Amazia is a condition where the mammary gland is missing but the nipple and areola are present, often caused by surgery for cancer treatment. Amastia is the absence of the entire breast. Treatment involves breast implants and nipple repositioning for cosmetic reasons. Transgender men may opt for surgery to remove their breasts.
Amazia is a condition in which the mammary gland is missing, but the nipple and surrounding areola are present. Most commonly, amazia is iatrogenic in nature, meaning it was caused by a doctor, although it is possible that the condition is congenital. The most common reason for amazia is surgery to remove the mammary gland performed as part of a cancer treatment program, with the goal of removing all cancerous tissue so it cannot metastasize to nearby organs.
A closely related condition is amastia. In amastia, the entire breast, including the mammary gland, nipple, and areola, is absent. People sometimes misuse the term “amastia” to refer to amazia, although the two conditions are of a different nature. There are several treatment options available for both, for patients who want treatment.
Once the mammary gland is absent, it will not be possible to produce milk, and amastia or amastia treatment is usually done for cosmetic reasons, as some women feel uncomfortable without one or both breasts. Treatment involves inserting a breast implant to fill in the tissue, and the nipple can be repositioned at the same time, as the implant can change the position of the nipple, making the breasts look strange. Patients who continue to have children may be able to breastfeed from an intact breast if only one has been removed, or they will need to bottle-feed; for mothers who wish to use breast milk to feed their babies, it can sometimes be available through a milk bank.
In women who have one breast or both breasts removed during breast cancer treatment, a surgery known as a mastectomy, reconstruction can sometimes be done during surgery, although some surgeons prefer to wait. In young women who are not developing breasts, a doctor may offer a breast implant as an option after it becomes apparent that the patient has gone through puberty and further growth is unlikely.
There is another reason for iatrogenic love; transgender men may choose to have surgery to remove their breasts so they can bring their bodies into alignment with their gender identity. In this particular case, no treatment is desired for the missing mammary gland because the patient specifically opted for excision. During the surgery, the nipple and halo are repositioned so that they sit in the correct position on the man’s chest once he is healed.
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