Girls
with different-sized breasts have poorer emotional well-being and lower
self-esteem than their peers. They also have borderline issues with
functioning socially and eating behaviours (file picture)
Teenage girls with uneven or abnormally large breasts should be offered corrective surgery because the issues can significantly affect mental health, experts have warned.
Girls with asymmetric breasts have poorer emotional well-being and lower self-esteem than their peers, researchers discovered.
They also have issues with eating and interacting socially.
And
the negative impact on mental health is just as damaging for girls with
a relatively mild difference in breast size, as those with severe
differences.
In
the first study of its kind analysing the mental health implications of
breast size, scientists found the negative impact was the same for
girls suffering macromastia - a condition which causes abnormally large
breasts.
The
team of doctors at Boston's Children's Hospital found early medical
interventions, including weight control, mental health counselling and
even surgery, could help young women struggling with asymmetrical
breasts.
Dr
Brian Labow, who carried out the research said: 'These findings suggest
that patients suffering from breast asymmetry have poorer emotional
well-being and lower self-esteem than their female peers.'
He argued medical intervention could be beneficial at a young age to help minimise the negative mental health affects.
As
part of the study researchers analysed 59 young women aged 12 to 21
years, who all had breast which differed by at least one bra cup size.
About 40 per cent of girls also had tuberous breast deformity, a condition in which the breasts don't develop normally.
Researchers
carried out tests to ascertain how well the girls functioned
psychologically and socially, as well as carrying out tests to score
their health-related quality of life.
Similar
tests were carried out on a group of girls without breast asymmetry,
and in girls with macromastia – a condition in which the breasts are
abnormally enlarged.
They
found several aspects of mental health and wellbeing were lower for
girls with different-sized breasts, compared to those with 'normal'
breasts.
They
also had significantly lower scores for emotional wellbeing and
self-esteem, after researchers adjusted for differences in body weight.
The
impact was similar to girls with macromastia – a condition with a known
mental health impact - as well as in boys with enlarged breasts and
even women with differences in the breasts related to breast cancer
surgery.
Having
asymmetrical breasts was also associated with borderline issues in
social functioning – a person's ability to interact normally in society.
They also showed borderline issues with eating behaviours and attitudes.
Doctors carrying out the research said
having asymmetric breasts should not be dismissed as a cosmetic issue.
Interventions like weight loss, mental health counselling and surgery
could be beneficial
In
the U.S., where the study was carried out, Dr Labow noted that although
there is insurance coverage for surgery to correct asymmetry in breast
cancer survivors because the impact on mental health is well understood,
no provision exists for young women born with different-sized breasts.
As a result, treatment is often not reimbursed by insurance, with the justification that there is 'no functional impairment'.
He argues that medical interventions could be beneficial.
He
said: 'The observed impaired psychological well-being of adolescents
with breast asymmetry may indicate the need for early intervention to
minimise negative outcomes.'
This doesn't necessarily mean surgery - especially for younger girls - 'consultation and support' may be appropriate, he said.
However,
for girls who are finished growing and still have different-sized
breasts, corrective surgery may have important emotional benefits, he
added.
He
said: 'Though substantial barriers to care exist, early evaluation and
intervention for these patients may be beneficial, and should include
weight control and mental health counselling.'
The research was published in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
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