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Breast Implants Concerns for Tubular Breasts

I am a 20-year-old woman with "tubular" breasts and implants seem to be the only way to correct this deformity. I am comfortable having the surgery, but am concerned about everything I've been reading online about having to have the breast implants removed.

I have read that the saline implants only last up to ten years. Is this accurate? If I have the procedure done now, will I be looking at another surgery around the same cost in the next ten years or less?

Asked 28 months ago by RLA in North Carolina

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Breast Implants for Tuberous Breast Deformity

Hi RLA, Great questions. I actually initially described tubular or tuberous breast deformity. Implants with what we call radial scoring and possibly even a lift may be needed to treat your breasts to get the look you are trying to achieve. Saline implants have rupture rates around 3% but after ten years the rate can be higher. Recent silicone implant data show rupture rates at a similar 3%. I would encourage you to consult with a reputable plastic surgeon in your area to discuss if this is... more

Sherrell J. Aston, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Tuberous Breasts Correction

No, it's not need to be exchanged every 10 years- I tell my patients that “if it ain't broke we don't fix them". In regards to tuberous ( constricted) breasts, implants can be very helpful used appropriately during the surgical procedure. In general, tuberous breasts have a very narrow base, short distance from areola to inframammary fold, tight (constricted) lower pole of the breasts, relatively wide space between the breasts, "puffy"... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Tubular breasts, tuberous breasts and implant deflation

If you truly have tubular or tuberous breasts a breast augmentation alone will probably not resolve the problem with the breast shape. You may also need to consider having a ring of skin removed for around the areola, as well as having the base of the breast tissue scored or released in a radial fashion to allow the breast to properly drape over the implant. There is no 10 year expiration date with breast implants. However, approximately 3 to 5% of... more

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Vincent D. Lepore, MD

San Jose Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Implants require maintenence

I am glad to hear you are becoming more comfortable with your surgical options. All breast implant surgery comes with maintenece. What I mean is that over time the devices may fail, gravity and the normal aging process may contribute to the loss of your overall breast aesthetics. There is no hard set time at which you must revise your breasts, but it is true the more surgical correction of shape or position that is required at your initial surgery will coorelate with... more

Vishnu Rumalla, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

"Tubular" Breast Surgery

RLA- Breasts present in many forms and shapes. There are even differences between breasts in the same patient. I tell my patients that breasts are "sisters" not "twins". Because of these differences, there are many options for breast surgery to correct many different issues. Breast implants alone may not correct a tubular issue....lifting of the nipple/areolar complex to a more youthful position (ideally centered over an implant) may also be necessary. This is referred to as more

John Philip Connors III, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Tuberous (Snoopy) breast deformity

RLA, Although there are varying degrees of tuberous breast deformity, almost all types get the best results with the addtion of an implant along with the breast tissue release at the base of the breast and reduction of the areola. It is true that breast implants have a life expectancy of, on average, 10-15 years, so it is likely that you will need an additional procedure at sometime in your future. Even if your implants last 25 or 30 years you will still be young enough. The replacement... more

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Kenneth R. Francis, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

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Options for Tubular Breast Deformity

Tubular breast deformity is not always a straight forward surgery. Not only will you need implants but a mastopexy or breast lift of the tubular breast as well as correction of the tubular breast and possibly a breast lift of the normal breast (if it's unilateral) as well. Breast implants, whether from Allergan or Mentor all have about a 1% per year rupture rate. So will you need another surgery in your lifetime? The answer is yes. But this may be due to a need for a breast lift due to... more

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Christopher L. Hess, MD

Fairfax Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Different options exist

There are different degrees of tubular breasts and sometimes an implant alone is a good option. At other times, a type of mastopexy may also be needed. At your age, it is highly likely you will eventually have another surgery on your breasts. But hopefully, not within 10 years. Implants are man made devices and will eventually break. Many people will quote a 15-20 yr expected average lifespan, but that depends on what studies you use to support your answer. But you do not ever need to... more

Dean Fardo, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Tubular breasts need a lift as well as implants.

