Breast condition · Abu Dhabi & Dubai
Wide Gap Between the Breasts
Also known as: wide cleavage · breast gap · wide set breasts · no cleavage · space between breasts · breasts far apart · wide intermammary distance · breasts point outwards · how to get cleavage · gap between breasts after implants
Medically reviewed by Dr. Paulo Michels, Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon· Updated 29 September 2026
The width of the gap between your breasts is largely set by anatomy: where your breast tissue and chest muscle attach on the breastbone, and the shape of your ribcage. Breast implants can narrow the gap only within those limits, and forcing the pockets closer risks symmastia. Dr. Paulo Michels, in Abu Dhabi, measures your chest and explains realistically what cleavage an implant can create.
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What decides the width of the gap between the breasts?
The space between your breasts, known in surgical terms as the intermammary distance, is mostly decided before any surgeon is involved. Three things set it:
- The breast footprint. Each breast sits on a base whose inner edge is defined by where the breast tissue attaches near the breastbone. If that edge starts further from the midline, the breasts are wider-set.
- The chest muscle attachments. The pectoralis major muscle attaches along the side of the breastbone. Its inner border helps define how close the breast, and an implant placed beneath it, can sit to the midline.
- The shape of the ribcage. Breasts sit on a curved surface. On a rounder chest, or where the breastbone is sunken, the breasts naturally face outwards and the gap looks wider.
On top of this anatomy, some changes can make the gap look wider: small breast volume (see small breasts), loss of volume after pregnancy or weight loss, sagging where the breasts drift outwards (see sagging breasts), and developmental shapes such as tuberous breasts, which have a narrow base. A difference between the two sides can also make one half of the cleavage look wider (see breast asymmetry).
Can the gap be narrowed without surgery?
Yes, in clothing. A well-fitted plunge or push-up bra brings the breasts together and is the most effective non-surgical option. Exercise can strengthen the chest muscle, but it does not move the breast tissue or change where the muscle attaches, so it does not close the gap.
Fillers are not recommended for breast volume or for filling the cleavage. Filler in the breast can cause lumps, can interfere with breast imaging and screening, and complicates later surgery.
Can breast implants close the gap?
This is the honest answer that matters most on this page: implants can narrow the gap only within anatomical limits.
An implant sits in a pocket over the chest wall. Its inner edge should respect the attachments of the breast and muscle near the breastbone. Within that boundary, several choices improve cleavage:
- Implant width matched to your breast base. Measuring the base allows an implant that fills the breast from its inner to its outer edge without being forced beyond it.
- Accurate pocket position. The pocket is placed so the implant sits as centrally as your anatomy safely allows.
- Profile and shape. A suitable projection fills the inner breast without making the implant too wide.
- Fat transfer to the inner edge. In a hybrid augmentation, fat is injected around the implant edges to soften the transition and support a more natural cleavage, particularly in slim women.
What an implant cannot do is move your breast tissue towards the midline or change the shape of your ribcage. On a wide-set chest you can expect a fuller inner breast and a closer cleavage in a bra, but some space between the breasts will usually remain when you stand without one.
Full details of implant choice, the inframammary-fold incision, Dual Plane placement and recovery are on the breast augmentation page, and choosing breast implant size explains why width matters more than volume.
Why is over-correcting dangerous?
The temptation, for patient and surgeon alike, is to push the pockets closer than the anatomy allows. That usually means dissecting or releasing tissue too far towards the breastbone, or choosing an implant wider than the breast base. The consequences can include:
- Symmastia. The two pockets join across the midline, the implants touch in the middle and the skin of the cleavage lifts off the bone. It needs revision surgery to repair. See symmastia.
- Visible or palpable edges and rippling where tissue over the inner implant is thin.
- Implant malposition as an oversized implant stretches its pocket over time. See bottoming out and implant malposition.
