Breast Lift: Q&A

Ask a Question

Breast Deformity, Nipple Size? (photo)

The size of my nipples has always been a source of embarrassment, but I'm wondering whether there is an underlying medical condition? Do I have tubular breast deformity or a condition of the like? Is there a procedure available that would cause minimal scarring? Any guidance would be appreciated. Thank you.

Tags:

Comment on this

18 Doctor Answers | Asked by smallandobscure

Doctor Answers (18)
Community Comments (0)

Breast Lift Concerns

Breast lift will likely give you the improvement you seek and can reduce the size of your areolae. The tradeoff is the scarring.

Breast Deformity, Nipple Size?

Thanks for the question and sharing your pictures. You do not have tuberous breasts. The shape of your breasts is the result of sagging. Your areolas (pink circle around nipples) are in the normal size range. If you want to improve your breast shape and perkiness, a breast lift (mastopexy) will achieve this. Also, it can reduce the size of your areolas, if you wish. If you want more fullness in the upper portion of your breasts, implants would be an option. Best wishes, Michael... more

Your breast (nipple/areola) changes could be improved in several ways.

Dear smallandobscure: I hope you won't feel embarrassed. The best answer is that no, you do not have a breast deformity. Instead your photos appear to show some fairly common, natural changes that develop over time. First, women have all sizes of nipples (the projection) and areolas (the colored circle around the nipple). And they change with time, pregnancies, hormone changes and even weight fluctuations. You should meet with a board... more

Unhappy With Nipple Size And Breast Shape

Good Morning and thank you for the photos. You do not have tubular breasts. Your breast shape is elongated because you have breast ptosis (sag) that changes the shape of your breast. Your nipple-areola (areola is the pigmented skin surrounding your nipple) can be reduced with a fairly simple operation. The procedure involves the removal of a 'donut' segment of skin from the areola and then closing the incision with a 'pursestring' stitch that goes around the entire... more

Correcting enlarged areaolas improves breast aesthetics

Thanks for your question. When the areolas are enlarged it is possible to reduced the size and improve breast shape by doing a periareaolar mastopexy. This involves excising excess skin around the areola and removing extra areolar skin. The breast skin around areola is then "pursestringed" to the new desired areolar diameter. This minimizes scarring because the only incision is around the areola which is a nice place to hide a scar. Another option based on the... more

Unhappy with size of nipples

Hello smallandobscure, You do not have a tuberous breast deformity. The size of your areolar (the brown skin around your nipple) could be reduced relatively simply, although it would leave a scar all the way around your nipple. These scars do tend to fade quite well in time, but you should consult a plastic surgeon and ask to see some photographs to check that you are happy taking this on. If you were unhappy with the shape of your breasts and wanted a lift,... more

Breast Deformity, Nipple Size

Thanks for your question and for the photos. I would not call this a tubular deformity. Rather, you breasts have ptosis (sag) and the areolas are large. These could be improved with a circumareolar lift, which would reduce the areolar size and provide a small to modest amount of lift. A vertical lift would also reduce the size of the areolas, and would provide more of a lift. albeit with an extra, vertical scar. When you ready for an in person consultation, RealSelf has... more

Large nipples

Thank you for your question and for providing the photos. The size of the areola is quite variable, and can become enlarged with increased sag of the breasts or from breast feeding. In many cases, the diameter of the areola can be simply large since their development, and can bother some women. There are options to reduce the size of the areola and make them proportionate to the size of the breasts. If there is little or no sag, a donut of areola can be removed to reduce the areolar size... more

Causes of areolar enlargement

You appear to have a degree of ptosis (stretching out) of the breasts, which is often accompanied by a stretching out of the areola, the colored zone around the nipple. If you want the breasts to be less settled, a breast lift is the best approach. If it is only a matter of size of the areola, a Benelli lift could help, but it will not give a strong lift to the breast itself.

Are Societal Norms Forcing Cosmetic Breast Surgery

Dear S&O, It is unfortunate that the size of your areolae are a source of embarassment to you. From the photos that you posted, it appears that you are an attractive, well developed young woman with a nice physique. Normalcy encompasses a wide spectrum of anatomic variations. I would offer that your breasts appear perfectly normal and rather attractive. I do not know if that eases your concerns, but perhaps discussions with a loved one, boyfriend, family... more

Do I Have Tubular Breasts And How Can I Reduce My Areola With Minimal Scarring?

The good news is you do not have tubular breasts or any other named medical condition. The picture you sent demonstrates enlarged areola (which most people call part of the nipple). The left breast is slightly larger and slightly more ptotic (droopy). To reduce the size of your areola and get a moderate lift at the same time, I would recommend a Benelli mastopexy (circumareolar mastopexy). This will leave the scar just at the edge of the areola. If you were... more

Nipple size and breasts

Based on your photos, I do not think your nipples look particularly large, but the areola is fairly large and these can be reduced. A breast lift may be necessary.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Breast lift surgery is a versatile procedure

I think a vertical breast lift with a 'lollipop' scar would help you achieve a more compact and lifted breast shape, and would make your areola much smaller. When done correctly, visle ibbreast scarring is minimal at the 12-18 month time point.

Nipple or Areola size deformity

Based on the photos, it appears that you have concern about the size of your areola, not the nipple. You can reduce the size of your areola with surgery which will leave you with a scar around the border of the areola. If you also want to improve the sagging of you breasts, then you can combine both by doing a breast lift and areola reduction but you will end up with additional scars (lollipop, a circular scar around the areola and a vertical scar below the areola). You will benefit from an... more

A vertical lift can correct sagging and also reduce your areolar size - a twofer.

No, you don't have tuberous breasts. You have deflation and some sagging, plus large areolae. I've found that women don't like it when their areolae measure over 5 cm wide (2 inches). If you have implants alone, your areolae will get about a centimeter wider, which you don't want. So you need a combination of implants and a vertical lift. The vertical lift ("lollipop scar") works best and leaves less scarring than the old inverted T ("anchor") scar and also... more

Definitions of aesthetic breast surgery

Hello, Thank you for the question and photos. An areolaplasty is a reshaping procedure of the areola usually making it smaller, a abreast lift reshapes the breast tissue and usually also includes an areolplasty, nipple surgery usually relates to inverted nipple repair or nipple projection reduction. Your nipple size is fine, your areola size is large, areola position and breast tissue position shows some laxity (ptosis). You will benefit the most from a breast lift.... more

You have no breast deformity

The size of your nipples are quite normal. You may be referring to the size of your areola which are also within the range of normal, but may be larger than you like for yourself. You do not have tubular breast deformity. If you wanted the size of your areola reduced, this could be done with a scar which goes around the areola. This procedure could also give you a little lift which you may also like the look of. Rest assured your breasts, nipples and areola are completely normal and you... more

Concerned about “Breast Deformity”?

Thank you for the question and pictures. It is unclear to me whether you are concerned about the appearance of the nipples or areola. Regardless, I do not think your pictures demonstrate any of the characteristics seen with tuberous ( constricted) breasts. Your breasts do, however demonstrate some ptosis ("sagging"); this situation can be improved upon with breast lifting. I would suggest that you clearly identify exactly what your concerns are and... more