Tuberous Breast Correction Surgery: What You Need to Know

Pros

• One of the greatest benefits of undergoing tuberous breast correction surgery is enhanced self-esteem and confidence.
• Tubular breasts can make it challenging to find clothes and bras that fit well. This outpatient procedure eliminates that problem. 
• After correcting the asymmetry and drooping (also known as ptosis) of tubular breasts, many patients find relief from back, neck, and shoulder pain.

Cons

• Results may not live up to your expectations. “Going through development with this deformity can be very distressing, and these patients often have so much invested in the outcome,” says Dr. Killeen. While it can be difficult, having reasonable expectations for the results is critical to patient satisfaction. 
• Because this surgery concentrates on correcting the base of the breast, it can interfere with a patient’s ability to breastfeed in the future. 
• The majority of tubular breast correction surgeries include breast augmentation with implants, which come with their own risks. 
• People with severe cases of tuberous breast deformity, with very different amounts of breast tissue on either side, may need an additional procedure in the future to keep their breasts looking balanced.

The goal of surgery is reshaping, to create the appearance of balanced, normal breasts. 

The specifics of your surgery will depend on the severity of the constriction and asymmetry, but it often starts with an “anchor” incision around the areola, down to the base of the breast, and along the crease of the inframammary fold, in the shape of an anchor. This allows the surgeon to release the constricted tissue at the base of the breast.

Beyond that, your procedure may include:

• Augmentation with silicone or saline implants, to give the breasts a rounder shape
• Fat grafting, in which excess fat is removed from another body area via liposuction, purified, and injected into the breasts
• A breast lift (mastopexy) or breast reduction
• Areola reduction or nipple reduction 

Whether your procedure is performed under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation will depend on your provider’s preference, your medical history, and the extent of your unique procedure. Discuss these options with your surgeon during your initial consultation, once you’ve aligned on your treatment plan.

Tubular breast correction surgery is considered elective cosmetic surgery—not a medical necessity—so it’s rarely covered by insurance. 

However, some providers and patients have been able to get insurance providers to cover the cost if the condition is severe enough that the procedure can be classified as reconstructive surgery. 

“I have had the most success [getting insurance approval] with patients under 30 years old and those with major asymmetry, especially if they are having a breast reduction as part of the procedure,” Dr. Killeen says. 

If cost is a major factor for you, work closely with your provider to determine whether you’ll be able to get your tuberous breast correction surgery covered by insurance.

Post-procedure downtime will depend on the extent of your procedure. 

Some patients may be able to return to normal activity after a few days, but those who also have a breast augmentation, lift, or reduction can expect to need a week of downtime, with restrictions on more strenuous activity for a few more weeks.

“Patients will have limitations on what type of exercise they can do the first month and usually are released to all activity after a month,” says Dr. Killeen. 

Nearly all of her patients feel comfortable using solely over-the-counter painkillers (rather than prescription narcotics) post-procedure.

Results are permanent, but that doesn’t mean your breasts won’t continue to age. Smoking, sun damage, your skin type, and having large breasts can accelerate this process.

If you have breast implants, keep in mind that they’re not lifetime devices. While they no longer need to be replaced every 10 years, you may need implant revision surgery to correct a complication, change your size, or simply trade up to a newer technology in the future. 

Patients with greater size discrepancies between their two breasts will also need follow-up procedures to help keep their breasts looking balanced. “Implants and breast tissue age differently,” explains Dr. Killeen. “On the side with a large implant and small amount of breast tissue, the breast usually remains more perky, while the other side with a smaller implant and more breast tissue will droop and sag more, requiring adjustments sooner.“

The tuberous breast correction surgery photos in our gallery have been shared by the provider who performed the procedure, with the patient's consent.

Tubular breast correction risks are similar to those of any other cosmetic surgery procedure. 

The most common complications include bleeding, infection, and poor scarring. 

This breast procedure can also result in asymmetry, changes in nipple sensitivity, and challenges breastfeeding, especially if you get breast implants that are placed over the muscle.

Additional risks of breast implants include capsular contracture, rupture, and breast implant illness. Learn more.