Addressing Tubular Breasts

In April’s first Elite Plastic Surgery blog, we discussed some of the basics of a condition known as tubular breasts. When a woman has this condition, her breast tissue is more cylindrical than round. The breast is typically the same shape from the base of the breast to the nipple. We discussed the other signs and symptoms in that blog.

So, how can we help a patient with tubular breasts at Elite Plastic Surgery? Our four board-certified plastic surgeons use different approaches depending on the patient’s unique situation.

Correcting Tubular Breasts

There aren’t any medical treatments that can reverse this condition; the only treatment is surgery. The condition isn’t a risk to the patient’s overall health, but it can have a major impact on self-confidence, especially if asymmetry is large between the breasts.

These surgeries can have some commonality with breast lifts in some patients and breast reductions in others. That’s because an incision is usually made starting at the base of the areola and traveling downward to the breast crease. These surgeries involve the placement of a breast implant or implants. A tissue expander may also be necessary to create space.

These are some of the other corrections that may be made:

• The constricting fibrous bands in the lower portion of the breast are released.
• The distance from the nipple/areola complex to the breast crease is increased.
• The breast crease may be lowered.
• The areola complex is usually downsized.

What Is Recovery Like?

Every patient’s situation is unique with this condition. Some patients have dramatic asymmetry between their two breasts, and correction is more involved. During your consultation with your Elite Plastic Surgery surgeon, once we can better understand your situation, we can give you a good idea of what will be involved with your surgery. This will include the surgical method we feel fits your needs. We will describe what we feel needs addressing, such as constriction in the tissue of the lower breast. From there we will discuss what you can expect during your recovery.

Do you feel self-conscious about your breasts and wonder if you are a candidate for correction of tubular breasts? Call us at Elite Plastic Surgery, (616) 459-1907 to schedule a consultation.