Tuberous Breast Correction Surgery Cost and Procedure Guide

Tuberous breasts are a condition that appears during puberty, when many of us are already navigating changes in our bodies and struggling with self-image. Although it isn't harmful to your physical health, it can affect your physical appearance and self-confidence.¹

If you’re not comfortable with your appearance, tuberous breast correction surgery can be tailored to your goals to help you achieve balanced, natural-looking proportions and improve your confidence.²

What Are Tuberous Breasts?

Tuberous breasts are a condition affecting the connective tissue of the breasts. The abnormal tissue prevents the breasts from developing completely during puberty and results in a conical downward-sloping shape.¹ It can affect one or both breasts.² Why it happens isn’t entirely understood, but it’s thought to be due to a hormone imbalance during puberty or genetic changes before birth.¹

Tuberous breasts are often tubular, oval or triangular rather than round.¹

Some other characteristics include:²

• Breasts that are larger on top than on the bottom
• Breasts that are two different sizes
• Drooping breasts
• Gap larger than 1.5 inches between the breasts¹
• Large or puffy areola
• Narrow breasts
• Nipples that droop or point downwards
• Not enough fullness under the areola

Tuberous breasts can harm self-esteem and make you feel self-conscious. It can also affect the way you look and feel in certain clothing. But tuberous breasts aren’t just about an abnormal appearance; the constricted tissue can prevent the mammary glands from being able to swell, affecting a woman’s ability to breastfeed. Tuberous breast correction may help.³

What Is Tuberous Breast Correction?

Tuberous breast correction is reconstructive surgery to improve the shape and symmetry of the breasts. Since the degree of the condition can vary significantly from person to person, there isn’t one single tuberous breast correction surgery. Rather, a combination of breast procedures is often used to help patients achieve their aesthetic goals.¹

Types of Tuberous Breast Correction Procedures

Below are the procedures commonly used for tuberous breast correction. One or more of these may be recommended to improve the shape, size and position of your breasts. Your surgeon will tailor your treatment to your anatomy to help you achieve your goals.

• Areola reduction. This procedure may be used to adjust the size of a large or puffy areola — the darker skin around your nipple — so that it's more proportionate to your new breast size and shape.¹
• Breast augmentation using breast implants. This treatment can add volume to the lower part of the breast, give the breast a rounder shape and improve symmetry. If needed, a tissue expander may be used first to gradually stretch the constricted tissue before placing the breast implant. This is placed in the breast and slowly filled with saline every two to four weeks and replaced with the implant during augmentation surgery.¹
• Breast lift. This may be performed to lift the breasts if you have sagging. A breast lift typically happens alongside breast augmentation and after the use of a tissue expander, if needed.³
• Breast reduction surgery. This may be used to correct asymmetry by reducing the size of the larger breast to match the smaller one.⁴
• Fat transfer breast augmentation. This procedure may be done on its own or with breast implants to add volume and symmetry to tubular breasts. Rather than implants, this procedure uses your own fat to add volume to the breasts.¹

Candidates for Tuberous Breast Correction

If your breasts are impacting your self-confidence or you’re worried about not being able to breastfeed because of your condition, you may be a candidate for a tuberous breast correction procedure. Ideally, should also be a nonsmoker, healthy and have realistic expectations about the procedure and results.³

How Much Does Tuberous Breast Correction Surgery Cost?

The cost of tuberous breast correction varies significantly, depending on the procedures needed to achieve the best results, where you live and other factors.⁶ For example, an areola reduction has a national average cost range* of $1,871 to $4,677.⁶ A breast augmentation, however, has a much higher average cost range* of $4,667 to $11,186.⁶

Average cost of tuberous breast correction by procedure type

Here are the average costs* and cost ranges of the different procedures used for tuberous breast correction.⁶

Factors that impact the overall cost

Along with the types of procedures performed, other factors that will influence the total cost of tuberous breast correction include:⁵

• Anesthesia type
• Complexity of your procedures
• Follow-up appointments
• Number of additional treatments or revisions
• Postoperative supplies, such as dressings and garments
• Prescriptions
• Surgeon’s geographic location and experience

Is Tuberous Breast Correction Covered by Insurance?

Even though tuberous breast deformity is a diagnosable condition, the procedures used to correct it are typically considered cosmetic and not usually covered by insurance. That said, there can be exceptions if surgery is deemed medically necessary.⁷

It’s best to check with your insurance provider to learn about your coverage.

How Does Each Procedure Work?

Let’s take a closer look at different procedures that can be used to correct tuberous breasts and how they work.

