Literally translated, bilateral gigantomastia means “extremely large breasts”, says Dr Dirk Lazarus, a Cape Town plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon. “Some women have large breasts, known as macromastia, but abnormally large breasts are known as gigantomastia.”
The condition is caused by a reaction to oestrogen and other female hormones but genetics can have an influence.
There are three types of gigantomastia, says Dr Nerina Wilkinson, a Cape Town plastic surgeon. “One type is caused by pregnancy hormones and causes abnormal breast growth in the first trimester. The condition can also be caused by puberty or certain medications.”
Bilateral gigantomastia causes pain and discomfort, Lazarus says. A patient whose breasts weigh more than 2,5kg each can experience symptoms such as back, neck and shoulder pain, a skin rash under the breasts,…
