SYMMASTIA is a rare condition which sees the breast merge across the breastbone, leaving no space or gap between them.
There are two forms of symmastia, congenital meaning you’re born with it, or iatrogenic, meaning you acquire it, often as a complication of breast surgery.
What is symmastia?
The condition can present itself either as an empty web of skin between your breasts, a fold of fat or as an abnormal arrangement of breast tissue.
It can sometimes develop as a complication of a breast augmentation, and this type is easier to fix than congenital.
Rectifying iatrogenic symmastia often involves re-positioning the implants or the removal of scar tissue.
Congenital symmastia is extremely rare, and the only treatment is surgery.
This can be achieved via a combination of procedures, including liposuction, the fixation of skin to the sternum or the removal of skin between the breasts.
No two cases are the same, and getting it fixed is often a question of cosmetics rather than a medical necessity.
What has Charlotte said about symmastia?
Charlotte referred to her symmastia as her "uniboob", revealing her former boyfriend Stephen Bear named it "Sebastian".
Speaking to OK!, the reality-TV star said: “There is something that I feel under-confident about.
"It’s known as the 'uniboob', but the actual term is symmastia.
"It’s normally what happens when a boob job goes wrong.
“The breast tissue expands from the boob job, and makes you not have the gap in your cleavage.
"But I haven’t had a boob job – I was one of the few unlucky people born with it."
She revealed she received nasty comments from trolls over her look, prompting her to go under the knife.
The Big Brother winner told Heat: “If a picture of me is online, people say things like 'What is wrong with her boobs?
“They're deformed! They're stuck together'."
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When did Charlotte have her op?
The 27-year-old underwent surgery to fix her symmastia in October, 2017.
Her former boyfriend Bear was with her when she underwent the operation.
The op prompted speculation she had her breasts enlarged, but the star has said the surgery boosted her confidence.
Charlotte Crosby insists she only gets her lips done 'once a year' after cruel trolls said she looked like Pete BurnsncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTErKynZpOke7a3jp%2BYm62cpMK0e5RyaWptZGx8tMXMppisrJmWeqS0wKujqKykmnqkvs6smbJlopa%2FpnnUp6Cbp5%2BXeqO%2BxJqqrWWTpLultdOipqdlo6q%2FqLHRsmY%3D