Tubular Breast (Tuberous Breast) Surgery

Tubular breast (tube breast) is a deformity resulting from breast development not being completed properly, in which the breast base is narrow, the nipple area is wider than normal, the inframammary fold is higher than the level where it should be, and the breast loses its normal teardrop or conical shape and takes on the shape of a tube or pipe. It may be one-sided or it may occur in both breasts. Indeed, with both breasts affected to different degrees, tubular breast and breast asymmetry may be present at the same time. Because of the resemblance in shape, it is also known colloquially as “goat breast”.

On examination the breasts look as if they have been constricted at the base by a band. Since the distance between breasts with a narrowed base also appears greater than it should be, the breasts give the impression of being very far apart from each other. The nipple, which should be at the apex of a narrowing cone, is located at the end of the breast that extends like a cylinder, and is wider than normal. Since there is generally also volume loss in these breasts, the breasts are small. Although there is no functional loss in young girls, the existing deformity (especially if asymmetry also accompanies it) can create serious cosmetic and psychological distress.