What is a Tuberous Breast?

Tuberous breasts are the result of a developmental deformity.  As the breasts are growing in adolescence, the lower half does not develop normally.  A normal breast has a gentle downward sloping curve in the lower portion (see left above). The skin and underlying tissues of a tuberous breast (see above, right) do not grow normally due to a constriction in the lower half of the breast. This leaves the lower breast with a “tubular” appearance because there is not enough skin or fullness below the areola (darker skin around the nipple). A tuberous breast is often complicated by an areola that is large, prominent or even “herniating” (protruding outward in an unnatural way).  In many tuberous breasts, the nipple points downward or droops.  Most women who present with this problem are affected in both breasts, but the condition can be present on just one side as well.  Tuberous breasts vary in severity, and are actually fairly common, much more common that people realize.  Often, however, they go undetected, due to ignorance of the examining physician, or embarrassment on the part of the patient.

An absence of fullness and lack of sufficient skin of the lower breast results in the aesthetically unappealing appearance in this young woman. This creates the “tuberous” appearance as described above, where the breast resembles a tube rather than a normal breast.

This is a more normal appearing tuberous breast, but note that the lower breast is decidedly deficient in skin and fullness. The areola protrudes over the lower breast skin.

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This woman just thought that she had small breasts, until she discovered on the internet that she had a correctable deformity. In some cases, insurance may cover some of the expense.

Tuberous breasts are difficult problems that are best solved with Coleman fat grafting.  Next week, Dr. Coleman will explain in a Blog post his unique, successful method to naturally reconstruct this surprisingly common deformity.

–Written by the Staff at TriBeCa Plastic Surgery

Blog posts on tuberous breasts.

How Can We Correct a Tuberous Breast?

Remarkable case of tubular breast correction with Coleman fat grafting 

Twelve year follow-up of tuberous breast correction

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON BREAST FAT GRAFTING, PLEASE GO TO THE LIPOSTRUCTURE WEBSITE.

Check out these links for more information on fat grafting to the breasts:

Coleman Shows Longevity of Fat Grafting to the Breasts

New York Times Reports on Fat Grafting to the Breast

Combining the BRAVA system with Fat Grafting to the Breast

Fat Grafting to solve problems with Breast Implants

Safety concerns with fat grafting to the breast

The American Society of Plastic Surgery’s Position of Fat Grafting to the Breast

Dr. Sydney Coleman demonstrates Breast Reconstruction with LipoStructure on The Doctors

Coleman lectures on fat grafting for breast reconstruction at the American College of Surgeons

Breast Augmentation Via Fat Grafting From “Plastic Surgery Practice”

Breast Implant Problems Solved with Coleman Fat Grafting

Fat Grafting to the Breast Revisited: Safety and Efficacy. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. 119(3):775-785, March 2007. Coleman, Sydney R. M.D.; Saboeiro, Alesia P. M.D.

Written on Thursday, May 24th, 2012 by Dr. Coleman