Tuberous Breasts

Have Snoopy breasts? Learn all about your tuberous breast correction options here

Tuberous, or tubular, breasts are long and narrow. The skin below the nipple is tight, and the nipples and areola may protrude. Instead of the coveted dome shape, the tuberous breast looks like a cone. A congenital deformity, tuberous breasts can occur in both men and women. The condition can be mild or severe. If you are bothered by tuberous breasts, you may benefit from breast enhancement surgery.

Surgical Options

There are several surgical options to correct tuberous breasts.

Surgery with areolar incision. One common tubular breast correction surgery involves making an incision around the areolae. This is followed by a series of clockwise internal incisions to release the tight breast tissues. This surgery is typically performed on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia. It takes about two to three hours to complete.

You must wear surgical dressings and a light compression garment for a few days. You can resume light activities within the first week and most of your usual activities within three weeks. Your stitches will be removed within a week.

Be patient: it will take some time for your breasts to expand and stretch into a more normal, round look. The results are permanent.

Areolar incision plus other breast procedures. The abovementioned procedure can be combined with breast augmentation surgery or a breast lift. If these other procedures are performed at the same time, the surgery takes longer to perform, and your recovery will likely be more involved.

Fat grafting. Another emerging option for correcting tuberous breasts is fat grafting. Some experienced breast surgeons are now taking fat from other areas of the body and using it to create rounder breasts. While fat grafting is not recommended for cosmetic enhancement of the breasts, both the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery have stated that fat grafting may be considered for the correction of defects associated with medical conditions such as tuberous breasts. That said, the groups caution that surgeon expertise is a major factor, as results are dependent on technique.

Make sure to choose a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience correcting tuberous breasts. Ask potential surgeons how often they treat this condition, and if you can view before and after photos of their work.