Scottsdale – I brought this topic for consideration on the blog, because Poland’s Syndrome is common in the plastic surgeon’s practice. In my office for instance, the condition usually involves women seeking breast augmentation and/or reconstruction.

Poland’s Syndrome is a condition in which there is malformation of the chest causing the pectoralis major, on one side of the body, to be absent or underdeveloped. An underdeveloped breast can accompany the condition. Poland’s is not life threatening, but can make restoration of normal breast shape and symmetry challenging. In Poland’s, one can also see unilateral shortening of the index, long, and ring fingers, and hypoplasia of the hand. Other muscles may be lacking such as the latissimus dorsi and teres major muscles depending on the severity of the condition.

Restoration of a normal appearing breast requires individualized and focused treatment. The hypoplastic breast may require muscular flap and/or silicone gel implant placement, tissue expansion for a future flap and/or implant reconstruction and, in mild cases, implants alone can be use on the affected side. Nipple reconstruction is some times required.

For the best symmetry, I discussed surgery on the non-affected side with all patients.  Breast reduction and breast lift with or without silicone breast implants should be used.