Breasts are subject to gravity’s unrelenting pull over time. As women age or experience significant weight fluctuations, their breast tissue can start to lose elasticity and firmness, causing the breasts to sag or droop. This common condition is called breast ptosis, and it affects most women at some point in their lives. In this blog post, we’ll explore the various causes of sagging breasts and how they can be corrected with surgery.
Based in Perth, Western Australia, Specialist Plastic Surgeon Dr Guy Watts, is a respected member of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. He performs different breast procedures on patients looking for aesthetic improvements.
The main causes of sagging breasts are:
It’s worth noting that some of these factors may be out of our control, but there are still steps women can take to help prevent or slow down the process of breast sagging.
There are many myths surrounding sagging breasts, and it’s important to separate fact from fiction. Here are some common myths about sagging breasts:
While exercise can strengthen the muscles underlying the breasts, it cannot fix sagging breasts. Sagging is primarily caused by the loss of skin elasticity and damage to the ligaments that support the breasts, which cannot be reversed with exercise alone.
Breast sagging can occur at any age, and younger women can experience sagging due to weight fluctuations, genetics, or hormonal changes. At the same time, it is worth mentioning that breast sagginess can occur even in very young women due to the overly large size of the breasts.
While there are things you can do to enhance the aspect of the breasts and try to prevent breast sagginess, there are no effective natural remedies that can treat breast ptosis. Wearing a well-fitting, supportive bra, maintaining a healthy weight, and practicing good posture can all help slow down the process of breast sagging, but all these won’t make your breasts perky if you are dealing with breast ptosis.
Breast lift surgery, also known as mastopexy, is a surgical procedure that can help correct saggy breasts. During a breast lift, your surgeon removes excess skin and reshapes the breast tissue to improve the breast’s appearance and position.
The surgery is performed under general anaesthesia and involves making incisions on the breast to remove excess skin and reshape the underlying tissue. The length and placement of the incisions depend on the severity of breast sagging. After the surgery, the breasts are wrapped in bandages or a surgical bra, and patients are advised to avoid strenuous activities for several weeks.
It is important to note that breast lift surgery does not significantly change the size of the breasts. Women who desire an increase in breast volume may opt for breast augmentation in combination with a breast lift. On the other hand, women who want to reduce the size of their breasts may choose to have breast reduction surgery.
Like any surgery, breast lift surgery carries risks, including infection, bleeding, scarring, and changes in nipple sensation. Recovery time may also vary, and it is important to follow post-operative instructions carefully. Read our blog on Recovery after Breast Lift.
Breast reduction surgery can be an effective way to correct sagging breasts. Sagging can occur due to excess breast weight. Breast reduction surgery removes excess breast tissue, fat, and skin to reduce breast size and lift the breasts to a higher position on the chest.
During a breast reduction surgery, your plastic surgeon will make incisions around the areola and down the breast, removing excess tissue to improve its appearance and contour. The size and placement of the incisions will depend on the degree of sagging and the volume of the breasts.
Breast reduction surgery can also have the added benefit of improving back, neck, and shoulder pain caused by the weight of large breasts, as well as improving posture.
Breast augmentation alone is not an effective way to correct significant breast ptosis (sagging). Breast ptosis occurs due to a loss of skin elasticity and breast tissue volume, and breast augmentation involves increasing the size of the breast by inserting implants.
While breast augmentation can improve the appearance of mild breast sagging, it will not lift the breast to a higher position on the chest. In some cases, breast augmentation may even worsen the appearance of breast sagging if the added weight of the implants causes further stretching of the breast skin and tissue.
In cases of moderate to severe breast ptosis, a breast lift (mastopexy) is usually necessary to reposition the breast tissue and restore a more youthful breast contour. A breast lift can be performed alone or in combination with breast augmentation to both lift the breast and increase its size.
While some factors that contribute to breast sagging, such as genetics and ageing, are beyond our control, there are several things you can do to help prevent or minimise breast sagging:
It’s important to keep in mind that some degree of breast sagging is a natural part of the ageing process, and everyone’s body is unique.