Implants alone will not correct true tubular breasts. You will need a lift as well, either just around the nipple or more with the resultant scars. 90% of saline implants lasst 10 years; some will last 20 or more years.

G. Gregory Gallico III, MD

Boston Plastic Surgeon

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Tubular breasts sometimes require implants and a circumareolar mastopexy

Tubular breasts present a challenge even to very experienced plastic surgeons. There are different degrees of tubular breasts and no two breasts are alike. In our experience, we have done both an implant and a circumareolar mastopexy as many tubular breast patients have a "poochy" areola that gets wider and distends with an implant. The implant helps with the shape and the circumareolar reduction helps flatten the balloon like areola. Make sure you ask to see before and after... more

Francisco Canales, MD

Santa Rosa Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Implants and tubular breasts

Yes, usually with tubular breasts, an implant is helpful to improve some of the deformity. Usually opening the base of the breast and tightening up the tissue around the areola are also important. As for changing implants, 10 years is just a rough ball park. You may never need to remove the implants.

Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

More thoughts on correction of tubular breasts with implants

As you can tell from the multiple responses to your question, there are a number of approaches. One technique that works well in my experience is the combination of a benelli lift and implants, video here: http://www.drbaxter.com/video_main.htm. all implants come with a lifetime replacement policy so there is no need to worry about how long they last.

Richard Baxter, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

The best way to correct tuberous breast to sub mammary silicone gel textured implants.

With tuberous breast I feel it is necessary to put the implants under the breast so that the breast can be released to re-drape over the implant. I feel it is important to use gel implants in the sub mammary position because saline implants tend to wrinkle too much when they are under the breast. I personally prefer the textured silicone breast implants because they don't tend to get hard or to bottom out but stay high and give good upper pole fullness. In addition to the implants it is... more

Carl W. "Rick" Lentz III, MD

Daytona Beach Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Tubular breasts and implants

Implants can last a lifetime however it has been shown that many patients who have breast implants placed have a high chance of additional surgery on the breasts in their lifetime. Most of that surgery is patient driven. Unfortunately, you do not have many options. Either you have the implants or leave the breasts as they are. Overall, in my experience, patients with tubular breast deformity are satisfied with their decision for surgical improvement even though the results are not the best.... more

John P. Stratis, MD

Harrisburg Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Breast implants for tubular breasts concerns

Tubular breasts (aka "Snoopy Dog deformity") look the way they do because the breasts are small AND are truly constricted (much the way Christmas trees are sold with the blanches tied to the main trunk with rope). To make them appear normal, they need to be enlarged by placing more volume under them. But - unlike normal breasts the tubular breasts cannot cover most implants because of their small diameter. The solution involves placing radial cuts to the bottom of the lower pole of... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Breast implant concerns similar in tubular breast and augmentation

Breast implants whether used to correct a tubular shape breast or used simply in breast augmentation perform in a similar way. The truth about breast implants is that they all require some monitoring and maintenance, and over time all implants will wear out and need replacement. The rule of thumb is that a small but significant number of implants will have worn by ten years, though an implant may leak before that time, or much later. Saline implants can be worn without worry until a leak... more

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Peter E. Johnson, MD

Des Plaines Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Tubular breasts and implant concerns

The ten year number that is frequently quoted by patients seems to be an "urban myth". I am not sure about it's origins but it certainly exists out there an my patients frequently cite this recommendation. Saline implants can rupure within the first year or last over 15 (I easily have several patients out there with 15+ old implants). There are many other conditions such as childbirth, lactation, and nursing that may also have an effect on the shape of your breasts. more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Treatment of tubular breasts

Treatment of tubular breasts is one of the more complex processes in cosmetic breast surgery. The lower pole constriction generally needs an implant to expand it up to a more normal volume. The implants might last forever, again they might not. There is no mandatory tire change on the implants at 10 years so if you are doing well, just go on with no secondary surgery.