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Tuberous Breast Correction Houston

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Houston Tuberous Breast Correction at Lift Plastic Surgery

Within just a few short years, puberty dramatically changes a female’s body. During this time, some young women notice that their breasts look more cone-shaped than their peers’ breasts do. These young women may have tuberous breast disorder (TBD). Tuberous breast disorder is a congenital (i.e., inherited) condition with symptoms ranging from mild to severe.

Tuberous Breast Disorder in Houston Becomes Evident During Puberty

For most, adolescence is a trying time. Teens tend to have insecurities about even the smallest flaw in their appearance. As puberty progresses, teens commonly compare the physical changes occurring in themselves to the changes they see in their peers. When a visible, less-appealing difference becomes evident, the teen may experience a drop in her self-esteem. One such change includes the visible breast characteristics resulting from tuberous breast disorder.

Recognizing Tuberous Breast Disorder in Houston

Females with TBD have at least one uneven, irregularly shaped breast. The variances in the amount of skin and tissue throughout the breasts are what cause them to be asymmetrical.

The signs of TBD include the:

  • Nipple-areolar complex is larger than usual (i.e., areola hypertrophy).
  • Breasts sit further apart from one another than usual, causing there to be a gap between them.
  • Nipples themselves may be large or protrude outward.
  • Breasts lack fullness.
  • Conical breasts (i.e., cone-shaped breasts) are larger at their bases than they are at their nipple-areolar complexes. TBD can also cause the breasts to be elongated (i.e., narrow). An elongated breast is a breast that is the same shape from the inframammary crease at the base of the breast all the way to the nipple-areolar complexes.
  • Breasts are droopy.
  • Nipple points downward (falling close to the inframammary crease).
  • Breasts look small, as if they are still in the developmental phase.

Tuberous breast disorder can affect one breast or both breasts.

Here are some of the other names that people use when referring to tuberous breasts:

  • Domen nipple.
  • Conical breasts.
  • Snoopy breasts.
  • Breast hypoplasia.
  • Insufficient glandular tissue (IGT).
  • Narrow-based breast.
  • Tuberal breasts.
  • Lower pole hypoplasia.
  • Herniated areolar complex.
  • Constricted breasts.
  • Herniated areolae.
  • Tuberous breast deformity.

Tuberous Breast Disorder Causes the Breasts to Develop Incorrectly

When a female child inherits the gene responsible for tuberous breast disorder, once she reaches puberty, her breasts are unable to develop correctly.

How tubular breast disorder impedes breast development:

  • Thin fascia (i.e., connective tissue) around the nipple-areolar complex. The lack of connective tissue support allows breast tissue to break through into the nipple-areolar complex, causing the complex to become enlarged, puffy and look as if it is surrounding the breast tissue.
  • Restrictions at the base of the breast in conjunction with a high inframammary crease and an abnormally short distance between the nipple-areolar complex and the inframammary crease impede the ability of the breast tissue to grow correctly. Instead, the breast tissue becomes distorted, resulting in the development of breasts that are tubular and elongated.

Tuberous Breast Disorder Can Negatively Affect Everyday Life

Young women with TBD frequently feel anxious and suffer with depression. They are hesitant to shower and change clothes in front of their peers (e.g., during gym class, while swimming at a pool). Furthermore, since manufacturers create clothing and undergarments to fit women with rounder breasts, those with tuberous breast disorder may have difficulty finding clothes that fit properly and feel comfortable.

As Time Passes, the Characteristics of TBD May Become More Visible

As time passes, some women with TBD find that the characteristics of the disorder become more prominent. These women notice that the characteristics associated with tuberous breast disorder become more visible following pregnancy and after weight changes. Not all women with TBD have the ability to breastfeed, but for the women who do, sometimes the signs of tuberous breast disorder are more visible after breastfeeding.

Tuberous Breast Correction is Available in Houston

It is rare for a young woman with TBD to seek medical advice early on because most are too embarrassed to do so. In addition, there are many women with tuberous breast disorder who are unaware that there are ways to address the visual characteristics this genetic disorder causes. At Lift Plastic Surgery, Dr. Patel corrects TBD with structural fat grafting and breast lifts. In addition, they increase the size of their patients’ breasts with breast implant surgery and autologous fat grafting procedures.

