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Woollahra Sydney . Wollongong NSW
If any of the following breast issues concern you, contact Dr Hunt to discuss your options:
- Enlarged nipples
- Constricted or abnormally shaped breasts
- Under-developed breasts
What Do Tuberous Breasts Look Like?
Tuberous breasts commonly have the following features:
- A constricted areola (pigmented skin around the nipple)
- Conical-shaped nipples
- Small breasts
- Uneven breasts (breast asymmetry)
- High inframammary fold
- Narrow base
- Lack of lower pole development
The cause of tubular breasts is not completely understood. It is thought to result from an error in breast tissue growth during fetal development. Constrictive fibrous bands form around the nipples, possibly causing the abnormal nipple appearance.
Why Patients Might Consider Tuberous Breast Surgery
A person may opt for this procedure for a number of different reasons. Some of these include:
- A fuller breast appearance
- Treatment of conical-shaped nipples and breasts
- Improvement of breast symmetry
- A more desired shape and size
Keep in mind that results are not a guarantee, and potential patients should always seek the professional advice of a surgeon such as Dr Hunt.
Different Types of Tuberous Breast Surgery
Tuberous breasts have many different features. Hence, there’s no single standard surgery to fix the deformity. Instead, Dr. Hunt will perform a customised combination of techniques depending on what your breasts need.
1 or 2 Step Surgery for Tuberous Breasts
Regardless of the techniques used, tuberous breast surgery is either done with a 1-step or 2-step approach:
- 1-step tuberous breast correction: This is when tuberous breast reconstruction is done all in one surgery, without the need for a second surgery. Sometimes, it is possible to release the constrictive fibrous bands around the nipples and reshape the breasts and nipples all within the same surgery.
- 2-step tuberous breast correction: This is when tuberous breasts are fixed in 2 separate operations. During the first corrective procedure, Dr. Hunt releases all the constrictive tissue from around the nipple. He inserts a skin expander to stretch your breast skin in preparation for your second surgery. After weeks to months, a second surgery will be done to augment the breasts and give them their final form.
Here are some of the surgical techniques that Dr. Hunt might utilize when correcting a tuberous breast deformity:
Surgical Reconstruction
This is usually a standard part of any tuberous breast treatment. After performing a breast skin incision, Dr. Hunt will identify the tough circular fibrous bands constricting your nipples. He will use cautery and surgical scissors to cut these bands and loosen the nipples. This aims to release the fibrous bands in the effort to create the desired breast and nipple shape.
Surgery options
Breast Augmentation Mammoplasty
With Implants
Implants are usually necessary during surgery for tuberous breasts. If your breasts are uneven, Dr. Hunt might use two implants of different sizes. The exact implants used in your case will be discussed in your consultation.
Although in most cases implants are needed to reconstruct tuberous breasts, it’s not always the case. In some patients, tuberous breast correction can be done without breast implants. Surgical reconstruction alone might be enough or augmentation can be done without implants (e.g with fat injections).
Breast Augmentation Mammoplasty
With Fat Grafting
Fat grafting can be done as a part of tuberous breast reconstruction. Also called autologous fat transfer, or fat injection, this technique helps avoid the use of implants.
In fat grafting, Dr Hunt injects your own excess body fat into the breasts in strategic areas where the patient desires more volume. The fat is collected by liposuction from the hips, buttocks, abdomen, or thighs. It is then purified and injected into the breasts.
Use of
Breast Tissue Expanders
This is a technique used in the 2-step tuberous breast correction. Since tuberous breasts are usually hypoplastic (underdeveloped), there may not be enough room to directly put in implants. In such cases, a breast tissue expander is implanted during the first surgery. Then it will be gradually inflated by Dr Hunt over a period of months or weeks to slowly stretch the skin of your breasts. Once your breasts are large enough, you’re ready for your second surgery. In the second tuberous breast correction procedure, the expanders are removed, and permanent breast implants are inserted in breast augmentation mammoplasty surgery.
Tuberous Breast Surgery Aftercare
To help your recovery after tuberous breast surgery, we’ve put together some aftercare tips and home remedies that can help:
- You can leave your surgical wounds without a dressing until your post-op appointment.
- You can shower as of the second day after your surgery.
- When you shower, make sure to gently tap the wounds dry with a clean cloth.
- Wear your surgical bra for at least 4-6 weeks after tuberous breast correction. You should wear the bra day and night to reduce swelling and allow your breasts to properly heal.
- Use ice packs to reduce swelling and bruising after tuberous breast reconstruction.
- Sleep on your back for 4-6 weeks after surgery. This will help reduce swelling and prevent any accidental trauma as you sleep.
- Give your breasts time to heal. Do not try to skip recovery steps and start getting involved in sports and strenuous activities before you are fully recovered.
- Take your pain meds as needed. Dr Hunt will prescribe pain relief/analgesia to help keep you comfortable as you recover.
Recovery After Tuberous Breast Surgery
Recovery after tubular breast correction depends on the type of procedure that was performed. More extensive procedures that involve more surgical manipulation will need more recovery time. In general, you can expect 4-6 weeks for full recovery. However, you will likely be able to gradually resume normal activities earlier than that.
You might experience pain, swelling, and bruising in the breasts after the procedure. The symptoms are usually worse during the first week. It is therefore recommended that you stay home and recover for 7-10 days after your tuberous breast correction surgery.
As of the second week, the symptoms will gradually improve, and by the end of the first-month post-op, most of the symptoms should disappear.
Expect to be asked to wear a surgical bra after tuberous breast correction. You might also be instructed to sleep exclusively on your back during recovery.
Risks and Complications
Tuberous breast correction often produces successful results. Nevertheless, there are some risks and side effects that can complicate recovery. It is important to be aware of these risks before you make your decision about whether to undergo surgery.
The risks of tuberous breast surgery include:
- Wound infection
- Seroma (fluid collection)
- Haematoma (blood collection)
- Implant rupture (expander or permanent implant)
- Capsular contracture – a long term complication of breast implants
- Implant malposition or malrotation
- Breast asymmetry
- Inability to breastfeed
- Loss of nipple sensation
- Further surgery
