Do I have tuberous breasts and do I need or qualify for surgery to fix it?

Question

I recently turned 18 and haven’t noticed any change or further development in my breasts, they’ve been small since I started puberty. I have most of the symptoms but I don’t know if they’re still developing or if I’m in one of the stages of this condition. Sometimes they look normal and other times they don’t.

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

Development of the breasts is usually finished by the age of 15. However, conditions like pregnancy, hormonal therapy etc. may change this. You seem to have some elements of narrow based, tuberous breasts, but that should not be the reason for surgery unless you want slightly larger breasts. In person consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon would help you to better understand your current condition and options to eventually change  it. Good luck.

Ram Kalus, MD, FACS · Answer

An evaluation in person is required to properly determine how to best advise you, but your photos indeed suggest features of tuberous breasts with widened areolae and a relatively short nipple to fold distance.

That said, it is important for you to realize at your young age that tuberous breasts are “normal” and do not represent pathology that requires “fixing”. The decision to do so involves your own level of aesthetic concern. If you feel your quality of life would be significantly enhanced by achieving a breast appearance more to your liking, then an evaluation by an experienced board certified plastic surgeon is in order.

That said, you can also potentially have a very satisfactory quality of life without ever undergoing breast enhancement surgery.

Take some time, don’t rush into anything. Do your research, discuss your concerns with those in your inner circle whom you trust, and if you conclude that you would like to proceed, consider more than one evaluation. Best of luck to you.

Daniel P. Markmann, MD · Answer

Hi Maro.  Thank you for the question and the pictures.    It does appear that you have tuberous breasts.   The signs are typically a short, tight area from nipple to your crease as well as puffy areola.  This is also known as a constricted breast deformity.   At age 18, you may or may not be finished developing.   Some women's breasts continue to develop up to age 22

Jaroslaw Tribull-Potapczuk, MD, PhD · Answer

Yes, it is tuberous breast, even if of not so high degree. There are many popular methods of surgical correction of such case, so it is not possible to describe all of them via e-mail. Just visti your local plastic surgeon for consultation.Best regardsDr. TribullBerlin, Germany

Mark T. Boschert, MD · Answer

You have a very mild form if any. You do have a little bit of what it’s called areolar herniation. Usually just a breast augmentation and may be a little bit of a Peri areolar mastopexy can help keep them more flat, like it is sometimes already. If you do nothing at all, you still look perfectly normal. Sincerely, Dr. Mark Boschert Renaissance Plastic Surgery.

Do I have tuberous breasts and do I need or qualify for surgery to fix it?

Answers (5)

Answer: Yes, you are right.

Answer: Yes, you are right.

Answer: Tuberous breasts

Answer: Tuberous breasts

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Everything you need to know about Tuberous Breast Correction Surgery

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Do I have tuberous breasts and do I need or qualify for surgery to fix it?

Answers (5)

Answer: Yes, you are right.

Answer: Yes, you are right.

Answer: Tuberous breasts

Answer: Tuberous breasts

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Tuberous Breast Correction Surgery

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.