Tuberous breast deformity
Encyclopedia
Tuberous breasts are a result of a congenital breast deformity
or abnormality which can occur in both men and women (also see Hypoplasia
). During puberty
breast development is stymied and the breasts fail to develop normally and fully. The exact cause of this is as yet unclear. The condition is thought to affect one to five per cent of breast augmentation patients.
, unusually wide spacing between the breasts, minimal breast tissue
, sagging, higher than normal breast fold, and narrow base at the chest wall
. The condition can affect the ability of women to breastfeed as in some cases the breasts, including the milk glands, have not developed enough to produce breast milk
. However other physical aspects of fertility and pregnancy are not affected by the condition.
method and breast implants.
The procedure to correct the appearance of tuberous breasts can be more complicated than a regular breast augmentation, and some plastic surgeons
have specialist training in tuberous breast correction. As tuberous breasts are a congenital deformity
, referral for treatment under the National Health Service
may be possible in the United Kingdom
. A starting point for those seeking such a referral may be a visit to their local General Practitioner
. For those seeking non-surgical solutions, counseling may be recommended as a way of coming to terms with body image
.
Deformity
A deformity, dysmorphism, or dysmorphic feature is a major difference in the shape of body part or organ compared to the average shape of that part.Deformity may arise from numerous causes:*A Genetic mutation*Damage to the fetus or uterus...
or abnormality which can occur in both men and women (also see Hypoplasia
Hypoplasia
Hypoplasia is underdevelopment or incomplete development of a tissue or organ. Although the term is not always used precisely, it properly refers to an inadequate or below-normal number of cells. Hypoplasia is similar to aplasia, but less severe. It is technically not the opposite of hyperplasia...
). During puberty
Puberty
Puberty is the process of physical changes by which a child's body matures into an adult body capable of reproduction, as initiated by hormonal signals from the brain to the gonads; the ovaries in a girl, the testes in a boy...
breast development is stymied and the breasts fail to develop normally and fully. The exact cause of this is as yet unclear. The condition is thought to affect one to five per cent of breast augmentation patients.
Physical effects
Tuberous breasts are not simply small or underdeveloped breasts. The effect of the deformity on the appearance of the breast can range from mild to severe, and typical characteristics include: enlarged, puffy areolaAreola
This article is about the breast tissue. For the entomology term, see the glossary of Lepidopteran terms. For an artistic cloud motif, see aureola. For the cactus feature, see Areole....
, unusually wide spacing between the breasts, minimal breast tissue
Breast
The breast is the upper ventral region of the torso of a primate, in left and right sides, which in a female contains the mammary gland that secretes milk used to feed infants.Both men and women develop breasts from the same embryological tissues...
, sagging, higher than normal breast fold, and narrow base at the chest wall
Thoracic cavity
The thoracic cavity is the chamber of the human body that is protected by the thoracic wall ....
. The condition can affect the ability of women to breastfeed as in some cases the breasts, including the milk glands, have not developed enough to produce breast milk
Breast milk
Breast milk, more specifically human milk, is the milk produced by the breasts of a human female for her infant offspring...
. However other physical aspects of fertility and pregnancy are not affected by the condition.
Treatment
The appearance of tuberous breasts can potentially be treated through surgical procedures, including the tissue expansionTissue expansion
Tissue expansion is a technique used by plastic and restorative surgeons to cause the body to grow additional skin, bone or other tissues.-Skin expansion:...
method and breast implants.
The procedure to correct the appearance of tuberous breasts can be more complicated than a regular breast augmentation, and some plastic surgeons
Plastic surgery
Plastic surgery is a medical specialty concerned with the correction or restoration of form and function. Though cosmetic or aesthetic surgery is the best-known kind of plastic surgery, most plastic surgery is not cosmetic: plastic surgery includes many types of reconstructive surgery, hand...
have specialist training in tuberous breast correction. As tuberous breasts are a congenital deformity
Congenital disorder
A congenital disorder, or congenital disease, is a condition existing at birth and often before birth, or that develops during the first month of life , regardless of causation...
, referral for treatment under the National Health Service
National Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
may be possible in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. A starting point for those seeking such a referral may be a visit to their local General Practitioner
General practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
. For those seeking non-surgical solutions, counseling may be recommended as a way of coming to terms with body image
Body image
Body image refers to a person's perception of the aesthetics and sexual attractiveness of their own body. The phrase body image was first coined by the Austrian neurologist and psychoanalyst Paul Schilder in his masterpiece The Image and Appearance of the Human Body...
.