Tubular Breast Syndrome, also referred to as “hypoplasia” or “tuberous breast deformity,” is a rare condition that is caused by a congenital abnormality of the breasts. This condition usually becomes fully apparent during puberty, which is due to underdeveloped breast tissue. This leads to an asymmetrical breast appearance, and particularly a droopy, “tube-like” shape. Hypoplasia also causes the areolas to enlarge and the breasts to be spaced unusually far apart. Unfortunately a vast majority of women with tubular breast syndrome go undiagnosed throughout their entire lives.
Fortunately, treating tubular breasts is not as simple as just augmentation the breasts with saline or silicone gel implants. In fact, if the condition is not diagnosed properly, then a breast augmentation can actually make the breast look even worse than before. This is why choosing a plastic surgeon with board certification and extensive experience in the correction of tuberous breast deformity is of utmost importance.
The extent of the patient’s condition will determine the amount of surgery that will be required and exactly what procedures will provide optimal results. In severe cases, patients may need more than one surgery and the use of tissue expanders over a few weeks to correct the abnormality between the breasts.
Living with tuberous breasts can cause a woman to feel less confident about her body, as well as make it difficult to wear certain types of clothing, including bathing suits. Luckily, at our Birmingham practice, we can correct this condition by restoring volume and fullness to women who have tubular breasts.
If you would like to improve the overall shape of your breasts, please feel free to contact Plastic Surgery Specialists at (205) 298-8660. We encourage you to schedule a consultation with either of our board certified plastic surgeons, Dr. Robert I. Oliver, Jr. or Dr. Jason M. Jack.