Breast Augmentation for Tubular Breast Condition
Age 18: Breast Augmentation for Tubular Breast Condition
This is an 18 year old young woman, 5’6” and 165 pounds who presented to me with a very significant case of tubular breast condition. She is seen here after a bilateral breast augmentation with 375cc moderate plus shaped saline implants beneath the muscle. I have had to take her back for two minor revision procedures to get the shape you seen in these photos.
There is a tremendous difference in her breasts. At this junction, I would consider this a “home run” but her areola are still a bit larger than ideal. Her breast are relatively symmetrical and her implants are soft. We are entertaining going back in a year or so to reduce the size of her areolas with the help of a special gortex material suture that has proven very effective in minimizing spread of the areola’s after a reduction procedure.
Some important points to consider in this advanced tubular breast condition:
- Tubular breast condition is not “all or nothing”. Some women have a mild case while others is advanced. The breast base is narrow and the areolas are typically quite large with breast tissue bulging behind the areola creating the appearance of large, puffy areolas.
- Complex cases are a challenge for the surgeon. There are different ways to approach the problem, including the use of breast “expanders” to expand the tissues before shaping of the breast. In this case, I chose to put in the implants and work the breast with massage and molding to obtain the best shape. Once I got the “foundation” of the breast just where we want it, I change focus to getting the nipple areola complexes where we want them and the size that is preferred. However easy this may sound, it isn’t, and it requires a lot of effort, time and patience to achieve the best outcome.
- Realistic expectations are a must when it comes to complex tubular breast procedures. Be aware of how your surgeon charges fees in these complex cases: is it all up front for all aspects of the case or is it “a la carte” and there are fees associated with the various procedures performed over time.
Age 21: Breast Augmentation for Tubular Breast Condition
This is a 21 year old patient who is 5’7” and 145 pounds who presented to me for correction of a “tubular” breast condition. Indeed, on examination she has narrow breasts that are asymmetrical and with enlargement of her areolas.
She is seen here EARLY in her post-operative period (two months). She was augmented with smooth silicone implants (300cc on the left and 275cc on the right). They are moderate profile implants. Her incision is around her areolas on both sides, the implants were placed beneath the muscle, and the dense breast tissue beneath the nipple areola complexes on both sides was “splayed out” surgically so that it isn’t so prominent. I closed her areola incisions with a GORTEX suture to help keep the areola diameter small during the healing phase.
She is doing beautifully and is extremely pleased. Her right implant is higher and her nipple-areola complex on the right is lower. This is to be expected, but, with additional massage of her implant down on the right side this will lower the implant and move the nipple-areola complex up which will make her breasts more symmetrical.
Tubular breast procedures are a challenge. Perfection is difficult. In this patients case, she is very pleased and we expect the results to improve over time with massage. She has amazing cleavage compared to no cleavage before her procedure. She has fullness that she never had before. I hope to post her longer term results when she returns in about seven months. There are various ways of tackling a tubular breast and this is just one of them. A well versed and experienced surgeon will handle the problem depending on the individual issues with each patient.
Age: 19 Breast Augmentation for Tubular Breast Condition
This is a 19 year old who is 5’10” and 150 pounds who came to my office for a breast enhancement. She complained that her breasts were not proportional to her body and she wanted a better shape.
This is a CLASSIC presentation for “tubular breast condition” or “constricted breasts.” Her breasts are small and widely spaced apart. Her areola are enlarged and her breast tissue is “herniating” through the areola making it “puffy” in appearance. There is only a small amount of very dense breast tissue, the inframammary fold is high, and the base of the breast is quite small. We do not know why this condition occurs. We describe this as a “condition” because about 1-3% of breast enhancement patients have this appearance and the presentation is somewhat characteristic.
She is seen here after a breast augmentation with 375cc silicone implants placed through the areola, beneath the muscle. I also “splayed” her breast tissue so that it was less “ball-like” and more “flat” like a pancake. Her areola was reduced in size as well. I actually cut the muscle at the bottom of the breast to allow for the implant to drop lower so that she would get the best shape. She is seven months out from her surgery in these photos.
In her own words:
“Since I was 16, I knew my breasts were different from other women around me. However, I went through my teen years merely believing my breasts were just small and my nipples were oddly shaped. Finally, as a 18 year old entering college, I realized that my breasts were not just small, but actually shaped differently than all the other girls around me. I decided to visit Dr. Caridi the Fall semester of my sophomore year. During my first appointment, Dr. Caridi explained to me that I had a developmental condition called Hypoplastic Tubular Breast Syndrome. After learning this, I wondered why no doctor had told me before! I was incredibly relieved to learn not only about my condition, but also that it could be corrected with surgery. After my surgery, I recovered quickly. Within a week and a half I was able to return home and walk around my hometown. As a young adult, I was worried that people would notice my implants and think negatively of me. However, my implants were hardly noticed. Since the day I got my breast augmentation, I feel that I have been given the breasts that I was always meant to have. Before my surgery, no one noticed how disproportional my body was, but now people appreciate my figure. I truly cannot express how grateful I am for Dr. Caridi and his staff. I feel infinitely more confident now as a woman and am incredibly glad that I chose to get a breast augmentation.”
Her breasts are fuller and rounder. Her areola are smaller. She has cleavage. There is no hint of any “tubular breast.” This can be a challenging operation for, and a breast augmentation alone may not offer the best outcome. My patients need to work their breasts after surgery to help “shape” them. It was a relief for her to know that she had a “medical” issue with her breast and she wished that she would have done the procedure a lot sooner. It’s important that if you suspect you have tubular breasts that you consult with a qualified Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. Family doctors or pediatricians may not be quick to recommend treatment for this condition that could be harmful to a young woman’s normal psychosocial development.
