One-Stage Correction of Tuberous Breast Deformity Using Saline Implants: Without the Need for Radial Scoring or Lowering the Inframammary Fold

Tuberous breasts are a congenital anomaly in which the breasts fail to develop normally. This abnormality may include hypoplasia, a tubular appearance, a higher inframammary fold (IMF), and sometimes a herniated nipple-areolar complex. Correction of tuberous breast deformity (TBD) is traditionally done with a 1-stage breast augmentation with radial scoring of the constricted breast tissue and/or the lowering of the IMF. An alternative 2-stage approach first uses a tissue expander to correct the deformity; the expander is later replaced with a permanent breast implant. Sixteen patients are presented in which a 1-stage correction of TBD was successfully accomplished with saline implants acting as tissue expanders. In all cases, the expansion remedied the deformity without the need for radial scoring of the breast tissue or lowering of the IMF. This approach has not been reported in the literature. Sixteen women (32 breasts) were treated, with TBD ranging from mild to severe. All patients had a breast augmentation with round, smooth saline implants placed through an IMF incision in the dual plane (partially subpectoral and partially submammary). Implants ranged in size from 225 cc to 675 cc. The IMF was never lowered and the breast parenchyma was never radially scored. Three patients had asymmetry requiring breast implants of different sizes, and one had a circumareolar mastopexy to repair a herniated areolar complex. Representative case examples are provided. The average follow-up time was 9 months. All deformities were corrected, and the patients expressed satisfaction with their results. There were no occurrences of hematoma, infection, capsular contracture, or malposition. This review has shown that saline breast implants alone, with their inherent expansion capability, can correct TBD without the increased morbidity associated with radial scoring and lowering the IMF. For patients who choose saline implants, this single-stage, less invasive surgical approach can provide a good aesthetic result.