Age 18 - Is There Any Hope for Me?

I'm 18 and I've had this problem since my boobs started growing in 5th or 6th grade. Very little has changed since then, other than the areolas are much more puffy and ive sprouted a little more breast tissue. I want to get them fixed. Can i do this without implants? and if so, about how much would this cost?

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age 18-24 tuberous

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17 Doctor Answers | Asked by Bambi369 in Castro Valley, CA

Doctor Answers (17)
Community Comments (2)

Tuberous breast deformity, options for treatment

Dear Bambi, thank you for the photos. You have a condition known as tuberous breast deformity. This can be treated with an implant and opening up the scarred breast tissue (the option you do not want) or fat grafting. Since your breasts are severally constricted, I would use the BRAVA external expander to stretch the skin envelope, increase blood supply to the breast tissue to allow for fat grafting. you will need at least two sessions about six months apart. The BRAVA is applied to the... more

Snoopy Nose, Tubular Breast or Tuberous Breasts

Dear Bambi369 in Castro Valley, CA: You have tuberous breasts with a small amount of breast tissue, Unfortunately, most your breast tissue is "herniating" into your areolae (the pigmented skin around the nipple). It can be corrected without an implant, and the result will be fairly flat. Since tubular breast are often associated with small breast, it is common to use breast implants to increase the bust size at the time of surgery. Fat grafting to the breast was abandoned,... more

Joseph Mele, MD

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Walnut Creek Plastic Surgeon

www.DrMele.com

Tuberous breasts

You have a severe case of tuberous breasts as you already most likely know. The surgery will require careful reduction of the tissue herniated into the nipple complex and scoring of the base of this tissue to open it up. You could put in breast implants at the same operation. If you want fat grafting instead of implants you cannot do the grafting at the same time as the tuberous breast surgery because that will diminish the ability of the grafted fat to survive. Since you will need more than... more

Good news, there is definitely hope

Thanks for posting your photos, I know it takes a lot of courage just to ask for help. you have a severe case of tuberous breasts or constriction. implants with or without expansion has been the standard along with "parenchymal scoring". recently, vacuum expansion (BRAVA, look it up on the net) with fat grafting has shown promise for augmentation if you want to try to avoid implants. speak to a board certified plastic surgeon and start considering options.... more

There is certainly hope for tuberous breast deformity

Your photos show fairly severe tuberous breasts. The surgical goals include reducing the size and prominence of your areolae, and getting some volume to provide breast shape. This is typically done with implants, and plastic surgeons will usually need to do some internal release of some of the fibrous breast tissue that is causing your current constricted shape below your areolae. Fat injection may be an option, or as an adjunct to implants. I would be concerned that... more

Hope for a tuberous breast shape

We hear many questions about a tuberous breast, though your breast is the truest example. The good news is that your breast will work as any other, and even breast feeding is possible if that is on your future list. You can have just the nipple herniation reduced or corrected though we would suggest an implant as well to stretch the skin envelope and give better shape and projection to the breast. If you are not in favor of an implant structural fat grafts can be helpful for more modest... more

Correction for tuberous breasts

Yes, there is hope for you. Thank you for the courage to post your photos. As you know, you have severe tuberous breast. Correction would require an areolar reduction resulting in a scar around the areola and a vertical scar from there to the crease below the breast. If you want implants, this can be done at a late date when the breast is fully healed. This can give you a very attractive breast shape. Neither your problem nor the surgery will not interfere with nursing at a later date. Good... more

Breast Augmentation

The primary option for breast size alterations is fat transfer to the breasts and I would not be recommending this to you at 18. You may change your shape in the next few years or just be stable. Allow yourself a few more years, then consider some options including an augmentation and fat transfer. Consult with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon for this decision as they will offer you sound advice.

Tuberous breast deformity

For a young woman your age, I would recommend having a periareolar breast "lift" as a first step. Your areolar size could be reduced and the breast tissue that is "herniated" into your areolas can be pushed down into the breast mound. This would leave you with small, but shapely breasts and probably would not compromise your sensation or ablilty to lactate. After you had complete healing of the "lift", you could consider implants or... more