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Warning-sign checks

Symmastia: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    Seek emergency care for:

    • Rapidly expanding breast or chest swelling
    • Heavy bleeding through a surgical dressing
    • Fainting, severe weakness, or confusion
    • New chest pain or difficulty breathing

    These are not typical features of stable symmastia.

    They may indicate an acute surgical or medical problem.

    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
    • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    Contact your surgical team promptly if a recent operation is followed by increasing redness, warmth, drainage, fever, worsening pain, or one breast becoming much more swollen than the other.

    These signs may suggest infection, bleeding, or a fluid collection and should not wait for a routine follow-up.

  3. 3

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    Arrange a routine appointment if you notice a persistent bridge between the breasts, loss of cleavage after implant surgery, gradual implant movement, or discomfort over the breastbone.

    A non-urgent review is also appropriate if the appearance is affecting your quality of life or you want to understand corrective options.

The article also says

A new breast lump, nipple bleeding, skin ulcer, or unexplained change in breast shape also deserves medical assessment.

These findings have several possible causes and should not automatically be blamed on symmastia or an implant.

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Symmastia. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.