Conditions
Tubular Breasts
Getting a bra that fits is enough of an ordeal as it is without being told that your boobs are a funny shape. Tubular breasts are in fact pretty common, though shouldn’t be confused with Tubular Bells – everyone’s favourite 1973 concept album. Tubular breasts are caused by a lack of development in the breast tissue during puberty which leads to the aesthetically bizarre malformation that can see breasts grow asymmetrically as well as been particularly droopy and unusually far apart. The term ‘tubular breast’ comes from the tube-like appearance that afflicted breasts may take. In contrast to the cone-shaped Madonna-style bosom that is deemed regular the base of a tuberous breast is very narrow with a long skin envelope. The malformation can affect one or both breasts and is only cosmetic in its irregularity, but can often cause low self esteem which could lead to other mental health related problems. The condition is most commonly corrected with a surgical procedure that typically involves either implants or tissue expansion. Breast surgery is a major operation which will take weeks to heal and goes with all the usual risks of major surgery, so no decisions should be gone into lightly.
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i think i might have them too.. my breasts have all the exact same symptoms that ye have been talking about.. they dont hang though they face out to the side.. i have always been really consious about this.. any past boyfriend have said they dont mind what i look like but i still couldnt show them.. i just want to be happy but surgery is not an option for me as im 19 and my parents wouldnt allow it..!!!
I have a problem with my breasts they could be tubular but not sure. The main problem is that they come out quite far so I hit them with my arms all the time so then I get pain. I can't get bras to fit, the fitters say either we can't help you or that's the best we can do. I went to the doctors and they didn't even look I'm only 26 and it has knocked my confidence. Is there anything anyone can suggest?
I'm 19 and have tubular breasts. I had one doctor who just said to get a custom made bra, but another was really nice and has tried all she could to get me referred for surgery. The NHS have been no help and have led me along for over 2 years making me think they'd offer surgery, only to be turned down because I kept asking them what was happening as they kept me in the dark. They said they would have never given me surgery anyway. All I can say if you're trying to get surgery through the NHS don't be too disheartened if they say no. I've been through it. They're ruining my life, I've got no confidence and boyfriends haven't helped. I should be getting private surgery this summer thankfully, I wish I knew what caused it.
I'm 18 and have tubular breast syndrome, this was diagnosed by a doctor when I was 13. I had no idea how to explain to the doctor why I was there and found it easiest just to show her - when she saw my breasts she let slip a "Oh" which really devestated me - if a doctor reacts like that they must be really disgusting. I left the appointment and went to see a different doctor who was much more professional and explained my condition, and offered to consider surgery as an option once I reaches 19 if they hadnt developed by then. This was always the plan and I thought I would never be satisfied until i'd had corrective surgery to make me 'normal'. But now i'm reconsidering this - I have a wonderful boyfriend and it's taken me months but today in my own time I decided to show him my boobs - the only person other than the doctors to see them. Over the years iv built them up in my mind to be such a big issue and they'v really held me back and stolen my confidence - but he genuinely loves them as a part of me. i'm so happy I decided to show him its a massive weight lifted. he says that most blokes dont like fake boobs anyway but says if surgery will make me happy have it done - but there is nothing 'wrong' with tubular breasts in his eyes
Im 28 suffered from this since puberty. I have 4 children and was unable to breast feed and humiliated in the fact that I couldnt. I wear two padded tops when I do go swimming so I dont look like the men. I wear two highly padded bras if I go to an occassion which is so painful. I was reffered to the hospital and saw my consultant last week he said its not a no and not a yes so went for medical photos today, i really doubt they will help me, but it frustrates me to see people that have a "breast shape" but get surgey, I have a nipple on my chest and get no where, There should be more funding for people with severe breast under development. My children ask me why my breasts are different and it breaks my heart.
i think i may also have tubular breasts. i was a late developer and my breasts were very small until i had my children at which point they became larger. What I would like to know is do the breasts have to be far apart to be tubular as mine are farly close together YET have all the other symptoms-large flatareola ,downward pointing etc.Im now 41 and hate them could i get something done? what exactly is tissue expansion?
