16 year old thinks she has tubular breasts- any advice?

[Mmmmdanone]

My 16 year old DD has become very upset about her breasts. They have never developed beyond what I would say are very early teenage buds, despite her period having started 3.5 years ago.
She Googled and now thinks she has an issue called tubular breast. I had never heard of it but looking at pictures it looks very similar to her problem. The only answer to this is surgery when older, in the mean time I've told her we will find a really good bra that will give her some shape. Has anyone experienced this or have bra recommendations? She can't really have a push up as there's literally nothing to push and a wide gap between her breast. She only wants to feel good in herself, she isn't trying to impress anyone! She was so upset she was crying tonight and I just want to find something that helps. Thank you!

Thank you gypsywater

Adult friend of mine had this she had implants on NHS - though she didn't seek help till her 20's when she finally went to her GP about it- they just never developed from early buds neither her sister or Mum had it - I got to know them as well.

Unfortunately I can't offer any advice about bras though PP mentioned Debenhams and I did find them the best high street bra people - greatest range and nicest staff - before I had give up and use Bravissimo and on-line sites.

How about a gel push up bra? The gel inserts (inside the fabric) fill out the cup more at the bottom than the top and lift your natural breast to the top part. You can also get fuller gel bras so the whole cup is very padded and covered. The gel feels quite natural and moves like real breasts. You can get gel bikini tops too.

Something like this:

www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_152010244880_-1

There is probably a wider choice online than on the high street though.

That looks good Orange. Thank you I will consider something like this. Looks like we're going to Debenhams at the weekend!

Well, could it be worth taking her to the GP so that she feels something has been done about it? gP might say wait 2 years, might say no you haven't got tubular breasts or might offer early surgery?

I don't know but perhaps just a chat with them might make her feel more has been done than just buying underwear.

The thing seems to be with tubular breasts as well is that while the breast tissue doesn't grow, the areola does, so that also contributes to the unusual shape as well.

I get you OP, it's not just small boobs, it's different. She is still quite young and they could still grow yet, but I understand where you are coming from.

I agree. Was just talking to her about going to gp soon. At least then she's on the system.

Somany thanks. X

Hey, couldn't read and run. I have this issue. I am 42. Over the years I have found that a moulded cup, like a t shirt type bra helps. I emphasise my positive bits like my bum and legs. Help her to do the same. Previous boyfriends/ current partner have never had an issue with it (nor should they it's how I was made). However, I am now considering surgery. I have an appointment tomorrow. I have waited all this time as I know changing my boobs won't make me a new person/ be the sole thing that makes me happy. I am doing this just to help me feel more feminine and add some curves. Probably sounds very contradictory, but try and get her not to fixate on surgery. I am sure she is a beautiful girl with many positive attributes. My boobs don't look like 'ideal' shape, but how many of us were blessed naturally in that way, very few.

Maybe have a look online at places like FigLeaves and MaxCleavage @Mmmmdanone. There will be more choice and your DD can try them on in comfort at home, if she feels self conscious. There is more than one type of gel (some liquid, others firmer) and different cup shapes and bra types (e.g. push up versus push together).

DD was a self consious late developer. As was I but there were no gel bras when I was a teenager. There was no Dr Google either but if there had been I might have self diagnosed myself with tubular breasts. Then they grew into a C cup in my twenties.

If you can boost her confidence now, it might be worth avoiding sugery until she has definitely finished growing in her twenties.

I have this issue Op

I couldn't confide in my DM as your dd has been able to with you.

I wish I'd have had surgery years ago as the issue was present from my teens.

They are awful and I've always been so very aware of coveting up.

Sorry to those who have a similar issue. Although it may not seem that bad and does not cause any physical issues it is having an awful effect on my dd's confidence. She opened up to me tonight about all the hiding she does from friends. Some were unkind to her at PE or sleepovers in the past. She is so relieved she no longer has to do PE. They are such an odd shape and I want to make sure she feels listened to and encouraged to get some help. Thanks all. I'll find a good bra in the meantime, and get her to the gp when the restrictions are lessened. They are currently triaging over the phone and don't think this will be taken that seriously at her age but will give them a call anyway.

I have this but I didn’t realise until I was researching reasons I could have low breast milk supply when I ha my first DC 5 years ago.

I’ve never had a problem with them or was aware that they were in anyway wrong or weren’t supposed to look like they do. No one has ever noticed or commented. Definite wait and see if she develops more but it’s never ever occurred to me I need surgery!

Mine weren't tubular, just never really grew. I was mortified and went to great lengths to hide them. Tried to have a boob job aged 18 (parents always supportive) but felt intimidated by the surgeon who probably quite rightly tried to put me off thinking I was a stupid teen and had seen pics of perfect boobs in a magazine. I couldn't care less about Jennifer anistons boobs or whoever. It took until I was 21 to be able to stand up for myself and had them done, it was one of the best decisions of my life.

