Tubular breasts (tuberous breast syndrome)

A tubular breast is a congenital malformation of the breast. It occurs when the lower half of the breast does not grow to the same extent as the upper half due to insufficiently structured glandular breast tissue. This leads to the nipple region protruding somewhat, which creates a tube-like shape. Although this malformation does not cause any physical issues, women with the condition may consider the condition to be unattractive, which can cause mental suffering. Surgical correction should be considered if you feel that the condition is significantly inhibiting your private life, personal relationships or sexuality.

No – it is a congenital breast malformation that is usually corrected for purely aesthetic reasons. Further medical treatment is not necessary.

Surgery is the only way to treat tubular breasts because they are the result of congenital malformation. However, there are different surgical options depending on the type and severity of the malformation. In most cases, the treatment involves reconstructive measures in combination with breast enlargement. It is sometimes necessary to compensate for asymmetry between the breasts or perform single-sided breast reduction to achieve the desired results.

Before any breast augmentation procedure, Dr Köhler will hold a detailed personal consultation with you at the prevention-center in Zurich. This discussion will focus on your desire for a newly formed breast and the potential ways to achieve this. Following a thorough physical examination, Dr Köhler will draw up an individual treatment plan to tailor the procedure to your needs.

We perform the surgery under general anaesthetic and use a minimally invasive technique that minimises scarring. Careful, expertly positioned incisions allow us to restructure the breast tissue and, if necessary, firm up the breast. The next step is inserting the implants selected to give your breast a new shape and size. If your breasts are not symmetrical, we can correct and compensate for this. It may also be possible to reduce the size of one breast if you wish.

After you are discharged, we will conduct post-surgical check-ups at the prevention-center in Zurich to monitor the surgery results and make sure the wounds are healing.

The surgery duration depends on the scope of the treatment, which is in turn determined by your specific situation and your desired results. The operation can last between 1 and 3 hours.

Give yourself time to rest and make sure not to place considerable strain on your upper body in the initial period after surgery. You should wear a special compression bra for 4 to 6 weeks after the operation, as this will stabilise your breast, help achieve the desired results and promote healing. Here at the prevention-center in Zurich, we advise our patients to avoid sports, exercise and other strenuous physical activities for the first 6 to 8 weeks after the operation. Please also avoid exposing your breasts to direct sunlight and high temperatures for around three months – not only outdoors but also in saunas and solariums.

Yes – it involves restructuring the breast tissue and inserting implants to give the breast an entire new shape. The breast will not be able to return to its original, tube-like shape. However, we cannot rule out further changes to the breast due to ageing and weight changes, just as would occur to any natural breast.

At the prevention-center in Zurich, we perform the surgery under general anaesthetic, so you will not be aware of any part of the procedure. You may experience wound pain following the operation, though this can be treated effectively with common painkillers until the wounds are fully healed.

No – the surgery permanently alters the structure of the breast tissue. A recurrence of tubular breasts is not possible. However, the shape of your breasts may change over time as you age, as is the same for any woman’s breasts.

As with any surgical procedure, a breast augmentation entails certain general surgical risks. Although there is always a risk of wound-healing disorders and infections, we minimise such risks at the prevention-center in Zurich by applying and maintaining the highest medical standards. The same applies to the risk of implant damage and capsular contracture, which can be minimised by choosing an experienced surgeon.