Do I have tuberous breasts? If so, what is need to fix them? (photos)

Question

I’ve always felt my breasts have been not “normal” looking and I have low self confidence due to it.

Ted Eisenberg, DO, FACOS, FAACS · Answer

Unfortunately, surgeons have created the term tuberous breasts, a fact which causes unnecessary concerns for women. Many women just have different sizes and shapes and in my opinion shouldn't be labeled. I recommend an in person consultation with a plastic surgeon to discuss your goals and be measured. After I measure and discuss goals with my patients, we then look at pictures of women (my patients) with similar measurements with different size and style breast implants. They also get to see what they would look like when the breasts have fully dropped and fluffed and in clothes. You get to see actual results and the surgeon's experience and not a virtual idea of what can be achieved. Women tell me that this process is very helpful in determining what size and style breast implant is right for them. Mildly Sagging Breasts: If your breasts are mildly droopy, a saline or silicone gel implant placed behind the pectoral muscle might help create the illusion of perkiness. That’s because as the implant fills out the top of the breast, it also fills out the bottom, making it look as if the nipple has moved higher. It hasn’t. You can always get a lift later if you feel you are not perky enough when fully settled and healed. Dr. Ted Eisenberg, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Author. RealSelf Distinguished Hall of Fame Inductee. Philadelphia, Pa., USA

Finny George, MD · Answer

Hi, thank you for sharing your question. You do seem to have tuberous breast deformity. This can be corrected with a breast lift and implants. Consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to help you navigate this issue. They will go over the rationale behind the technique and the selection of implants. I hope this helps.

Casey Anderson, MD, FACS · Answer

You do have tuberous breasts. Fixing them depends on what you feel like the issue is. The most common treatment tends to be reduction of the size of the areola and placement of an implant.

Leila Kasrai, MD, FRCSC · Answer

You appear to have constriction of tissue around your nipples and enlarged, puffy areolae, two traits of tuberous breasts. A procedure can be performed to release the constricted tissue to give your breasts a rounder shape, and a lift may also be performed if necessary to make them perkier.

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

Your breasts appear to be tuberous and low on the chest wall. 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, if additional volume is desired.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Donald R. Revis Jr, MD · Answer

Good morning!
You do have tuberous breasts and are an excellent candidate for a donut mastopexy to lift your nipple position and tighten your skin. For your augmentation you may choose saline or silicone gel, depending on your preference, and we would determine the exact size and profile when I measure your chest, we review photos together, and you have an opportunity to try on the implant sizers here in the office.

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

You do have narrow base breasts with large areolas, which is the feature of tubular (tuberous) breasts. The best way to correct breast shape is to do reduction of areola using scar around areola. Through the same incision, lower pole of the breast is reshaped to spread breast base and give it more natural shape; placement of small implant underneath the muscle further improves result. In person consultation with board certified plastic surgeon with good reputation in breast surgery is recommended. good luck.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear rblxqn,
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

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

You would need a lift and an implant. The ideal lift would be the lollipop lift. Don't be tempted to get a donut lift. It will not give a good result.

Jonathan Heistein, MD · Answer

Yes, you have tuberous breasts.  You don’t have to do anything if you don’t want since there is nothing wrong with you.  But if you want to improve the shape and appearance of your breasts, then a breast lift would help.  You could also entertain the idea of an implant at the same time which has its pros/cons.  Implants increase volume and give a more round shape, but since they won’t last forever, you will need more surgery at some point in the future.  Talk to some PSs in your area to get some in person opinions.  Best of luck!