A slightly wider cleavage that stays stable is a better result than a narrow one that fails.
| Situation | What helps | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Naturally wide-set breasts, small volume | Augmentation with an implant matched to your breast base, possibly with fat transfer | Fuller inner breast; closer cleavage in a bra; some gap remains |
| Wide gap with sagging after pregnancy or weight loss | Breast lift, with or without an implant | Breasts better centred on the mound; base unchanged |
| Rounded or sunken chest, breasts face outwards | Careful implant choice and pocket position | Improved fullness; outward angle partly remains |
| Existing implants sitting too far apart | Revision with pocket tightening at the outer side, sometimes a new implant width | Can improve; depends on tissue |
| Implants touching in the middle | Revision for symmastia | Cleavage rebuilt with permanent sutures |
How is the gap measured and planned?
Planning starts with a tape measure, not with a cup size. The distance between the inner edges of the two breasts, the width of each breast base, the thickness of the tissue at the inner breast and the stretch of the skin are recorded on both sides. Together these show where the inner edge of each future pocket can safely sit and which implant widths fit the base.
It also helps to separate three things that patients often describe in the same words: a gap that is genuinely wide because of where the breasts attach, breasts that point outwards because of the curve of the ribcage, and breasts that have drifted outwards with sagging. Each has a different answer, and many chests show a combination. Knowing which one applies to you is what turns a vague wish for more cleavage into a realistic plan.
What does recovery look like?
If you have augmentation, you can expect light walking from the first day, sleeping on your back for 4 to 6 weeks, a support bra for 4 to 6 weeks and no high-impact exercise or upper-body weights for 4 to 6 weeks. The inner breast often looks tight and high at first; the implants soften and settle over the following weeks and months, and the cleavage is judged once they have settled. A week-by-week guide is in breast augmentation recovery.
What are the limits and risks?
Surgery aimed at the cleavage shares the risks of breast augmentation: bleeding, infection, capsular contracture, changes in nipple sensation, asymmetry, rippling, implant malposition and the need for future surgery, as implants are not lifetime devices. The specific risk of trying to narrow a wide gap is over-dissection leading to symmastia. The most important limit is anatomical: your breast footprint and ribcage shape remain yours after surgery.
When should I see a surgeon?
Consider a consultation if the gap between your breasts has bothered you for some time, you have tried different bras, and you would like to know whether augmentation or a lift would help your particular chest. See a surgeon promptly if you already have implants and notice them moving towards the middle, touching, or the skin over the breastbone lifting, because early assessment of symmastia is useful.
How is a wide breast gap assessed at the consultation?
At the consultation in Abu Dhabi, Dr. Paulo Michels, a Brazilian board-certified plastic surgeon with more than 18 years’ experience, measures the width of each breast base, the distance between the breasts, tissue thickness at the inner breast, skin quality and the shape of your chest. He explains, on your own anatomy, how much an implant can realistically narrow the gap, which implant width suits your base, and whether fat transfer or a lift adds anything. The Crisalix 3D simulation lets you compare options, as a planning aid and not a guarantee.
Surgery takes place at Elyzee Hospital in Abu Dhabi, a fully licensed private hospital, where patients from Dubai and across the UAE are seen, with visits grouped to reduce travel. Consultations are available in English, Portuguese or Spanish. To start, send a WhatsApp message to +971 50 106 7981; an individual quote follows the consultation.
Questions, answered
Wide Gap Between the Breasts — your questions
Why is there a wide gap between my breasts?+
The main reason is anatomy. Each breast sits on a base, or footprint, whose inner edge is set by where the breast tissue and the chest muscle attach along the breastbone. If those attachments start further from the midline, the breasts sit further apart. The shape of the ribcage also matters: on a rounded or curved chest the breasts naturally face slightly outwards. Small breast volume, sagging and a developmental shape such as tuberous breasts can make the gap look wider still.
Is a wide breast gap normal?+
Yes. The distance between the breasts varies widely and is not a medical problem. Many women with naturally wide-set breasts are simply at one end of a normal range. It becomes a concern only if it bothers you, for example because clothing does not sit as you would like, or because you notice it more after pregnancy or weight loss.
Can breast implants close the gap between my breasts?+
Implants can narrow the gap and add fullness to the inner breast, but only within the limits of your anatomy. An implant sits in a pocket over the chest wall, and the inner border of that pocket should respect the attachments of the breast and muscle near the breastbone. Choosing an implant width that fits your breast base, positioning it accurately and, in some patients, adding fat to the inner breast can improve cleavage. An implant cannot move your breast tissue closer to the midline.
