Breast surgery
Tuberous (Tubular) Breast Surgery
Tubular breast augmentation and correction of tuberous breast deformity through expansion and reshaping techniques.
Correction of tuberous breast deformity through expansion and reshaping techniques.
Overview
Tuberous breasts, also called tubular or constricted breasts, form when the base of the breast stays tight during puberty3. The breast grows forward instead of outward. What you see in the mirror is a narrow or elongated shape, a high crease, a puffy areola, or two breasts that look noticeably different from each other.
It is a difference in how the breast developed, not a health problem, and it is more common than most women realize1. Many only come across the term while researching implants.
A standard implant often makes a constricted breast more noticeable because the tight base is still there. With tubular breast augmentation, Dr. Cassileth loosens that tissue and lowers the crease before adding volume. For that reason, plastic surgery for tubular breasts is planned more like a reconstruction than a routine augmentation.
Who it's for
The right candidate.
- Women whose breasts look narrow, elongated, or cone-shaped instead of round3
- Patients with a high, tight breast crease and little fullness in the lower breast
- Women with enlarged or puffy areolas3
- Patients whose breasts sit wide apart or differ noticeably in size and shape3
- Women whose breast development is complete and who are in good general health
Technique
How it's done.
Tubular Breast Augmentation and Tuberous Breast Correction Techniques
Tubular breast augmentation is never a single standard operation. Surgery to correct tuberous breasts may combine several cosmetic and reconstructive techniques, and Dr. Cassileth builds your surgical plan around your anatomy and your goals. Where implants are part of that plan, the principles of her breast augmentation work still apply.
Fat Grafting
Your own natural fat is placed in areas where the breast never developed, rounding and filling out the shape. Fat is usually grafted as a “doughnut” that supplements the normal tissue. It is harvested from another area of your body with liposuction and transferred through the thinner breast tissue to improve contour. For some patients, fat transfer makes tuberous breast correction possible without an implant.
Breast Augmentation
Breast implants may be used, often in the subfascial position, so they stay at the new inframammary crease. This is the step most people picture when they search for breast augmentation for tuberous breasts, and it works best once the constriction has been released. When one breast is larger, Dr. Cassileth usually reduces and lifts that side and places the same implant size in both breasts for better long-term symmetry. Matching implants also lower the chance of asymmetry returning as your breasts age or your weight changes.
Breast Unrolling
Many tuberous breasts have too short a distance between the nipple and the inframammary fold, which is the crease under the breast. There may be too much tissue directly behind the nipple and not enough at the bottom, where the breast should be. For these patients, the tissue can be “unrolled” into a lower position, much like a window shade. The incision sits at the nipple or the new crease, resulting in a less prominent nipple and a lower, fuller breast.
Breast Reduction
Often the larger breast, or both breasts, are reduced in size, and a breast lift can be performed in the same surgery if needed. This is not a typical breast reduction. It focuses on removing the extra tissue that creates the tuberous shape.
Crease Release
In a traditional tuberous breast correction, silicone or saline implants are placed and the existing crease is “scored” or “released” to erase the dent where the old crease sat. Dr. Cassileth finds this is often not enough. The tissue above the old crease is thicker than the tissue below it, so the dent can still show after surgery. Unrolling or fat grafting evens out the tissue better than scoring alone.
Tissue Expansion
In rare cases, tubular breast augmentation begins with tissue expansion. It is typically recommended for patients who want larger breasts but have severe constriction and very tight skin. A tissue expander gradually stretches the breast and is exchanged for an implant a few months later.
FAQ
Common questions.
How do I know if I have tubular breasts?
Tubular breasts usually show a narrow base, a high crease, puffy areolas, wide spacing, and uneven size3. A plastic surgeon confirms the diagnosis with a physical exam and grades it from Type I, a mild constriction of the lower breast, to Type III, a severe one. That grade guides your tubular breast correction.
What is the difference between tubular and tuberous breasts?
There is no difference. Tubular breasts and tuberous breasts are two names for the same condition, where tight tissue at the breast base restricts growth during puberty3. Surgeons usually say tuberous, while most patients search for tubular. That is why tubular breast augmentation and tuberous breast correction often describe the same surgery.
Can tuberous breasts be fixed without implants?
Yes, in mild cases. Tuberous breast correction can rely on fat grafting, tissue unrolling, and a lift, with no implant. When more volume or symmetry is needed, breast augmentation for tuberous breasts with implants is usually the more reliable choice. At your consultation, Dr. Cassileth will tell you which approach your anatomy supports.
How long is recovery after tubular breast augmentation?
Most restrictions after tubular breast augmentation end within 6 to 8 weeks. You wear a compression bra continuously for 6 weeks and avoid upper-body resistance training for 8 weeks. Scar care begins at 3 weeks. If a tissue expander is part of your plan, surgery happens in two stages a few months apart.
How much does tuberous breast correction cost?
The cost of tuberous breast correction in Beverly Hills depends on which techniques your breasts need, whether implants or fat grafting are used, and whether surgery takes one stage or two. You receive a written estimate after your consultation with Dr. Cassileth. Financing is available through Cherry, CareCredit, and Alphaeon Credit.
Does insurance cover tuberous breast correction?
Usually not. Most insurance plans consider plastic surgery for tubular breasts cosmetic and do not cover it. Coverage varies by plan, so ask your insurer. Our Patient Advocacy team can verify your benefits before you commit and give you a written estimate of any out-of-pocket cost.
Can you breastfeed after tuberous breast surgery?
Correcting tuberous breasts does not usually reduce your ability to breastfeed. The condition itself can, though. Many women with tuberous breasts produce less milk because their glandular tissue did not fully develop during puberty3. Tell Dr. Cassileth if you plan to nurse, so she can factor that into your surgical plan.
Related reading
From the journal.
Sources
Cited research.
- 1Klinger M, Caviggioli F, Giannasi S, et al. The Prevalence of Tuberous/Constricted Breast Deformity in Population and in Breast Augmentation and Reduction Mammaplasty Patients. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2016 Aug;40(4):492-6. doi: 10.1007/s00266-016-0650-9. Epub 2016 Jun 6.
- 2American Society of Plastic Surgeons. The Psychosocial Benefits of Plastic Surgery for Young Women With Congenital Breast Asymmetry. plasticsurgery.org · Accessed October 13, 2026
- 3Cleveland Clinic. Tubular Breasts. · Accessed Last reviewed October 25, 2023
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