The short answer to this question regarding tuberous breasts is yes. However, the degree to which they can be improved depends on the condition and severity. Tuberous breasts mean that the patient has a congenital deformity thought to be related to collagen issues. The tissue in the breast lacks certain fundamental and atomic characteristics which allow it to look like a long tube.
This is very unsightly and not well embraced by women. The essential defect is puffy nipples with breast tissue protruding from the breast under the areola. There is often significant breast size asymmetry as well as the nipple-areola complex may point down.
Tuberous Breasts
Correction or maximum improvement to create a more aesthetic and acceptable breast depends upon clearly identifying the problem in creating a plan to improve or correct it. The defects are basically into two categories. Breast size can be improved with either fat grafting or breast implants. When significant asymmetry exists, I prefer to remove some of the breasts and then be able to augment sub-muscularly with identical size implants. I prefer this method to try to equalize the asymmetry with different-size implants – which is much more difficult to achieve.
The skin abnormality must then be addressed if there is skin asymmetry a breast lift or some variation of it can be incorporated with the implant placement to create a much more pleasing-looking breast bilaterally. Often a search or real incision is required to reduce the areolar puffiness. Therefore, the answer to this question is yes – tuberous breasts can look a lot better and much more normal.
The essence is to make the correct diagnosis and design the procedure to maximize the look and appearance of this very important aspect of the female anatomy. It’s always exciting for our practice to be able to achieve the safest and best possible results for our patients.
THOMAS TREVISANI, MD
BOARD-CERTIFIED PLASTIC SURGEON
MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF AESTHETIC PLASTIC SURGERY
