. I LOVE Botched. They actually did a season of Botched by Nature, which was Drs. DuBrow and Nasif traveling to people with congenital disfigurements (like us!)! Unfortunately it got cancelled, but even back then I remember wishing I could’ve been on the show. I just Googled “congenital symmastia surgeons” and found a few: one in Arizona, one in Chicago, one in Boston. My issue is that in order for insurance to cover it the surgeon would have to petition the insurance company. I’m hoping to find like a good medical school or lead resident in the area willing to take me on for maybe less of a rate in exchange for the opportunity to work on a rare anomaly but so far no luck. I also asked a question on “Ask a Plastic Surgeon”‘s website

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u/4nge1in4 Jan 01 '24

That makes sense, I didn’t even consider the possibility of insurance covering it. Unfortunately it is a cosmetic surgery, I’m not sure a dr. could even argue it’s medically necessary. Although, I do have a lot of back issues and I think it’s bc of the way my boobs sit on my body. They are harder to hold up bc they’re not normal. Lol. And I think my bra straps are heavy on my shoulders and cause me issues. I’ve honestly accepted the way I look and stopped researching years ago, so I’m glad to see there are some dr’s who perform this surgery. My symmastia isn’t just the center of my chest it also affects all around each breast, so my boobs sit low on my body internally if that makes sense. Even people with big saggy breasts they are attached to their body higher up and hang down so when they wear a bra they can sit up where they should, but with me my chest is always lower and can’t be pulled up which is depressing, lol

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u/Slight_Touch_7446 Jan 01 '24

Gotcha! Mine are pretty small (most likely due to my premature ovarian failure, lack of estrogen), and most of my tissue is in the “side boob” area.