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Tuberous Breast Surgery
Tuberous Breast Surgery
Tuberous Breast Surgery
Tuberous breasts occur when breasts develop differently than usual. Based on this different style of development, the breasts may have one or more of a few characteristics. Tubular breasts usually have less volume than an average breast. They are not round with evenly dispersed breast tissue but more conical, with the breast tissue primarily situated behind the nipple and areola. In addition, the areolas may be larger than average, and there may be a sizeable gap between the breasts.
Tuberous breast development may be mild and not bothersome, but it may also be pronounced, causing low self-esteem or self-consciousness both in and out of clothing or swimsuits. Tuberous breast surgery aims to give the breasts a more normal shape and size by addressing the underlying causes in the breast structure.
Questions & Answers
Tuberous breasts are not inherently dangerous and do not require treatment. However, this condition can make breastfeeding more complex, and it does require surgery to improve cosmetically. Tuberous breast surgery achieves a more normal breast shape and size by reshaping the breast tissue and often enhancing the breast size through a breast augmentation procedure, implant placement, or fat grafting to the breasts. This combination approach to the breast shape can help give a more rounded breast appearance, adjust the size of the areola, and improve breast volume, thus improving overall balance in the figure.
The benefits of tuberous breast surgery are unique to each individual. Benefits of tuberous breast surgery may include:
- Boosting your self-esteem
- Adding balance to your figure
- Improving your self-confidence at the beach or in certain types of clothing
- Improving breast roundness and volume
- Correcting mild asymmetry
- Improving breast shape and cleavage
In addition to deciding whether tuberous breast surgery can meet your personal goals, there are several factors to be considered in determining whether you are a good candidate for tuberous breast surgery. Good candidates for tuberous breast surgery include those who:
- Want to achieve a more normal shape and size of their breasts
- Want to achieve optimal proportions for their figure
- Have generally good physical and mental health
- Are you a nonsmoker, or are you willing to stop smoking before breast surgery
- Have realistic expectations from tuberous breast surgery
While tuberous breast surgery can address a variety of concerns, it does have limitations. Knowing these limitations and understanding when you may be a candidate for a different type of surgery is essential. Tuberous breast surgery cannot:
- Completely correct asymmetry
- Improve chances of breastfeeding successfully
It is essential to know that tuberous breast surgery may be a two or three-step process depending on the severity of the case. For example, if the native breast tissue is minimal and the skin is very tight, a tissue expansion process may be required to create the space for a future breast implant. After placing a breast implant for shape and volume, further tailoring of the breast shape may require fat grafting to the breasts to achieve optimal results. While your surgeon will make every attempt to condense your treatment into one surgery, this complex condition requires a thoughtful approach that sometimes requires more than one step. Your surgeon will discuss her plan in detail with you after evaluating you.
Tuberous breast surgery is an outpatient procedure performed with general anesthesia in an operating room. After your surgery, you will be placed in dressings and a bra. You will spend a short time in the recovery room before a friend or family member takes you home, where you should plan to rest for the remainder of the day. Be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery and to stay with you for at least the first night. We will advise you on pain medication to ease any discomfort, give you detailed post-operative instructions, and schedule a follow-up appointment to check your progress.
It is expected to experience some pain and swelling in the first few days after surgery.
Incisions usually heal between 1 and 2 weeks after surgery. Depending on your type of work, you can generally return to work within one week. Initially, you will have some activity restrictions, but most people can return to total activity six weeks after surgery.
You may notice less sensation in the nipple and areola areas. This is usually temporary. It may, however, take weeks, months, or even more than a year before the sensation returns to normal. Your breasts may also require some time to assume a more natural shape. Final results are usually seen at six months to a year after surgery.
Every patient’s recovery is different. Your recovery may be quicker or take more time than average.
If you think that you may want to become pregnant in the future, you should mention this to your surgeon. Pregnancy can change breast size and shape in an unpredictable way and could affect the long-term results of your breast augmentation. There is a possibility that your ability to breast feed may be decreased with this surgery.
If you are planning to lose a significant amount of weight, be sure to tell your surgeon. She may recommend that you stabilize your weight prior to undergoing surgery.
Depending on your age, or if you have a history of breast cancer in your family, we may recommend a baseline mammogram before surgery and future mammographic examinations according to your regular schedule. This will help to detect any future changes in your breast tissue. Following tuberous breast surgery, you will still be able to perform breast self-exams, which you should do monthly. This surgery will not increase your risk of developing breast cancer.
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