What Are the Benefits of Reconstruction for Tuberous Breasts?

Question

I am Native American and have Tribal Health Insurance. I am trying to put together information about having my Tuberous Breast Deformity corrected.I was NOT able to properly breast feed my son. I had some milk production, but not enough for him to thrive, and I'm wondering if anyone has seen a case where the breast reconstruction de-constricted the milk ducts enough to facilitate proper breast feeding. Or of any other medical benefits. Will it relieve pain & sensitivity I experience now?

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

Far more important than the technique is the skill and experience of your plastic surgeon. Choose your surgeon rather than the technique and let them explain why one technique may be better than another.  See the below link on some suggestions on finding the most qualified Plastic Surgeon for a Breast Augmentation.  Always insist on a board certified plastic surgeon.

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS · Answer

What are the medical problems associated with constricted
breasts?

The greatest medical problem is psychological. Numerous
articles have appeared in magazines and newspapers

The psychosocial improvement with surgery can be enormous
even when the results lead to mild improvement. Complete correction is not
always possible

This breast problem takes a tremendous toll on a young
woman’s self –esteem.

The condition may affect the ability to breast feed is the
breast glands are not adequately developed, but subsequent surgery can also
make this problem more difficult.

Lewis Albert Andres, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question!   The standard procedure would be placement of an implant (or tissue expander, depending on the lower pole of your breast) as well as a circumareolar breast lift.  These modalities would correct the issues with tuberous breast: constricted breast at the inferior pole, via breast prosthetic; scoring of the tissue to release the bands; lowering the inframammary fold; correcting the herniation of breast tissue into the areolae; and decreasing the overall size of the areolae.  These are the hallmarks of tuberous breasts.  Such procedures should not impact your ability or effectiveness of breastfeeding.  Also, it should not relieve pain.  Typically, correction of tuberous deformity is an aesthetic procedure to simply improve appearance - there are no known functional deficits from this condition.Consult with a plastic surgeon well-versed in breast surgery and discuss your goals and expectations.  S/he will then be able to examine and discuss the various options and assist you in deciding which decision os the right one for you, given your desires.  Hope that this helps!  Best wishes for a wonderful result!

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

Unfortunately, I am aware that this is considered a congenital breast deformity but not aware of any studies that specifically demonstrated correction of lactation problems or relief of pain and discomfort.

David Greenspun, MD, MSc · Answer

Surgery to correct tuberous breasts can provide significant cosmetic benefit, however, any such surgery will nat produce any functional improvement in your ability to breast feed. That said women who undergo correction of tuberous breasts are generally very happy with the results that such surgery can produce and report high degrees of satisfaction. Interestingly, in severe cases of tuberous breast deformity, we have found that some patient's insurance plans will cover the expense of surgery; this will depend on both the severity of the deformity and the specific insurance plan benefit.

	Broadly speaking, there are two options for correcting tubular breasts: 1. using a breast implant and 2. using your own tissue. Each approach has pros and cons. More information about these options and about tuberous breasts is available on my practice website.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

Tuberous breast reconstruction is not covered by insurance as far as I know.  Uuslaly this is deemed cosmetic in nature.

Peter A. Aldea, MD · Answer

The release of the breast along its periphery, by definition, involves severing some breast gland and duct tissue. Although it releases the breast, it may actually limit the ability to breast feed.

	Furthermore, tuberous breasts are not typically associated with pain. I would therefore recommend you see a breast specialist as there may be something else here that needs to be addressed.

	Good Luck.

John P. Stratis, MD · Answer

Imporvement of the tuberous breast is purely for appearence purposes, that is, it does not improve breast feeding, pain, tenderness, etc. That being said, some insurances do pay for correction based on restoration to normalcy. If your insurance requires a medical reason they will probably not cover it.

Tracy Pfeifer, MD · Answer

Hi MBrim24.  For the most part tuberous breast is a cosmetic deformity and is not associated with symptoms of pain and/or senstiivity.  However, because the deformity includes underdevelopment of the breast, it is possible to affect your ability to breast feed.  It is possible that because of the underdeveloped breast, you have an insufficient number of milk producing elements to make enough milk.  Since many women without tuberous breasts are also unable to produce enough milk, we will never know if, in your case, you cannot make enough milk because of your tuberous breasts.  For the most part, women who have surgery to correct tuberous breasts are very happy with the aesthetic result.  Hope this helps.
Tracy M. Pfeifer, MD, MS

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD · Answer

Tuberous breast is a descriptive term and can mean a variety of different appearances and anatomy to the breast. Surgery will not be expected to change your ability or lack of ability to breast-feed. You should be careful about dong surgery with expectation of curing pain. Although you do not describe what pain and sensitivity you have, sensory changes are unpredictable so we usually do not perfom surgery to change sensation. If you don;t have pain, you mihgt imagine that surgery will produce, not cure, pain. Nipple sensation is usually diminished if it does change, but there can been annoying periods of hypersensitivity as well.
Have surgery predominantly because it will give you a better sense of self-confidence or self-esteem because of the improvement in size or shape.

What Are the Benefits of Reconstruction for Tuberous Breasts?

Answers (11)

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