Tired of hearing about the breast??? This week I want to talk about the less than perfect breast that some women develop. I know many of you women are tired of hearing about the perfect breast that is just a little small and can be made better by implants. What about the breast, due to genetics, or abnormal development, cannot be helped by implants alone?? Let's talk about that today to give you a break! However, I don't want you to forget about our breast enhancement special...it only lasts until April 30 so you have to act quickly. Click the button below to get the details!!
Let's see how the breast develops normally, then we'll have a better appreciation for how these deformities can occur. Then we will cover how we fix them to make the breast look more normal. The normal breast is stimulated to form by female hormones that begin production at menarche or the start of menstruation. The picture below shows the normal progression of the breast as it grows from a bud that men AND women have. Again, it is the female hormonal soup that causes them to form.
Of course it is very rare for both breast to form exactly the same. Perfect symmetry in the body is rare, so each breast is different, even in the same person. This is why some women have difficulty finding a properly fitting bra. There may be a half cup difference between sides.....this is not abnormal....just aggravating! Here is a picture of different breast shapes and sizes. This does not include all types of course, but it gives you an idea of how many variations of normal there are and also includes some of the abnormal breast shapes.
(the "perfect" breast shape is a misnomer of course)
As you can see from the first picture, the breast bud starts first and develops concentrically, widening to form the breast mound. If this concentric expansion is retarded, the breast forms as a tube, making the very constricted and abnormal looking. The function of the breast is also retarded and in most cases, breast feeding later in life is not possible.
This picture is a depiction of tubular breasts of different severities. It is the mound of the breast that is constricted and does not spread out, therefore, the tubular shape of the breast.
The other feature of the tubular breast deformity is a herniation of the nipple. Normally, as the nipple and areola develop, they are "puffy". The nipple is puffy until the breast mound spreads out. As this happens, the nipple-areolar complex flattens to create the more "normal" appearing breast as a whole.
Herniated "puffy" nipple.
So now that we know what a tubular breast deformity is.....what can be done about it? To fix this problem properly, we must address several issues. First, is the nipple herniation. Fortunately, fixing the nipple also gives us access to the rest of the problem and allows the entire fix to be done through one incision. We use the peri-areolar incision to make the nipple smaller and to allow access to the tubular, constricted, breast tissue below.
This incision allows us to reduce the nipple size and when closed it flattens the nipple and areola into a more normal appearance. The constricted breast is broken up below so that it is no longer in a tube shape and lays flatter.
The last step is augmentation. Since the breast only formed centrally, there is generally very little volume. This can only be corrected by adding volume with an implant. We place the implant below the muscle and through the same incision. Saline implants or silicone implants are used as there is no difference in the result...again...it is personal preference.
The results are generally very good. It does take some time for the skin to stretch and accomidate the new volume. There also may be some creasing of the skin, usually the lower part of the breast, due to its tight adherence to the chest wall, that may take some time to stretch. This skin may never stretch fully. The goal is to get as near a normal appearing breast as possible. This is not always achievable but any improvement is usually greatly appreciated. The incisions heal nicely and the recovery time is about that of a breast augmentation.
Good representation of tubular breast deformity repair.
Come see us today for all of your Cosmetic surgery, Vein surgery, Obesity surgery, and General surgery needs. All Cosmetic Surgery Consults are complimentary, call 918-786-7780 or call toll free 1-877-weight0. Be sure to take advantage of our breast augmentation special through April 30!!!!!