Determining TBD Severity in Houston

The Houston board-certified plastic surgeon at Lift Plastic Surgery, Dr. Shitel Patel, addresses a woman’s TBD with structural fat grafting, a procedure similar to a breast lift or breast implant surgery.

When making a treatment recommendation for a patient, Dr. Patel takes the characteristics of the patient’s TBD into consideration. These characteristics help the surgeons determine the severity of the patient’s disorder. The table below gives an overview of the characteristics that the surgeons may use when determining TBD severity.

Tuberous Breast Disorder Classifications

Type

I

II

III

Base Minor constriction Moderate constriction Severe constriction
Ptosis Mild, moderate or severe None or mild Mild to moderate
Breast Volume No deficiency, a minimal amount of deficiency or hypertrophy Moderate deficiency Severe deficiency
Areola Enlargement Mild, moderate or no herniation Severe herniation
Skin Envelope Sufficient Inferior sufficiency Global insufficiency
Inframammary Fold Minor elevation medically, but normal laterally Lateral and medial elevation The absence or elevation of the entire inframammary fold

Anesthesia

During each procedure that the surgeon uses to address TBD, the patient receives general anesthesia or twilight sedation.

An Overview: Addressing the Different Levels of TBD

Patients who have a milder form of TBD usually only require a single surgical session. However, patients with moderate to severe tuberous breast disorder frequently need to have several procedures to achieve the results they desire.

Addressing a Mild Form of TBD in Houston

  1. During this surgical procedure, the surgeon moves the patient’s crease to a lower area on her breast before releasing the constricted breast tissue at its base.
  2. To release this constricted tissue, the surgeon scores the patient’s internal breast tissue. During this same procedure session, the surgeon can increase the size of the patient’s breast with an implant. This breast implant may be silicone or saline, smooth or textured and round or anatomically shaped. The surgeon and the patient discuss each of these implant characteristic options, as well as implant placement during one of her pre-surgical appointments at Lift Plastic Surgery in Houston.
  3. If the patient’s nipple-areolar complexes are overstretched, the surgeon can reduce their size. This ensures they look natural and are proportionate with the patient’s current breast size or her newly enlarged breasts.

Addressing Moderate to Severe TBD in Houston

The ideal procedure for moderate to severe TBD is a breast lift. The incision for the breast lift can be the donut, anchor or lollipop incision.

Breast lift incision specifics:

  • The donut incision just encircles the patient’s nipple-areolar complex.
  • The anchor incision encircles the nipple-areolar complex and then continues down the breast until it reaches the inframammary crease at its base. Once it reaches the base of the breast, the surgeon creates an incision along the inframammary crease.
  • The lollipop incision encircles the nipple-areolar complex and then continues down the breast until it reaches the inframammary crease at its base.

While performing a TBD correction breast lift, if the patient wants larger breasts her surgeon may also be able to accomplish this with breast implants.

TBD Correction Surgery without Breast Implants

  1. This procedure usually involves the surgeon elevating the skin of the breast by creating an anchor incision. This incision encircles the nipple-areolar complex, continues down the breast vertically and along a section of the inframammary crease located at the base of the breast.
  2. After creating the incision, the surgeon reshapes and repositions the breast mound.
  3. The surgeon redrapes the skin over the breast mound and closes the incisions using skin adhesive, sutures or surgical tape.

What to Expect During Recovery for Tuberous Breast Disorder Correction Surgery Using a Breast Lift with or without Breast Implants

Patients may have drains following their breast lift with implants TBD correction procedure. These drains remove excess fluid to decrease swelling. Patients return to Lift Plastic Surgery to have these drains removed several days after surgery.

As long as patients follow their surgeon’s instructions, their recovery should be rather quick and uneventful.

The surgeon usually releases the patient to drive three days after her procedure.

Patients must refrain from exercising for at least four weeks, but up to six weeks after their procedure.

The patient receives a compression garment, which provides support and keeps inflammation down.

Scars begin fading within three months of the procedure.

To prevent complications, patients should not immerse themselves in any type of water for at least four weeks after their tuberous breast disorder correction surgery.

