Table of contents
The condition of tuberous breasts refers to a breast development anomaly that becomes apparent during puberty. Also known as tubular breasts or constricted breasts, these boobs lack volume and so don’t have a round or full shape. The condition can affect one or both breasts and can range from mild irregularity in shape to a more significant abnormality.
It’s natural for women to want to feel good about the appearance of their breasts, and tuberous breasts often cause low self-esteem and self-consciousness. Today, there are breast procedures, such as augmentation, that can give your breasts a more rounded, attractive shape. The talented plastic surgeons Dr. David Shokrian and Dr. Mohamed Elfar at New York Breast Surgery Center have extensive experience performing a wide range of procedures to help you have the beautiful shape you’ve always wanted.
Tuberous breasts often look narrow and misshapen, compared to other breasts. The most common characteristics of tuberous breasts include:
Women with tuberous breasts may experience some or all of these characteristics. In mild cases, the characteristics are subtle and often mistaken for underdevelopment or asymmetry. In more severe cases, a conical or pointed shape makes them easy to identify. Tubular breasts aren’t medically dangerous, but they can lead to body image issues and self-consciousness, especially in intimate settings or when wearing fitted clothing.
The exact cause of tuberous breasts isn’t known,” says Dr. Shokrian, “but it’s thought to be the result of abnormal young breast development. Instead of normal breast tissue expanding along with the surrounding skin, the lower pole of the breast is constricted by tight tissues, preventing the breast from developing into a normal rounded or teardrop shape.”
According to the Cleveland Clinic, this abnormality occurs during puberty. If your breasts are unable to develop as expected, sometimes, they don’t develop at all. The size and shape of tuberous breasts aren’t caused by anything you’re doing, such as poor lifestyle habits, vigorous exercise or bra choice.
Dr. Shokrian or Dr. Elfar evaluates the size and shape of your tuberous breasts to determine the best approach for your tuberous breast correction. Since every woman’s breasts develop on a different timeline, this evaluation is the first step toward a customized approach to treatment. Aspects of the tuberous breast exam include:
Tuberous breasts are usually classified based on how much of the breast is affected. Mild cases involve only a small amount of lower breast constriction and a subtle enlargement of the areolae. Breasts may have more asymmetry and obvious narrowing in moderate cases, while severe cases typically include a limited breast base and marked constriction.
Knowing the degree of irregularity guides your NYC plastic surgeon to create the best treatment plan for you. If you have a mild case of tuberous breasts, reshaping and fat grafting may be effective. A severe case may require tissue release, placement of implants or a staged reconstruction.
The main goals for tuberous breasts corrective surgery include releasing constricted tissue, expanding the breast base and reducing distortion of the areola. Your New York City doctor works to create a more natural breast contour and in many cases, improve symmetry between your two breasts. If one or both breasts sit too high, surgery includes repositioning your breast tissue so it looks more balanced and supported on your chest wall.
Your plastic surgeon at New York Breast Surgery Center customizes the surgical approach for your particular case. The technique depends on your anatomy. The surgeon aims to transform a tight underdeveloped breast shape into a shape that looks rounder, softer and more proportionate on your frame.
Surgery is the only way to improve tuberous breasts. You can’t change the shape of your breasts with exercises, creams or other non-surgical devices or products. Surgical treatment options include:
Many women need a combination of these techniques, rather than a single procedure. Your surgeon isn’t only adding volume but also restoring a more normal lower portion of each boob. The constricted tissue must be released so that your breast can expand into a more natural shape. Breast reshaping usually includes repositioning the intramammary fold to look more natural.
During your required consultation, your NYC plastic surgeon asks what you’re hoping to achieve from tubular breast correction. Some patients want small, subtle reshaping, while others want fuller volume and more dramatic changes.
You and your surgeon review your medical history before he performs a physical examination to measure your chest and check your skin elasticity. You must be in good overall health, with no uncontrolled medical conditions. You should be at least 18 years old with completed breast development.
Your surgery is likely an outpatient procedure, meaning you return home the same day to recuperate. Once your surgery is scheduled, you’re provided with detailed pre-operative instructions. These may include discontinuing aspirin or blood thinners and reviewing prescriptions to be taken after surgery. Plan to have someone drive you home after the surgery.
Fat grafting, also called a fat transfer to your breasts, is a tuberous breast correction option that many women prefer for its flexibility. This procedure has limits, since it can’t provide as much volume as implants can. But it also has many advantages, such as not needing implants and taking fat from another area of your body where you don’t want it.
