Mental Health hampers Breast Development in Teen Girls

The official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)’s December issue reported that differences in breast size have a significant mental health impact in adolescent girls, affecting self-esteem, emotional well-being, and social functioning. The researchers evaluated psychosocial functioning and health-related quality of life in 59 adolescents and young women (12 to 21 years) with breast asymmetry. In all patients, the breasts differed by at least one bra cup size. Similar evaluations were performed in a group of girls without breast asymmetry, and in girls with macromastia (overlarge breasts). Mean age was about 17 years in all groups. About 40 percent of girls with breast asymmetry had tuberous breast deformity, a congenital condition in which the breasts don’t develop normally. Several aspects of mental health and well-being were lower for girls with breast asymmetry, compared to those with “normal” breasts.