Some Patients will Need to Return to Have a Second Procedure to Increase the Size of Their Breasts

Patients who decide they would like to increase the size of their breasts with breast implants or autologous fat grafting may need to return for a second procedure.

Tissue Expansion for Tuberous Breast Correction in Houston

Patients with small breasts who would like to increase the size of their breasts with implants may need to expand their breast tissue before they have surgery. Once the tissue expands, the patient’s breast lift with an augmentation is scheduled.

Addressing Tuberous Breast Disorder in Houston with Structural Fat Grafting

Due to his experience and artistic vision, Dr. Patel can reshape and add volume to a patient’s breasts using her own harvested fat.

The surgeon uses liposuction to remove the patient’s fat from areas of her body that are resistant to exercise and diet.

Areas frequently used for fat harvesting include:

  • Inner thighs.
  • Outer thighs.
  • Abdomen.
  • Love handles.
  • Knees.
  • Flanks.
  • Flanks.
  • Arms.

TBD Correction Using Structural Fat Grafting in Houston

Patients receive anesthesia during their structural fat grafting procedure to address TBD. For this reason, a driver must arrive with the patient on the day of her procedure.

While the patient is in the pre-op area, her surgeon uses surgical pens of various colors to make markings on the sites where fat is to be harvested. Of course, the patient always has the final say on where their fat is harvested from; therefore, patients should feel free to speak about this with their surgeon.

Procedure Steps for Structural Fat Grafting to Correct TBD

  1. The patient receives anesthesia, which puts her to sleep.
  2. The surgeon creates small incisions in the fat harvesting areas.
  3. Before the liposuction portion of the procedure begins, the surgeon injects a special tumescent fluid into the site for harvesting. This fluid loosens the fat and reduces bleeding. Using a hollow tube that is attached to a vacuum-like device, the surgeon removes the fat via suction. The fat collects in a container attached to the vacuum.
  4. Once the surgeon harvests enough fat, the liposuction incisions are closed using skin adhesive, sutures or surgical tape.
  5. Next, the surgeon refines and concentrates the fat using a process referred to as centrifugation. The centrifugation process separates the fat from unwanted components, including water, oil and blood.
  6. After collecting the strongest fat cells, the surgeon prepares them for injection.
  7. Once the fat preparation is complete, the surgeon begins strategically injecting the patient’s purified fat. The surgeon’s injections target the areas in the lower portion of the breast that will cause the nipple-areolar complex to shrink while expanding the outer portion of the patient’s breast.

It is common for some of the injected fat cells to expire following injection; therefore, surgeons usually inject more fat than is necessary to meet the patient’s goals. Nonetheless, once the weakest fat cells expire, the patient’s results should meet her pre-surgical goals.

Since the surgeon corrects the patient’s breasts with her own fat, these breast correction results are typically permanent. Furthermore, the patient’s breasts will react naturally to her body changes (e.g., pregnancy, weight gain, weight loss).

What to Expect While Recovering from TBD Correction with Structural Fat Grafting

After surgery, patients are usually released to their driver within two hours’ time. The full recovery following TBD correction surgery is typically about eight weeks. Patients should expect to experience mild to moderate discomfort for the first 48 hours after their TBD surgery. The post-surgical follow-up visit is usually within three to five days of the procedure.

Structural Fat Grafting to Address TBD, Who is a Good Candidate?

A woman with tuberous breast disorder who has areas where the surgeon can harvest fat may be a good candidate for a fat grafting procedure. To determine if a woman is a good candidate for TBD correction with structural fat grafting, she needs to schedule an appointment with one of the board-certified, experienced plastic surgeons at Lift Plastic Surgery.

The Importance of Choosing an Experienced Plastic Surgeon to Perform Structural Fat Grafting

Choosing a surgeon who is experienced with performing TBD correction is vital because if the surgeon administers the patient’s fat incorrectly, the patient may end up with a more prominent areola.

