MED0001860545
Read more here This website contains imagery which is only suitable for audiences 18+. All surgery contains risks.
This website contains imagery which is only suitable for audiences 18+. All surgery contains risks.
MED0001860545: This website contains imagery which is only suitable for audiences 18+. All surgery contains risks.
Read more here
Tuberous breast is a developmental condition that affects how the breast forms during puberty. It produces a recognisable set of features, although the specific combination varies between patients and the severity ranges from very subtle changes that are easy to miss through to obvious differences in breast shape that are apparent from the time the breasts begin to develop.
At a Glance
Tuberous Breast Correction
Introduction
Tuberous breast is a developmental condition that affects how the breast forms during puberty. It produces a recognisable set of features, although the specific combination varies between patients and the severity ranges from very subtle changes that are easy to miss through to obvious differences in breast shape that are apparent from the time the breasts begin to develop.
Tuberous breast can affect one side or both, and the features can be present to different degrees on each side, which often produces noticeable asymmetry alongside the shape differences. Surgery aims to release the constricting band that’s the central feature of the condition, reshape the breast, and address the areolar component, sometimes in a single operation and sometimes in stages depending on the severity.
Features of tuberous breast
The features that may be present in tuberous breast include:
Not every feature is present in every patient. The condition exists on a spectrum and is graded according to severity, with a mild grade where only some features are present at a subtle level through to a severe grade where all the features are present and produce a markedly atypical breast shape.
Surgical correction
Correction of tuberous breast typically combines several techniques in the same operation, with the specific combination chosen based on the features present in the individual patient and the goals of the surgery.
The tight tissue at the lower pole of the breast is released to allow the lower part of the breast to expand outward and produce a more normal lower pole shape. This is often done with internal scoring of the breast tissue, where small incisions are made within the breast tissue to allow it to redistribute.
Where the fold sits too high on the chest, it’s repositioned to a more natural level, allowing the breast to sit in a more typical position on the chest wall.
A periareolar incision is used to reduce the size of an enlarged areola and to address the herniation of breast tissue forward into the areola, restoring a more typical proportion between the areola and the rest of the breast.
Volume can be added with an implant or with fat transfer, depending on the patient’s anatomy, preferences, and how much volume needs to be added. Implants come with their own risks and considerations and are sometimes the preferred option in tuberous breast where the breast tissue is constrained. Fat transfer is sometimes used alone or alongside implants, particularly to address contour irregularities or to fine-tune the shape.
A lift may be performed where the breast position needs adjustment in addition to reshaping, particularly in older patients where ptosis has developed on top of the underlying tuberous shape.
More than one operation is sometimes required, particularly for more pronounced cases or where significant asymmetry is being addressed alongside the tuberous shape. We discuss any planned staged approach openly at consultation.
Timing of surgery
Surgery for tuberous breast is generally considered after the breasts have finished developing, which usually means waiting until late teens or early adulthood. Operating before development is complete risks ongoing changes in the breast that may affect the surgical result.
For patients under the age of 18, the Medical Board’s guidelines for cosmetic surgery apply, including a requirement for independent psychological assessment to identify any underlying issues that may make the patient unsuitable for surgery, and a three-month cooling-off period between informed consent and the surgery being performed. These requirements are designed to protect young patients and ensure that the decision to have surgery is being made for the right reasons and at the right time.
The procedure
Tuberous breast correction is performed under general anaesthesia in an accredited hospital. Operating time depends on the complexity of the surgery and the combination of techniques being used, ranging from approximately two hours for simpler corrections through to four hours or more for combined procedures involving augmentation, lift and significant reshaping. Most patients stay in hospital for one or two nights.
Recovery
Recovery depends on the components of the operation. You’ll wear a surgical bra for several weeks. Lifting, vigorous exercise and overhead activity are restricted for around six weeks while the wounds heal and the reshaped tissues consolidate.
Most patients with desk-based work return after one to two weeks, with longer for more complex combined procedures or for patients in physical roles. Final breast shape continues to develop over several months as swelling settles and the breast tissue settles into its new form, and we follow up at scheduled intervals through the first year to monitor healing.
Risks
The risks depend on the procedures performed and include:
Results vary
Honest counsel on outcomes
Surgery aims to produce a more typical breast shape, but it can’t create a result identical to a non-affected breast. The starting features, the techniques used, and individual healing all influence the outcome, and patients with more pronounced tuberous features are more likely to have some residual shape difference even after a well-performed operation.
FAQs
It’s a developmental variation in how the breast forms, rather than a disease. The clinical effects are mainly related to breast appearance and shape, although some patients also have functional concerns such as difficulty fitting a bra, differences in breast size between the two sides, or breastfeeding difficulties related to the underlying breast anatomy.
Surgery aims to produce a more typical breast shape, but the outcome depends on the starting features and the techniques used. More pronounced cases may not be fully addressed in a single operation, and some shape difference often remains after surgery. We’re honest at consultation about what’s realistic for your specific situation.
Surgery is generally considered after the breasts have finished developing. For patients under 18, additional Medical Board requirements apply, including independent psychological assessment and a three-month cooling-off period between informed consent and surgery. The right timing for any individual patient is discussed at consultation.
More than one operation may be required, particularly for more pronounced cases. We discuss this before surgery is planned, and any staged approach is explained at consultation so you have a clear picture of what’s involved over the full course of treatment.
Some women can breastfeed after tuberous breast correction. The ability to breastfeed can’t be guaranteed, and the risk depends on the techniques used and the underlying breast anatomy. Patients with tuberous breast sometimes have breastfeeding difficulties even before surgery, related to the underlying anatomy of the breast.
Practitioner
Dr Henry Shepherd, BMed MD MS (Plast.) FRACS (Plast.) | Specialist Plastic Surgeon | AHPRA registration: MED 0001860545