Do I have tubular breasts or saggy breasts with oversized areolas? What are the best options for looking more normal? (Photo)

Large, puffy nipples, narrow breasts, and high breast folds are all signs of tuberous breast. Reconstructive options vary, but most incorporate some component of a breast lift with an implant after release of the constricting bands.

Thanks for your question. Your pictures do demonstrate that you have some natural droop (ptosis) and large nipple-areolar complexes. Depending on your goals, you would benefit from an uplift, or reduction and uplift type procedure. This would redistribute the breast tissue so that it sits higher on your chest wall, will reposition the nipple, and reduce the size of the nipple-areolar complex. It can be performed under general anaesthetic with minimal down time. I would recommend consulting a plastic surgeon with a specialist interest in breast surgery.

Your breasts are “normal”. Tubular breasts are characterized by an indistinct breast fold and constriction of tissue around the nipples. Your breasts don’t appear to be tubular. Rather, they are sagging. A breast lift can reshape your breasts to make them perkier. At the same time, your areolae can be reduced to make them more proportionate in size.

Thanks for your question. Your primary problem is one of ptosis (saggy) breasts. You may have some element of constriction and you do have relatively large areolas. I believe you would be best served with a breast lift that would involve reshaping and reduction of the areola. It is always possible you may need a small implant to help with your overall shape. I would suggest you see a board certified plastic surgeon experienced in breast enhancement.

The technique I recommend is The Bellesoma Method. This will reshape your breast tissue creating upper pole fullness without implants, elevate them higher on the chest wall and more medial to increase your cleavage. Vertical scars are avoided, nipple sensation (in 95%) and the ability to breast feed are maintained.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Based on these photos, you seem to have narrow base breasts, which is a variety of tuberous breasts and is treated similarly. Breast lift with reduction of areolas and breast implant augmentation should be considered in your case. Good luck.

Dear Tough442396,
my preferred lift is a lollipop lift when a periareolar won't do (ie greater than 2cm lift required). The lollipop technique was created by a Canadian plastic surgeon named Elizabeth Hall-Findley and treats the breast as a three dimensional structure instead of two dimensions (anchor - lift). Most importantly it does not require the horizontal component scars that the anchor-lift requires and breasts appear much more natural, lifted, and less boxy. Lastly, the lift lasts longer because the lollipop doesn't rely on the skin to hold the breast up, its actually breast tissue thats being brought together to support the breast and hence improves longevity. If you are considering surgery, I would suggest you consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. 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

An examination in person would be required to properly evaluate you recommend a specific treatment plan. That said, it appears that you have widened areolae in the setting of breast ptosis (dropping or sagging) without obvious signs of tuberous breast deformity. It appears that you would benefit from a mastopexy (breast lift) that would include a reduction of the areolar diameter, a lifting and tightening of the breasts, and achieving an optimal aesthetic breast shape. If you feel you would like to be larger than you are presently, you can discuss placing an appropriate sized implant at the same time ("augmentation mastopexy"). 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.

Hi. Yes, you have tuberous, saggy and huge areolas breast. These three conditions can be easily corrected by a Breast Lift with Implant and Areola Reduction.
The surgery is a two and a half hour one, with Epidural under IV sedation. Yours is a very common case in my practice. Good luck.