Using your own fat tissue, your surgeon enlarges the lower half of your breast, improving its proportion. You can choose one or more donor sites; common areas for fat removal include your abdomen, outer or inner thighs or love handles. Once your surgeon has harvested the fat, he uses a centrifuge to refine it, removing oil, blood and other unwanted components. Your surgeon then carefully injects small amounts of fat into targeted areas to give your breast more fullness.
“We like this approach to tuberous breast treatment,” says Dr. Shokrian, “because it’s one of the safest procedures and is especially useful for those with mild cases of tuberous breasts. Our goal is always to improve the shape and symmetry of your bust, while making the final result look natural.”
The amount of time you need to recover from structural fat grafting depends on how many donor sites you used and how much fat was grafted. After the procedure, you can expect soreness, bruising and swelling, particularly at the donor sites.
The team at New York Breast Surgery Center provides detailed information on what to expect after surgery. You may need up to two weeks to recover from surgery and resume normal activities. Some swelling may be present for several months before your final results reveal themselves.
Sometimes, the lack of volume in tuberous breasts can be best addressed with breast implants, which expand the underdeveloped lower pole and correct the constriction. You can also request implants to correct asymmetry between your breasts. Options for breast augmentation with implants include:
“When you want breast implants,” explains Dr. Shokrian, “you have to choose the filling, the size, the shape and the projection. Your anatomy limits your choices to natural-looking results. Regarding shape, you choose round implants, to provide more volume at both the top and the bottom of your breast, or teardrop implants, which are narrower on top and fuller on the bottom.”
Tuberous breast correction may require more than one procedure to achieve optimum results. Women who have one breast that’s much larger than the other may opt for a breast reduction in the larger breast. A breast lift with implants corrects sagging while adding size and fullness. And tuberous breast correction often includes areola reduction, which reduces the diameter of the areola around the nipple.
Recovery from the correction of tuberous breasts depends on the specific procedures you have done. In most cases, you can return to light activities by the end of the first week after surgery. You need to avoid heavy lifting and vigorous exercise for three or four weeks.
You may experience bruising, pain and swelling for the first few days after surgery. Your surgeon may prescribe antibiotics and pain medication. After that, over-the-counter pain medication suffices. Rest, do light walking and stay hydrated. You may need several months for the swelling to subside completely.
Dr. Shokrian adds, “The most important part of your recovery is following the customized instructions Dr. Elfar or I provide. Wear a supportive surgical garment continually, as recommended. Attend all follow-up appointments.”
Have questions about tuberous breast correction? Find answers to some of the most common questions below.
You don’t have to correct your tuberous breasts if you’re comfortable with them. They pose no danger to your health. But many women with tuberous breasts experience self-consciousness, especially if there’s a marked difference in the size of their breasts. Tuberous breast correction can help you feel better about the way your body looks.
Tuberous breast correction doesn’t interfere with breastfeeding, but problems may already exist. Many women with tuberous breasts have breast hypoplasia, which means your body may not have developed adequate milk producing glands. Corrective surgery doesn’t make it worse.
General anesthesia is used to ensure you’re as comfortable as possible during the procedure.
The plastic surgeons at New York Breast Surgery Center have a long track record of success treating tuberous breasts. Former patients have reported life-changing results from the meticulously personalized breast procedures done by Dr. Shokrian or Dr. Elfar. View the before and after photo gallery for some unaltered samples.
“It’s impossible to overstate the amount of damage to a woman’s self-esteem,” says Dr. Shokrian, “when her breasts are oddly shaped or different sizes. Dr. Elfar and I have a compassionate understanding of the impact tuberous breasts can have, and we both have a passion for creating transformative changes.”
At New York Breast Surgery Center, you’re treated with respect and care, from your consultation through surgery and post-op. Your safety is always the top priority. Schedule a consultation today at one of their two NYC locations to discuss your goals and concerns.
Facility Safety Note: All surgical procedures are performed at our JCAHO-accredited flagship surgical center in Bryant Park, Manhattan (HCO ID: 676295). Consultations, minimally invasive procedures and pre/post-operative care are available at our Bronx and Great Neck locations.
Medical Content: Content on breastsurgerynyc.com is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Use of this site does not establish a doctor-patient relationship.
Results & Imagery: Individual results vary; "Before & After" photos do not guarantee specific outcomes. This site may contain clinical imagery featuring medical nudity for educational purposes.
If you have a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.