Areola reduction

Areola reduction is used to reduce the size and improve the shape of the areola.⁸

To achieve this, the surgeon creates two donut-shaped incisions around the areola. The skin between the rings is removed. The gap is then closed by pulling the two rings together using a layered suturing technique around the border of the areola to minimize scarring.⁸

Breast augmentation (using breast implants)

The procedure involves inserting the breast implant either through an incision around the areola or under the breast in the breast fold.⁹

In some cases, a tissue expander may be used first to gradually stretch the constricted tissue before placing the breast implant. The tissue expander is placed in the breast and slowly filled with saline every two to four weeks in the office. The expander is then replaced with the implant during the augmentation surgery.¹

Breast lift

Different types of incision patterns can be used to perform a breast lift. The surgeon may make incisions around the areola or around the areola and extending to the crease of the breast.¹⁰

Once the incisions are made, the surgeon lifts and reshapes the breast tissue to improve the contour, removing any excess breast skin. Any remaining skin is then tightened once the incisions are closed.¹⁰

Breast reduction

If the decision is made to make the larger breast smaller, your surgeon will choose the best incision pattern for your goals and anatomy. This may be a “lollipop” incision, which is made around the areola and down to the crease, or a “keyhole” incision, which goes around the areola and down to and along the breast crease.¹¹

The excess breast tissue is then removed, and any remaining tissue is lifted and shaped to match the other breast. The incisions are sutured together using deep-layered sutures to help create and support the new shape.¹¹

Fat transfer breast augmentation

Fat transfer, also known as fat grafting, involves using liposuction to remove fat from another part of the body to inject into the breasts.¹ Fat may be removed from places with excess fat, such as your abdomen, love handles or thighs.²

The procedure begins by marking the sites where fat will be removed and injected.² Tiny incisions will be made to insert the liposuction cannula, which is used to loosen and remove the fat.¹ The fat is then placed in a centrifuge to process the fat for transfer and then injected into the breast in small amounts at a time.²

Not all the fat cells transferred will survive, so more than one procedure may be needed to get the desired results.¹

Preparing for Tuberous Breast Correction

A consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon with experience treating tuberous breast deformity is key to the best outcome.

During the consultation, the surgeon will examine your breasts to determine the procedures needed to achieve your treatment goals. They will also discuss your medical history to ensure you’re a good candidate for surgery.¹

Preparation

Your surgeon will provide you with specific preparation instructions to follow ahead of your procedures. Following these is important for your safety and recovery.

To prepare, you may be asked to do the following in the days and weeks leading up to your breast procedure:¹²

• Adjust your current medications.
• Avoid taking blood-thinning medications and supplements, including aspirin and anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Find someone to drive you to and from surgery and to stay with you for at least the first night after surgery.
• Refrain from taking recreational drugs.
• Start certain medications.
• Stop smoking.

Possible Side Effects and Complications

Like all surgical procedures, tuberous breast correction can lead to certain side effects and complications. These may include:¹³

• Being unhappy with your results
• Bleeding
• Implant complications, such as rippling, scar tissue or rupture
• Infection
• Reaction to anesthesia
• Scarring

Recovery Timing and Tips

Recovery can vary depending on the type and amount of procedures you have had. Your surgeon will tell you what to expect and provide you with aftercare instructions, such as how to care for your incisions.

Breast procedures usually require at least a week off work and avoiding exercise and other activities for three or four weeks.¹⁴

Depending on which procedures you’ve had, you may also:

• Have thin drainage tubes to remove excess blood and fluid from your incisions¹⁵
• Need to wear a special surgical bra or sports bra for four to eight weeks¹⁴
• Use oral or topical medications to prevent infection and promote healing¹⁵

Bruising and swelling is typical and will gradually subside over two to three months. While you’ll be able to see a difference in your breasts right away, it may take as long as a year to see the final result.¹⁴

A Tailored Solution for Tuberous Breasts

Tuberous breast correction surgery often involves multiple procedures tailored to your specific goals. This approach helps you achieve results that are right for you and can help you regain your confidence.

If you’re ready to take the first step in correcting your tuberous breasts, book a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon who understands the intricacies of the condition. They can determine which procedures are best suited to your anatomy and walk you through the options.

Frequently Asked Questions About Tuberous Breast Correction

Do you still have questions about tuberous breast correction? Here are answers to some frequently asked questions.

Financing Tuberous Breast Correction With the CareCredit Credit Card

Ready to revitalize your appearance and boost your confidence? The CareCredit credit card makes it easy to pay for tuberous breast correction and related expenses not covered by health insurance.** Use our Acceptance Locator to find a doctor or cosmetic surgeon near you that accepts CareCredit so you can stop dreaming and start living your best life. Continue your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your CareCredit account, find a provider on the go and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos.

In addition to cosmetic procedures, you can also use your CareCredit credit card for dentistry, pet care, vision, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases, spa treatments and so much more within the CareCredit network. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?

Author Bio

Adrienne Santos-Longhurst is a writer who has been covering health and lifestyle for almost two decades. Her work has appeared in Healthline, Insider, Medical News Today and more.