Tuberous breasts

Abstract: Since the original descriptions by Gonzales-Ulloa in 1960 and Regnault in 1966, breast augmentation in combination with mastopexy has remained a difficult, and often polarizing, topic in plastic surgery, not only because of its results but also because of its litany of potential complications. Over the past few years, there has been an increase in the discussion of one-stage augmentation combined with mastopexy throughout the literature. However, a critical analysis of the aesthetic results, as well as patient satisfaction with the procedure, continues to be absent. Because there have not been any reported studies on the aesthetic results or patient satisfaction with augmentation and mastopexy, we undertook this retrospective review in an attempt answer a fundamental question: is one-stage breast augmentation combined with mastopexy aesthetically and functionally worthwhile for both the physician and patient? All 34 patients reviewed for this retrospective study underwent bilateral, one-stage breast augmentation and mastopexy between April 1996 and December 2002. Patient charts were reviewed for a number of parameters including previous breast surgery, degree of preoperative ptosis, type of mastopexy used, size and type of implants placed, implant position, postoperative complications, and any revision surgeries performed. Patient photographs were evaluated by observers blinded to the study, and patients were asked to complete a satisfaction questionnaire. Ptosis was graded according to the Regnault classification. As a result, 14 women had grade 1 ptosis (41%), fourteen had grade 2 ptosis (41%), one had grade 3 ptosis (3%), two had pseudoptosis (6%), and two had tuberous breasts (6%). The grade of ptosis in one patient was not defined. The patient complication rate was 8.8% (3 patients). For the aesthetic rating scale, preoperative and postoperative photographs taken after more than 1 year were evaluated. On the scale of 1 (poor) to 4 (excellent), overall ptosis correction was rated as 3.4, asymmetry correction as 3.4, postoperative breast symmetry as 3.2, scar quality as 3.3, breast shape as 3.1, nipple/areola size as 2.9, and overall result as 3. Only 13 of the 34 patients were available for completion of the satisfaction survey. Evaluation of the 13 patient satisfaction surveys showed that, on the average, the patients were satisfied with the various aspects of their surgery. The average overall result and surgical goals both were 3.1. However, 54% of the patients (n = 7) desired revision surgery for various reasons, the most common being a desire for more breast lift. A review of the patients and results, brought a number of issues to light. First, aesthetic results for augmentation and mastopexy truly depend on a number of different factors that must work in harmony to yield an excellent result. Second, what is aesthetically pleasing to the surgeon may not be pleasing to the patient, and vice versa. Third, although the patient aesthetic results were good, they were not consistently rated as excellent, nor were the patients totally satisfied with their outcomes. This perhaps reflects the more complex nature of both the patient's problems and the surgical procedure itself. Finally, although the overall results of one-stage breast augmentation and mastopexy are good, and the patients generally are satisfied, this study raises the question whether staging the surgery by performing the mastopexy first may not yield significantly better results than the combined simultaneous procedure.

Abstract: The tuberous breast deformity is a rare entity affecting teenage women unilaterally or bilaterally. There is a deficiency in the vertical and/or horizontal dimensions of the breast, usually underdevelopment of the breast, and often herniation of breast tissue into the areola with expansion of the areola. At the level of the periphery of the nipple–areola complex is a constricting fibrous ring that inhibits the normal development of the breast. This constricting ring of fibrous tissue is denser at the lower part of the breast and does not allow the developing breast parenchyma to expand during puberty. The author transects the constricting ring at the 6 o’clock semi-axis of the breast, thus creating two pillars in the inferior part of the breast. The pillars are then either loosely reapproximated using absorbable sutures or folded over each other in the fashion of a double-breasted jacket to add volume in the inferior portion of the breast, with the optional addition of a breast implant underneath the breast or the pectoralis major muscle to correct any volume deficiency.

Abstract: Summary Background The tuberous breast presents a problem for which many surgical solutions have been described. Current teaching describes how the tuberous breast deformity is the result of skin shortage as well as herniation of breast tissue through the nipple–areola complex. However, through careful clinical observation we now believe that the only abnormality present is herniation of breast tissue through the nipple–areola complex. Methods Using this principle, we have refined a one-stage surgical procedure that can be used to correct any type of tuberous breast deformity. Since 2001 we have performed our technique on a series of 13 tuberous breasts of widely varying appearances in eight patients (age 17–24 years) with a follow up varying between 3 and 56 months. Our new understanding of the tuberous breast deformity has also made it possible to develop an objective, reproducible method for defining the tuberous breast based on the degree of areola herniation. Results All patients reported high levels of satisfaction with the procedure. Assessment of the results by an independent panel of attending surgeons showed all results to be good/excellent. Moreover, the results have improved with time and no revisions have been needed. Our method of defining the tuberous breast (based on the ratio of areola herniation:areola diameter) enabled us to identify a cut-off to decide (objectively) when a breast was tuberous. This allowed us to anticipate when an areola reduction/tightening procedure would be necessary to avoid a ‘double-bubble' deformity. Conclusion We propose a one-stage surgical procedure which is applicable to all degrees of tuberous breast deformity. The results appear to confirm our theory that the only abnormality present in the tuberous breast is herniation of breast tissue through the nipple–areola complex. In patients with small breasts and a tuberous deformity, correction of the herniation changes the tuberous breast into a simple hypoplastic breast. The volume deficit can then be corrected by augmentation (if desired by the patient). In patients with sufficient breast volume, correction of the herniation alone will correct the deformity.

Abstract: The tuberous breast deformity is a rare entity affecting young women bilaterally or unilaterally. The deformity is characterized by a constricting ring at the base of the breast, which leads to deficient horizontal and vertical development of the breast with or without herniation of the breast parenchyma toward the nipple-areola complex and areola enlargement. Several methods have been put forward to correct the deformity, but most of these fail to address the issue of the constricting ring and subsequently yield results that are not aesthetically satisfactory. A new approach to the treatment of the deformity is presented, which consists of a periareolar approach and rearrangement of the inferior part of the breast parenchyma by division of the constricting ring, thus creating two breast pillars. These pillars are allowed to redrape, and in cases of volume deficiency, a silicone breast implant is placed in a subglandular pocket. The procedure is completed by a donut-type excision to address the size of the nipple-areola complex. The technique has used on 11 patients (21 breasts) with excellent aesthetic results. (Plast. Reconstr.