Will bigger implants give me more cleavage?+
Not necessarily. An implant wider than your breast base does not stay where you want it; it tends to push outwards towards the armpit or stretch the inner pocket over time. Oversized implants also thin the tissue, increase the risk of rippling, visible edges and malposition, and can lead to symmastia. Cleavage depends more on correct implant width, projection and pocket position than on volume alone.
What is symmastia and why is it a risk?+
Symmastia, sometimes called uniboob, is when the two implant pockets join across the breastbone, so the implants touch in the middle and the skin of the cleavage lifts off the bone. It is most often caused by dissecting or releasing tissue too far towards the midline, sometimes in an effort to create a very narrow cleavage. It requires revision surgery to correct, which is why a responsible plan stops short of over-dissecting the inner pocket.
Can fat transfer fill the gap between the breasts?+
Fat transfer can add softness and some fullness to the inner edge of the breast, and in a hybrid augmentation it is injected around the implant edges to help create a more natural cleavage in slim patients. It cannot build a large volume over the breastbone itself, where the skin is thin and firmly attached, and not all transferred fat survives. It is a refinement, not a way to move the breasts closer together.
Can fillers be injected between the breasts?+
Fillers are not recommended for breast volume or for filling the cleavage. Injecting filler into or around the breast can create lumps, may interfere with breast imaging and screening, and can make any later surgery more complex. If you want to change the cleavage area, surgical options such as implant augmentation or fat transfer are the appropriate route after consultation.
Does implant placement under or over the muscle change the gap?+
It can influence it. Because the chest muscle attaches along the breastbone, its inner edge helps define how close an implant under the muscle can sit. Implants placed over the muscle can sometimes sit slightly closer, but with thinner tissue coverage and a higher risk of visible edges and rippling in slim women. Dr. Paulo Michels uses the Dual Plane placement as standard, balancing a natural inner contour with soft-tissue coverage.
Why do my breasts point outwards?+
Breasts face slightly outwards on most chests because they sit on a curved ribcage. On a more rounded chest, or where the breastbone is sunken, this is more noticeable and the gap looks wider. An implant follows the curve of the ribs, so it will also face slightly outwards. Accurate pocket placement can improve the look, but it cannot change the shape of the ribcage.
Can a breast lift reduce the gap?+
When the breasts have dropped and drifted outwards, which often happens after pregnancy or weight loss, a breast lift can reposition the tissue and nipple higher and more centrally on the breast mound, making the breasts look better aligned. It does not move the breast base itself. If loss of volume is part of the problem, a lift may be combined with an implant.
What is a realistic result for a wide breast gap?+
A realistic result is a fuller inner breast, a softer transition from breastbone to breast, and a cleavage that looks closer when you wear a bra or fitted clothing. Many women with a naturally wide gap will still have visible space between the breasts when standing without a bra. The gap is measured before surgery so that you know in advance what is achievable for your chest.
Can the Crisalix 3D simulation show what my cleavage will look like?+
Crisalix 3D simulation creates a model of your torso and shows how different implant sizes may look, including the inner breast. It is a helpful way to compare options and understand proportions, but it is a planning and communication tool, not a guarantee. Real tissue stretches, settles and heals in individual ways that software cannot predict exactly.
I already have implants and the gap is still wide. What can be done?+
Some patients have implants that sit too far apart, either because they have drifted towards the armpits or because the original pockets were placed wide. This is a form of implant malposition, and it can sometimes be improved by tightening the outer pocket with permanent internal sutures so the implant sits more centrally, possibly with a change of implant width. Whether this helps depends on your chest and tissue, which is assessed at consultation.
Do push-up bras help?+
Yes. A well-fitted plunge or push-up bra is the most effective non-surgical way to bring the breasts together in clothing, and it is worth trying different styles before deciding on surgery. It does not change your anatomy, but it shows you how you feel with a narrower cleavage, which is useful information for your consultation.
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