My post isn't particular helpful for your daughter but just wanted to say what a fantastic job you are doing since she has confided in you and you seem to totally understand her problem.

One of my friends had this, when she had her kids they filled out a lot though of course I don’t recommend this as an option for a 16 year old

Not for now OP, but I’ve got a friend who was diagnosed with tuberous breasts when she sought help breastfeeding from a very experienced IBCLC. All the HVs and doctors had missed it, and it was the cause of her very low supply that didn’t respond to usual approaches and may, in her case, have been associated with a syndrome that caused a stillbirth. As I say, not for now, but something to make sure your dd knows about and gets checked out by a specialist (not a GP, it’s apparently not covered at all in GP training) if / when she wants to have kids.

I’ve never had a problem with them or was aware that they were in anyway wrong or weren’t supposed to look like they do. No one has ever noticed or commented. Definite wait and see if she develops more but it’s never ever occurred to me I need surgery!

Same here. From teens onward, I’ve been aware they weren’t the breast shape I’d have ideally chosen, but not that they had a proper name or that surgery would be a response! That said, having seen the google images a pp linked to, I guess I may have a relatively mild ‘case’. I have had very many sexual partners and none have ever seemed surprised or troubled by them; incidentally, as my sexual partners have been women, I can also confirm that breasts really do come in all shapes and sizes - I don’t mean to diminish your daughter’s feelings but I do think when people (girls and women) are predominantly seeing airbrushed images of breasts this does get lost and probably makes her predicament seem worse than it is. Variety is much less obvious when clothed.

As pp, mine have filled out a bit and look more rounded after two pregnancies and breastfed babies. They’re still not my favourite body part but I’m less and less bothered by them.

I have this issue. I went to the GP at 19 and was told they were normal (they aren't)
Didn't diagnose myself with THB until I struggled breastfeeding and did some research. Lots of women with THB can't produce enough milk so she needs to know that at some point.
Personally I would not have considered surgery due to the risks and pain and I became much more comfortable with them in my 20s. They are better now as I'm a lot fatter but I'm sure that's not a solution she wants. One benefit is that they don't seem to be sagging the way other women might age sag. They just stay the same.

Thanks everyone. I appreciate all your input. Xxx

Mine were like this in my teens too, I was still an A cup at 18. I remember my sister laughing at them. But during my 20s, they rounded out slowly but surely. They're now completely round at 30, though one is bigger than the other slightly. Still only a B cup but happy enough. So maybe think about holding off on surgery until 20s? I never particularly worried about mine, I remember reading a photo essay in a daily mail supplement showing breasts at different points in a woman's life & it said conical ones were common in teens 😂 don't think I would have dared google it on a family computer!! Just want to let you know anyway, mine were like that & they did change - 16 is so young!

I used to be so self conscious about mine but I have also had lots of partners and not one has expressed surprise, disappointment or lack of interest in them! My boyfriend likes my big nipples lots of men do. (Assuming she's into men of course. Women are even less likely to judge I would guess)

Op you are doing the right thing listening to your dd. I’d suggest what you are doing which is starting a medical review. She may not want to take it further but at least she’ll have options.

OP I had these. The trick with a bra is to get one that covers as much boob as possible - otherwise there's often a cavity at the top between the breast and the bra. Something like a T shirt bra. Don't even look at balconette bras. Mine rounded out a bit in my early 30s when I put a bit of weight on (I was always quite underweight before) and I'm pregnant now so suddenly have fabulous boobs! (Obviously not a solution for DD but just to say that they can change)

I think this is perhaps where the German teen magazine Bravo was useful. My uncle in Germany used to send it to me when I was doing my GCSEs (it was a popular teen magazine there) and I was always mortified by its arrival. They were quite big on nudity, and just average nudity, so not airbrushed, or posed particularly, just showing the variation of the human body. I think I was very self conscious about my body in general until pregnancy - it’s in much worse shape since but I’m much less focussed on the bits of it I don’t like.

Given that there are risks associated with surgery, and that there are reasons to believe she might still grow (mine at 16 were tiny and definitely still growing - I remember hurtful comments from boys at school about how I should go on the pill to make them grow) I’d want to explore non surgical routes first.

When I was 16 if google had existed I would have thought I had tuberous breasts. They were just buds like an 11 year old might have, or bee stings as they were known in my day. I started periods at 13 but my boobs didn’t progress past weird triangle buds. But I had some sort of second puberty at 18/19 and suddenly developed the more normal breast shaped boobs. They’re still quite far apart but actually a lovely shape and size. Sorry, not a brag, just to help your DD see there’s more than one possible future here. And from pp’s it seems there are a few options if hers don’t change, but I thought another example of the situation improving naturally might give her some hope. Best of luck