The Benefits of Tuberous Breast Correction Surgery

Whether a patient has a fat grafting procedure or a breast lift to correct tuberous breast disorder, she receives a variety of benefits:

  • An improvement in the balance and symmetry of the patient’s breasts.
  • A more-centered nipple within the nipple-areolar complex.
  • If the patient desires, the surgeon may be able to increase the size of her breasts.
  • Rounder breasts.
  • A reduction in the projection of the nipple-areolar complex, which reduces puffiness.
  • She will be able to find clothing that fits her properly and more comfortably.
  • Once the patient recovers, she can expect to feel more confident about the way she looks.

An Initial Consultation for Tuberous Breast Correction Surgery in Houston

During this consultation, patients should let the surgeon know what concerns they have and why they would like to have TBD correction surgery.

The surgeon needs to collect several important pieces of information from the patient including:

  • Her detailed medical history, including whether she has any medication allergies, if she has previously experienced a negative reaction to anesthesia or if she is allergic to latex.
  • A current list of her medications, vitamins and herbal supplements.
  • Information about any familial history of breast cancer.
  • Results of recent mammograms or breast biopsies, if applicable.

The surgeon needs to examine the patient’s breasts during this appointment. This examination may include taking measurements and pictures of the patient’s breasts. The pictures remain within the patient’s medical record. However, the surgeon does use them while creating her personalized tubular breast-correction treatment plan. In addition, the surgeon may look at these photos with the patient for comparison purposes once she recovers from her TBD correction procedure.

During the consultation, the surgeon determines the severity of the patient’s TBD, which directly affects the correction procedure the surgeon recommends.

Preparing for TBD Correction Surgery in Houston

Before tuberous breast correction surgery at Lift Plastic Surgery, patients need to take some steps to make their recovery simpler and prevent complications.

To prepare for surgery:

  • Fill all prescription medications, including those provided by Dr. Patel at least two days before the procedure.
  • Stop taking medications that could cause complications for at least 10 days before surgery (e.g., aspirin, anti-inflammatory medications, blood thinners). Please keep in mind that patients taking prescription medications or recommended over-the-counter medications must receive approval from the prescribing/recommending physician before discontinuing it.
  • Ask someone to remain with them for at least 24 hours after their TBD surgery.
  • Stop using products that contain nicotine at least four weeks before and four weeks after surgery. Nicotine causes the blood vessels to constrict (tighten). This constriction makes it difficult for the blood to reach the surgical area, which negatively affects the natural healing process. Continuing to use products that contain nicotine put the patient at a greater risk for developing an infection as well as increasing her likelihood of experiencing necrosis (i.e., tissue death).
  • Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages for at least a week before and a week after surgery. Alcohol promotes inflammation.

Potential Risks of Tuberous Breast Disorder Correction Surgery

As with all procedures, there are potential risks associated with TBD correction surgery. Nonetheless, choosing an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon to perform any plastic surgery procedure reduces the likelihood of experiencing a complication.

Possible risks and complications include:

  • Bleeding.
  • An anesthesia reaction.
  • A hematoma.
  • Excessive bruising.
  • Infection.
  • Continued pain or soreness.
  • Nerve damage.
  • Visible scarring.
  • Undesirable changes in the breasts.
  • Changes in the sensations the patient experiences in the breast and nipple/areolar complex.
  • The need for additional surgery.

How Much Does a TBD Correction Procedure Cost?

To find out how much a procedure to correct tubular breasts costs, one of the surgeons at Lift Plastic Surgery needs to evaluate the potential patient.

The Lift Plastic Surgery Difference

Dr. Shitel Patel wants each patient to be excited about her upcoming tuberous breast disorder procedure. In addition, they want patients to feel comfortable with the surgeons as well as their medical staff. To accomplish this, the lines of communication are always open. Therefore, at Lift Plastic Surgery, patients should always feel free to ask questions.

If you are in or around Houston and you think you have tuberous breast disorder, contact Lift Plastic Surgery to schedule an initial consultation with one of our compassionate, board-certified, experienced plastic surgeons.

Questions? Book a Consultation Now.

Contact Houston / Webster, Texas Plastic Surgeon Shitel D. Patel, MD at Lift Plastic Surgery.

For more information on cosmetic procedures and treatments provided please schedule a consultation.

Serving patients in Houston Texas, Webster, League City, Pearland, Galveston, Kemah, Seabrook and all other surrounding Greater Houston, Texas communities and more.

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