I have this problem too.. I am 19 and have had this since I can remember. They have always been a problem for me, I don't even like to look at them myself let alone take my bra off infront of my boyfriend, he gets annoyed with this and says he is happy with me the way I am but that still doesn't make me feel any better about myself. I have often thought about going to see my GP but have always thought they wouldn't take me seriously but it is really getting me down.
ever since I was about 13 I noticed I was alot different in the boob department, my last long term boyfriend was very boob obsessed and I felt really inadequate, I have now been single for 2 years, I'm too ashamed of my body to be with anyone. I'm going to go to the doctors next week and explain my situation but I'm worried they will think I'm making the condition up as it doesn't seem to be that well known. My nipples have a very large surface area and are just flat, I decided to get my nipples pierced a few months ago to see if that made them more errect or would boost my confidence but it didn't work. I'm sick of lacking confidence so much now and really need to do something about it but I'm so scared about going to the doctors. Has anyone on here been yet>
hi Becky, I went to the doctors and had my tubular breasts diagnosed at 13. They have crumbled my self esteem and confidence so much that iv not done lots of things i love, like swimming, for years because im too ashamed of my body. the first doctor i saw with them reacted by saying 'oh', not concealing her shocked reaction, which really made me feel awful - but i saw a second doctor and his advice and the way he explained my condition was much more professional. Please go and see a doctor and if they are that bad at there job that they react in the same way as my first consultant then seek a second opinion, im glad i did. And dont be scared of relationships - men inevitably always want boobs and for this reason Iv never held down a relationship for long until recently because my boobs are a no go area and some people are that shallow that they cant handle that. But my current boyfriend has accepted this after I made clear to him only once and he respected that. I now feel that comfortable around him that for the first time I showed him my boobs today, in my own time with no prompting or pressure and he reassures me there is nothing 'wrong' with them theyr just part of me that makes me unique. Its easier said than done, but dont feel inadequate, and dont be scared of seeing a doctor about it they see far worse things im sure.
My girlfriend suffers this, although not the worst case in the world. It doesn't affect us at all - I love her as she is. Girls, from my perspective, at least, it is more important that your boobs are comfortable and healthy than any sort of "perfect" size or shape.
:-) well said
im in a long term relationship but i still havent taken my bra off, i dont wear low cut tops and i dont evan let my boyfriend touch my boobs under my top. i have large nipples and this knocks my confidence so much. iv never told enyone or spoke about it 2 people im so scared and shamed of my self. my boyfriends starting to wonder why im not showing my boobs and it does course arguments sometimes. iv finaly got the confidence to ring the doctors and have made an appointmen tbut i dont know what to sayy! someone please help me im scared they will tell me to go away and im wasting there time. someone please help me and send a reply i know ther are people who have been in my situation right now.
hi Shona, im 24 and in the same situation as you just started seeing a really hot guy and am so scared of him seeing my breasts as i have large nipples too even tho my boobs are firm its such a confidence knock so i kno exactly how u feel its really getting me down at the moment.. does any one know why this is caused?? and was wondering if anyone knows about any surgery u can get? any advice greatly appreciated thanx xxx
Totally know where you're coming from I'm 20 and I feel like I can't start my life - I had one wonderful boyfriend who understood and knew (it took me long enough to tell him) but he's gone now and it really is ruining my life. Not just the men/relationships thing - I've gained so much weight the last few years everytime I try to diet I just think whats the point? I have to wear really baggy clothes anyway and I'd never let another man see me naked while I'm like this so I now have stretch marks on my stomach too - I've suffered with depression and I'm a terrible comfort eater/binger so it really is affecting every side of my life :-( I'm also in almost constant pain - it is physically impossible to find a bra that fits because they're so different in size/shape that if it fits one side it doesnt the other so I have basically no support which means they hurt and the bra's have to be so padded to try and make it un-noticable that I'm constantly really hot and restrictive which also means its impossible to excersise...I'm going insane! I'm trying to find myself a new doctor I've never had one I felt comfortable enough with to tell - I need someone like doctor Jessen! :-( Its ruining my life :-( :-( :-( Phew it feels good to get that off my chest so to speak and to know there are other people in the same situation. I'm so scared of surgery but I think its the only option otherwise I'm just never going to have a life am I? :-(
Hey, I'm 29 and remember feeling exactly the same way as you did, I have one "normal" breast and one tuberous... it took 6 years before I would let my boyfriend see me naked with the light on -before then it had been a big rush to get under the duvet or wearing a bra to bed! I actually did go to my gp and he was extremely understanding and referred me to a plastic surgeon who said I would need to have 2 operations to correct the deformity (god i hate that word!) Firstly an enlargement and then another to make further correction to the nipple. Although in the end I was happy enough with the enlargement and did not go forward with second op. Any way, just wanted to say don't be scared about talking to your gp and also talk with your boyfriend -he is human and I know my boyfriend wished i had talked about it earlier so he could have supported me and made me feel better about things.. he thought he had done something wrong and when i told him the truth he was just relieved. I know how horrid it feels sometimes, especially as perfect breasts seem to be everywhere. I promise you, if your boyfriend is worth keeping, he really will support you through this. Wishing you lots of luck and know that you certainly are not alone in this.
really? youv helped me so much gem! but what did you say 2 the doctor? i havent evan told my mum about my boobs and she doesnt know im going 2 the doctors. i dont evan have the guts 2 tell my boyfriend or my best friend! please help. thankss shona.
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