Do I have tubular breasts? Are they just small? (Photo)

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, if interested. They then get to choose what looks right for them. 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. Dr. Ted Eisenberg, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Author. RealSelf Distinguished Hall of Fame Inductee. Philadelphia, Pa., USA

Based upon the appearance of your breasts, it does appear that you have some components of a tuberous breast deformity. In tuberous breast deformity the lower portion of the breast is constricted and unnaturally high on the chest. In addition, the breast gland can herniate into the areola. Treatment for this usually involves an incision around the areola, release of the constricted tissue in the lower portion of the breast, which will allow for placement of an implant, and finally excess tissue around the areola excised and closed in a way that corrects the herniation of tissue. The result is a natural appearing breast with correction of the issues mentioned. Please see the attached link for more information on the topic.

You do appear to have some mild constriction of tissue around your nipples, a trait of tuberous breasts. If they aren’t causing you any issues, there is no need to pursue surgery to release the constricted tissue.

Tubular breasts are characterized by a number of features, including an under developed lower pole (area below the nipple), herniated nipples (which can appear large), a high IMF (fold under the breast). This is important to recognize features of tubular breast prior to undergoing any type of breast enhancement procedure, as there are specific techniques that can be employed during breast enhancement procedures to correct each of these characteristics.

Thanks for your inquiry, you do have tubular breast, it does need to be "fixed". If you desire a change in shape or size, I recommend consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon.

Your breasts are small and widely separated but not tuberous. You do not have to do anything unless you want to. If you want to make an improvement then I recommend 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 if additional volume is desired.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Yes, it look like you have a tubular breast, you could fix that with breast implants, and curing the rings inside of you breast, you willFell much better and secure, go for it

Dear Sensible336857,
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

Tuberous breasts come in all shapes and forms and there is a real spectrum with some patients having very obvious tuberous breasts and other patients can have more subtle findings such as yourself. I think you would be a candidate for an implant and a lift and your folds would need to be lowered as well. There is not very much room between your nipple and your inframammary fold (the breast crease) and you would need more room to get a rounder shape. The lift would reduce the size of your areola and position them a little bit higher to center them over the implant.

Tubular breasts vary in degree of severity and are quite challenging. Looking at your photos it does not appear that you have tubular breasts and may be treated as a straightforward breast augmentation. However, as always a final diagnosis and plan of surgery is made at the time of consultation. Therefore, you should consultation with a Board Certified plastic surgeon with lots of experience performing breast surgery. Good luck.