Do tubular breasts develop/get bigger with time or weight gain?

Question

Does a tubular breast always represent a smaller breast? Or does it gets bigger with weight gain? I was wondering if it heals on its own or do I have to get into surgery? I don’t mind about the puffy areola, but I care about the size if it will get bigger than this.

Kristopher Day, MD, FACS · Answer

Tubular breast syndrome is the severe end of the spectrum of constricted breast syndrome and involves a combination of a disproportionally large nipple-areolar complex due to herniation of the underlying breast parenchyma into the areolar complex, which is also associated with a short vertical breast and relatively wide horizontal breast mound with a high lower breast, or inframammary, fold. This makes the appearance of having little lower half, or lower pole, of the breast mound. So the solution to this?...It usually requires implant-based breast augmentation with a lower pole radial scoring technique. This is something your surgeon would ultimately explain to you in detail, but the upshot is that unfortunately the form will not resolve with weight change, though it will also be unlikely to worsen with weight changes.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

Tubular breasts can be large or small.  They can grow with weight gain, but that typically will not change the tubular nature.  Patients sometimes feel they have tubular breasts when in reality they are just unhappy with the shape.  I encourage you to visit with a board certified plastic surgeon near you for an evaluation and to learn more.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Nusaiba,
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

Cagil Meric Erenoglu, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.
Breasts mainly have two kind of tissue inside: 1- glandular tissue 2- fat tissue. Fat tissue ratio will determine how much the breast can expand in weight gain. It may not give the desired look even with higher weights. The basic solution for tubular breast correction is to release the bands inside and expand the base of the breasts.An implant will give volume and help the breast stay in this desired look.
If you can send photos we can do a better evaluation.

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

You did not show photos, so I am not certain you actually have tubular breasts. Most women will gain in breast size with weight gain, and some will gain with pregnancy and breast feeding.

Do tubular breasts develop/get bigger with time or weight gain?

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Do tubular breasts develop/get bigger with time or weight gain?

Answers (6)

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