Do you have tubular breasts?
Sydney Kogarah Miranda breast implants
Women may seek breast augmentation for a variety of different reasons. In some cases, a woman wants the procedure because she has tubular breast syndrome. Also known by other names (including tuberous breasts and breast hypoplasia), this is a congenital condition in which the breasts don’t develop correctly. Although treatment is not required, some women with this condition choose to have plastic surgery to correct it.
What are tubular breasts? How can they be treated? Are there any special considerations for the procedure?
What are tubular breasts?
Tubular breasts are caused by abnormally thick and strong connective tissue in the area of the chest. This tissue restricts breast development. As a result, the breasts will tend to be very small and will also have an abnormal shape. Rather than being round, they will tend to be conical or tube-like, and may have an oval or square base.
It’s not certain exactly why some women develop tubular breasts while others do not. Genetics probably play a role, but it’s not possible to predict which girls will end up developing tubular breasts. The condition manifests at puberty, with the occurrence of breast development.
How are tubular breasts treated?
Tubular breasts are primarily a cosmetic condition. Correction of the condition with surgery is certainly not required. Some women with tubular breasts choose to accept their bodies as they are and do not undergo any procedure for correction, while others choose to have surgery. The choice is entirely up to you.
To correct tubular breasts, some women choose breast augmentation. It’s important to choose a surgeon who is familiar with tubular breasts to perform the procedure, because it’s not exactly the same as a standard breast augmentation. It’s important for the surgeon to release the abnormal connective tissue during the procedure in order to create a good cosmetic result. In some cases, a tissue expander is necessary in order to make room for the implants. This is a device that’s placed before surgery in a separate procedure, and is then slowly inflated with saline (salt water) over the course of weeks to months, in order to make space for the placement of implants. It’s not always needed, but is necessary in some cases.
Although some women with tubular breasts experience low milk supply and have trouble breastfeeding, this doesn’t always happen. Having surgery will unfortunately not be able to restore the milk supply to normal; it will only alter the cosmetic appearance of the breasts. However, there are certainly women with tubular breasts who successfully breastfeed, whether or not they have had a breast augmentation.
Will my insurer cover my procedure?
Most plastic surgery is not covered under Medicare or other insurance policies. However, plastic surgery that is performed for reconstructive, rather than cosmetic, purposes may be partially covered by Medicare and by private insurers. Breast augmentation for a patient with tubular breasts may fall under this category. In general, only part of the surgical cost will be covered, so you should be prepared to cover part of the cost of your procedure yourself.
In order for your surgery to be covered, you would need a proper diagnosis of tubular breast syndrome. This involves meeting stringent criteria. Medicare and insurers do not want every woman who desires a breast augmentation to be diagnosed with tubular breasts in order for the procedure to be covered, and so they tend to be strict about this.
Sydney Kogarah Miranda breast implants
If you believe that you might have tubular breasts, you’ll need an exam by a qualified medical professional to know for sure. Not every case of very small breasts is caused by tubular breasts; there are specific criteria for diagnosing the condition. Plastic surgeons are trained in recognizing the symptoms of tubular breast syndrome and determining whether this is the cause of a patient’s small breast size.
If you do have tubular breasts, then you could consider correcting the condition through breast augmentation. There are specific considerations that need to be taken into account during the surgery. If the surgery is not performed with the tubular breast condition in mind, the outcomes may not be ideal. A plastic surgeon who is familiar with tubular breasts and the issues surrounding augmentation for women who have the condition will be the best choice.
With his expertise and his years of experience, A/Prof Marucci is highly qualified to diagnose and treat tubular breast syndrome. If you’d like to schedule a consultation with him here at our office, simply contact us to get the process started.
