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!

Even telling her that you are saving a small amount per week would make her feel you are hearing her distress

Thanks for all of your advice and input. ❤️

I was diagnosed with tubular breasts as a teenager. They still have the unusual shape but are now very large- I know you say your DD is upset by the shape, but what I mean is that they may still change as she gets older.

It's lovely that your DD can confide in you about this. I also confided in my mum and went to the GP and discussed surgical options. My mum gently encouraged me to wait and see how my breast shape changed for a couple of years (I really can't remember exactly how old I was but maybe about 14) but made it clear that she would support me if I wanted surgery later down the line.

I never ended up having the surgery- over time, I just came to accept that this was my body and now I neither love them or hate them, they're just my breasts. I'm not suggesting for a second that anyone else should feel the same way as me. But for me, it really helped that my mum was supportive about the possibility of surgery. The whole thing felt less hopeless and distressing knowing that it could definitely be changed if I wanted it to be.

I don't have this but mine simply never grew beyond a AAA so I sympathize with the self-consciousness aspect. Over the years I've found smooth cup lightly padded bralets from H&M to be both comfortable and flattering. I longed for surgery throughout my teens but mid twenties something just clicked and I felt happy in my own skin.

I have this OP. I have always been conscious of my breasts, especially as it meant I could never go bra less even at a young age before everything headed south. I have found that full cup and balconette bras are best for me. I feel for your daughter, looking back I think I probably would have opted for the surgery when I was 18 if I had known it was an option.

I have hypoplasia and assymetry. My sisters are tubular. It's a genetic thing. Women with these conditions often don't produce much milk when breastfeeding. I had virtually none. I put up with them until I was thirty and then had them done. I think probably I should have had them done in my late teens or early twenties as my self esteem was very low and it affected relationships. After reconstruction the difference was amazing. Having said that the implants I have have been recalled because of a risk of breast cancer so now I'm in a position where I'm thinking of having them removed and just lifted/ possibly some fat transfer.
I would say she needs to wait until she's definitely fully developed and reassess the situation. In the meantime you should both keep up to date with breast augmentation surgeries as options are changing all the time.

Oh yes I agree with the PP as well, I struggled to breastfeed both my children.

@Mmmmdanone My little sister was diagnosed with tubular breasts, a few years ago. Three? She went to the GP as she was advised to do, but they said they no longer did correctional surgery as it's considered cosmetic, as there is no functional issue.

She had a private assessment and paid for breast implants with Mya, but the day before, the surgeon told her that implants may make the condition look worse because they'd be bigger. He suggested putting different size implants in and going much smaller than she'd planned - B cup, I think, rather than the D's she'd settled on. She didn't go ahead and they refunded everything but her deposit, although that took some effort! We used the misinformation plus the big furore about breast implant syndrome to argue for most of the money back.

Weirdly, she's filled out more now. She's in her mid-20s and they seem to have grown out a bit, and now she doesn't think they are tuberous. I have no idea if they are, but she's happy going out braless now and looks good - so there's hope yet, although your daughter probably feels like its awful. Be careful about what solutions you choose, and I hope she finds a resolution that she's happy with.

@ShellsAndSunrises Mya are notoriously crap. Anyone considering any sort of plastics should join the botched groups on Facebook to check on all surgeons and companies. Also the breast implant illness groups. Often people with legal cases do not post their stories on social media or the review sites because they don't want to jeopardise their cases so you only get the success stories.

One site that explained what this was talked about using a surgeon who knows that this situation needs a different approach to usual. It’s what they do so might be biased but made sense (something about breast plate).

So look for a surgeon who specialises in this.

I know it’s early to say, she may not go down this path. But it’s good she’s talking to you.

@JontyDoggle37

Me too. Glad we didn't have the internet to worry us at 16!

@Mmmmdanone

Tell your dd not to worry, just buy her a bra which fits well and is slightly padded to even out. I didn't even know it had a name and wasn't normal to today!

I am much larger now having had 2 kids and breastfed for over 3 years combined, still a bit tubular but never been an issue

Hello. I had "odd shape" breasts and although big were cone like and pointy. Discovered they were in fact tubular when I eventually saw a cosmetic surgeon.
They were not extreme as some pictures on google but I definitely knew they were different.
I had my first breast augmentation at 19 after my first DC and then since I have had a further two.
The first one lowered my natural fold but quite a lot. Released and removed the right tissue inside and created a whole new pocket.
I have had problems after and have had another two corrections. This was unlucky but more common with reconstruction so I'm told.
Touch wood I'm okay now. They had to use round implants. They're actually quite fab now and look very natural although not quite symmetrical but what breasts are. You wouldn't be able to tell.
I can not go without a bra for very long though. My implants had to get bigger with each OP to avoid a full breast lift and I find them very heavy and uncomfortable. I would have liked to be smaller but because of the reconstruction and existing tissue I had to go a certain size.

I have had issues trying to breast feed even before any operations. The surgeon explained that the tubes in the breast were very tight and some women can't?
I produce colostrum but have never been able to feed myself and I don't seem to get milk out. I tried hard with the second and it just failed completely. I'm pregnant again now and will be trying again.

I don't know if I would have been able to use the NHS as I didn't go in the beginning and it's been an expensive job. I'll more than likely have to have further ops and most probably a breast lift as I age.

Thanks. I've read everything and taken it in board. My daughter is happy to wait a few months and then see a gp ( hopefully when go surgeries are back to normal). We'll take it from there. She is so pleased she told me at least.

His thread has been so nice, so supportive. There are options and possibilities. I don't know what your financial situation is OP, but if you can afford it, start putting any tiny amounts away now, so that if she does decide to operate, then that option is open to her. What a gift that would be. The choice if nothing else.

Thank you Oblomov20, I will certainly put money aside for the surgery if that's what she decides to do later. And then, if she doesn't, she'll have a nice amount to do something else with!

I found a lovely twitter post from someone who has tubular breasts and hasn’t had surgery - twitter.com/tomatomagica/status/1144639890476322817?s=21 - it might help your DD to know there’s other people out there. It’s such a hard time being that age, it’s good she has a supportive mum she can talk to though

Whoever mentioned a push up bra- spot on! I took DD out to get some bras today and we got her a small cup push up from h and m and she's cheered up immensely. She loves the fact she has a shape in her clothes. Doesn't sort the actual issue but I love that she can see what she looks like with a small bust. I'm feeling happier too as I was so sad for her. Gp next but at least this will see her through for a while. Xxx

Great news 😊 glad she is feeling more confident

My Dd also has tubular breasts and hates them, hers are bigger at a D cup, but big gap inbetween them, they point sideways a bit. She does find push up bras help.

I have worry about this problem most times also. Is it always around nipples only when it becomes more worse? first I thought it was part of it. I don't know what to call it, sorry.

There are an increasing number of non-implant surgery options for tubular breasts (fat transfer etc). Bra shopping will be a nightmare - boob or bust method will not work because the breast tissue lacks volume.

Unfortunately I looked much worse when I was a couple of stone overweight as none of the weight went to my nonexistent boobs. Having lost weight everything looks much more in proportion, which helps me feel better.