Breasts are the symbol of femininity. Breasts therefore have a special emotional significance for women. After giving birth, the breasts not only symbolize the relationship between mother and child. Many women also attribute their own sex appeal to their breasts. For these reasons, breast malformations such as tubular breasts (also known as tubular breasts) are often perceived as a burden by those affected.
In most cases, tubular breast deformities first manifest themselves during puberty. The breasts of those affected deviate from their physiological shape. The deformity becomes noticeable through an underdeveloped breast quadrant in the lower area. In the course of puberty, the upper breast area sags downwards. This makes the overall shape of the breasts appear tubular or trunk-shaped. Lateral differences are the rule. Forward-pointing mammary gland tissue and conspicuously large nipples round off the appearance.
Under clothing, the deformity appears with nodular, thickened tissue. The upper part of the breast tissue develops normally in most cases. Doctors differentiate between four different degrees of breast deformity.
- Grade I: With an average breast size, only a single quadrant in the lower breast tissue is underdeveloped.
- Grade II manifests itself in the form of underdevelopment of all lower quadrants with an underbust crease and relatively small breasts.
- Grade III: The underdevelopment of the lower breast tissue is associated with breast reduction and maldevelopment of the skin, so that the nipples point downwards.
- Grade IV tubular breasts are characterized by underdevelopment up to the upper quadrants and can progress to the complete absence of breast tissue.
Not all patients have suffered from tubular breasts since puberty with clearly visible consequences. In some cases, the deformity only becomes apparent during or after pregnancy.
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Tubular breasts are caused by genes. In this case, the tubular shape of the breast tissue is congenital and develops during the embryonic phase. During this phase, the upper parts of the breast grow more than the lower parts. Malformations of the glandular ducts develop. Instead of growing into their surroundings, the ducts remain behind the areolas and do not lengthen any further.
In most cases, the congenital malformation only becomes apparent when the breast reaches maturity during puberty. It is precisely during this sensitive phase that the deformity affects the psyche of those affected. As the breast increases in size, the areola can no longer support the weight of the glandular body. For this reason, the breast falls forward through the connective tissue structures. This results in the typical tubular appearance.
If the breasts of those affected only gain an insignificant amount of weight during puberty, the tubular breast only manifests itself later despite the congenital malposition. In this case, the time of manifestation may be during or after pregnancy, for example. Many patients experience problems when breastfeeding and only become aware of the malformation as a result.
There are no conservative methods for treating tubular breasts. Due to the genetic basis, care products or strengthening exercises are not a treatment option.
Visually, the shape of tubular breasts can be concealed with support and push-up bras. Minor manifestations of the deformity do not necessarily lead to psychological problems. Nonetheless, plastic surgery to correct the shape of the breast makes sense in cases of psychological complaints.
As soon as patients are no longer ashamed to exercise or swim, surgical corrections are a relief for them. The same applies to patients whose sex life suffers as a result of the deformity.
The choice of correction option depends on the degree of severity. If the deformity is severe, surgery alone is often not enough. Reconstructive measures consisting of combined procedures are used for severe deformities. For less severe cases, breast augmentation alone improves the overall appearance. In this context, silicone implants and autologous fat are available. If the glandular tissue has been severely affected by the deformity, a glandular correction is performed in addition to breast augmentation. Plastic surgeons also correct the areolas or perform breast lifts during the operation.
The cost of a breast augmentation is between 4500 and 7000 euros, depending on the material and surgical procedure. If the doctor also corrects the glands and areolas or tightens the skin, the prices are higher. Health insurance companies cover the costs of the operation in the case of serious trunk breast anomalies with demonstrable psychological stress. In all other cases, plastic surgery is a self-pay service.
