A series of reproducible measurements have been developed with reference to
a single midline datum that describe the position of key landmarks on the
female breast. Measurements were made on a 'normal' population of 60 subjec
ts content with their breast shape in order to (1) produce 'normal' referen
ce data for breast shape in a population of varying weight and height; and
(2) to evaluate factors which may influence the measurements. The findings
show that the vertical positions of the measurements migrate inferiorly wit
h increasing age. With increasing weight, the landmarks (except the medial
end of the inframammary crease) migrate inferolaterally. Areolar diameter d
ecreases with increasing age and increases with increasing weight. Only one
of the 12 bilateral breast measurement parameters shows a significant mean
difference between the right and left breast. However, in a proportion of
subjects, individual measurements show fluctuating asymmetry. Subsequently,
measurements were made of the breasts of women attending with requests for
either reduction (n = 25) or augmentation (n = 6) mammaplasty. Compared wi
th the 'normal' population, the group requesting reduction mammaplasty diff
ered significantly in the majority of measurements. The group of patients r
equesting breast augmentation showed fewer differences compared with the 'n
ormal' population. The average BMI of women requesting augmentation mammapl
asty was significantly less and that of women requesting reduction mammapla
sty significantly greater than the normal population.
In conclusion, a simple and reproducible method of morphometric measurement
of the female breast is described. Application of this method suggests tha
t patients requesting reduction or augmentation mammaplasty on the NHS repr
esent a significant deviation from 'normal' morphometry and do not simply h
ave a subjective distortion of their own body image.