Are my breasts tuberous? What is the best treatment? (photos)

There are several options for a patient to choose from when wanting to help the look of tuberous breasts. Historically, many surgeons would suggest a breast lift to reshape the tissue and perhaps add an implant to create volume. However, depending on the patient's needs and desires, I have seen an acceptable improvement with an implant alone. After viewing your photographs, the lower pole is not entirely visible, and the areolas appear large compared to the current breast tissue. There seems to be a loss of elasticity in the skin, adding to the breast's drooping.Having an implant placed would balance out the size of the areola and give the appearance of lifting by adding volume to the upper pole. The correction could be performed in a two-part stage. If, after having the implants placed and you are still not satisfied, the lift could be performed later. Scarring from a lift is always a concern with patients; however, I have found that most patients are comfortable with the scars after seeing the improvement of the shape of the breast.There is a trade-off, and only you can decide what you are comfortable with. I suggest having several in-person consultations and basing your decision on what you feel is best for you after hearing all the options. Good Luck.

Your breasts are not tuberous but small and widely separated. The technique I recommend is a mini lift. Using a circumareola incision, your breast tissue is reshaped, elevated higher on the chest wall and more medial to increase your cleavage. At the same time, fat transfers or small implants can be placed totally submuscular.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Dear Old21,
tuberous breasts are not simply small or underdeveloped breasts. The appearance of the breast can range from mild to severe, and typical traits include: enlarged, puffy areola, rather wide spacing between the breasts, very little breast tissue, sagging, higher than normal inferior breast fold, and narrow base at the chest wall.The type of surgery best for you will depend on the severity of your condition.My preferred technique for tuberous breast correction involves a multistep procedure where the breast tissue is released in a radial pattern to prevent herniation into the areola and placement of a custom implant size is in the breast to allow appropriate expansion of the breast in the restricted dimensions. This can often be done in a single procedure but sometimes may require two surgeries.That said, it is best that you visit a board-certified plastic surgeon for an in person examination. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Thanks for your question and photos. An examination in person would be required to properly evaluate you and provide specific treatment recommendations but based on your photos it appears that you would benefit from a circumareolar tightening which would reduce the widened areolae, along with a breast augmentation with appropriately selected implants.

Please consult with an experienced board certified plastic surgeon whose results appeal to you based on his or her Before and After gallery. Best of luck to you.

Good morning,
Based on your pictures it seems like you have a component of tuberous breasts, however you would need a consultation in person to determine this for sure.
Typically, a combination of implants and a small lift are needed for tuberous breasts. It is typically not a full lift and just around the areola, but it depends on the patient.
You should see a board certified plastic surgeon to assess and give you best recommendations. Hope that helps!
Best,Shuja Shafqat, MD

Hi,
Your pictures suggest that you do fall into the wide spectrum of tuberous breasts. Implants alone will give you more size and fullness however implants alone won't allow for reshaping of your breasts and you would be at risk for additional deformities after surgery without the lift. The great thing about the lift is that it also would allow resizing and positioning of your areolas which would go a long way towards a nice result. A lot of times the scars can be hidden around the nipple but in order to achieve the best outcome, I think a lift with implants would be necessary.

As you probably know, what we describe as a tuberous breast usually has a tight breast mound with a high crease under the breast and a loose and usually large areola with the breast bulging through. There is a real spectrum of breast shape from wide and round to narrow and more conical. I agree that your breast shape is more tuberous. Just using an implant will address the width problem but may not address the areolar size and bulging. This could be tightened with a mastopexy just around the areola. Also I typically use some free fat grafting in the lower pole to smooth out the tight fold. If you are adamant about avoiding a periareolar scar, the augmentation could be done initially and if you are not satisfied with the result, the mastopexy could be done at a second stage. All the best with you procedure.