Do I have tubular breasts or just puffy areolas? When I see pics of the condition it doesn’t quite look like mine. (photos)

Question

I feel like since I have smaller breasts, my big areolas look very unproportionate to my breasts, and I'm unhappy. They take up about like 70% of my breasts. A few months ago, I looked into areola reduction, and I'm seriously considering it. When my areolas get hard, that's how I want my breasts and nipples to really look. So, could I just get an areola reduction, or is it more complicated? I really don't want to get a full-on breast augmentation or any other extra work done than necessary.

Dana Khuthaila, MD, FRCSC, FACS · Answer

Thank you for the question and photos. You appear to have enlarged areolae which is one of the features of tuberous breasts but you don’t have tuberous breasts. 
I recently operated on someone who has a similar appearance and requested that her Areolae be reduced without implants. I performed a circumareolar reduction on her while she was awake in the office under local anesthetic. 
It is not complicated. 
Of course there are risks as with any surgery. 
I plan to post her photos online after a few weeks of healing. 
I hope this helps. 
All the best,
Dr. Khuthaila

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your question and photographs.  You do not appear to have tuberous breasts, rather a more puffy nipple appearance allowing for some breast tissue herniation when relaxed.  Hope this helps.

Adam Tattelbaum, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question. In your relaxed photos the areolas seem a bit puffy, you have a slightly conical shape and a short distance from the nipple to the fold consistent with a mild degree of constriction- not tuberous. When your areolas contract it flattens this area and pulls the tissue tighter diminishing the conical shape. Areolar reduction Is essentially a Benelli or Donut mastopexy that removes areolar tissue. It is used to circumferentially tighten the breasts, sometimes over implants (but not always) and helps to flatten the puffy nipples into the breast tissue-- like what you see when your areola contracts.
I think it is likely to help your concerns but you must approach it with caution. This type of circular tightening is known for the areola stretching back again to some degree and sometimes widening  of the scars. These concerns are more common when tightening over an implant because of the outward pressure of the implant but need to be weighed none the less.

Hope this helps.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD · Answer

The are three grade for the tubular breast and your pictures show grade I. You have large areola that  is looking normal in the last picture due to the contraction of the areola. The options are fat grafting and areola reduction or areola reduction only. Please see the link of a grade II case

Do I have tubular breasts or just puffy areolas? When I see pics of the condition it doesn’t quite look like mine. (photos)

Answers (4)

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