Anthropometric Breast Measurements of Nulliparous Women in Lagos Nigeria

BACKGROUND: The breast is an important aesthetic feature in a woman. It defines her body shape and is a measure of beauty and attraction. Anthropometric breast measurements done in different countries have shown anatomic variations, but there have been very few studies in the Nigerian females to aid the planning of aesthetic and reconstructive breast surgeries and serves as a guide in designing breast accessories and clothing. OBJECTIVES: The study measured anthropometric breast parameters in Nigerian females, assessed the degree of symmetry in volume of the right and left breasts and compared the measurements in females from the six geo-political zones in Nigeria and with values from women from other countries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective descriptive analytical study of three hundred and seventy (370) female students chosen randomly from three higher institutions of learning in Yaba Local Council Development Area (LCDA) Lagos State Nigeria between ages 18 and 32 years. Fourteen parameters were measured using a measuring tape and long ruler. RESULTS: The right sternal notch nipple length (RSNL), left sternal notch nipple length (LSNL), and the nipple nipple length (NNL) was found to be 21.88 cm, 22.31 cm and 21.70 cm, respectively. The mean mammary volume for the right and left breast were 395.78 mL and 437.65 mL, respectively. There was no significant difference in the parameters across the six geopolitical zones. CONCLUSIONS: There was no statistically significant difference in the anthropometric parameters measured across the six geopolitical zones. The anthropometric values of the left breast were significantly larger.