Before and after breast reconstruction for congenital Poland syndrome in a 22 year old woman. Poland syndrome is a congenital condition where the pectoralis major muscle is absent on one side (note the unusual fold of her right armpit) and the breast fails to develop fully, or is sometimes absent altogether.
She had finished her breast development and was self-conscious of her significant asymmetry between her breast size, shape and position on her chest. She just “wanted to look normal”.
Reconstruction in her situation involved placement of a permanent but postoperatively adjustable saline-filled breast implant under the breast tissue on the right side (NOT under the muscle because the muscle is missing, and this is the technique preferred anyway in my practice!). A breast lift on the left side created better symmetry of the nipples and areolas and moved her breast tissue to on above the fold.
Follow up images are shown at 2 years after surgery. Her implant port on the right is still in place. She wants to keep it until she is certain that her body has stopped changing. She is considering starting a family and loves the idea that she can change the volume of her right reconstructed breast by adding or removing saline as her body changes with having children!
She feels much more comfortable in her skin and no longer thinks about her breasts when changing at the gym or during intimate situations. She will have the port removed sometime in the future. This can be done in the office under local anesthesia.
*All photos are actual patient photographs and are for illustrative purposes only. Individual results may vary.
