Can a trauma cause the breasts to not develop correctly? Can trauma to the nipples cause underdeveloped of the breasts?

Major trauma to the chest or breasts can affect breast development and shape.  However, tuberous breast deformity is generally a congenital deformity.  Good luck and be safe.Respectfully, John T. Nguyen, MD, FACS, FICSDouble Board Certified Plastic SurgeonAmerican Board of Plastic SurgeryAmerican Board of Surgery

A number of things can cause abnormal development of the breasts if they occur prior to completion of development. Chestwall trauma which is forceful enough to cause bleeding and tissue death is certainly one. Surgery on the breast or chest that interrupts the blood supply is another, as is radiation. Trauma to the nipples alone generally would not affect overall development. Tuberous breast deformity is generally considered a congenital problem, and not due to trauma.

Trauma to the breasts when they are developing can certainly lead to deformities. A tuberous breast is usually the result of inborn growth factors.

Trauma to the breast bud as a child can cause breast deformity. For example, surgery that cut out tissue in that area etc. Tuberous breast is not caused from trauma.

Hello and thank you for your excellent question. Yes, severe trauma to the chest can alter breast development. However, it needs to be very severe. For instance, even a third degree burn to the breast may not affect the development of breast tissue, even though all of the overlying skin is severely injured. With regards to trauma leading to specifically a tuberous breast deformity, that is much less likely.  Tuberous breast deformity is a developmental process, unlikely to be affected by trauma. However, I would speculate that it is not entirely impossible.  Good luck! 

Best,
Jon Ver Halen, MD FACS 
Harvard educated plastic surgeon