What can I do about Sagging Breasts?

As a woman begins to age, she may begin to notice that the skin around her breasts has gotten looser, causing her breasts to sag. This occurs after having children, after significant weight loss or naturally as a woman ages because her breast tissue will begin to decrease over time. There are two surgical ways that a woman can combat this problem: either a breast lift without breast implants, or a breast lift with implants.

A breast lift, or mastopexy, improves the appearance of your breasts in several ways. It elevates your breast tissue, removes excess skin from the lower portion of your breast and then reshapes your remaining breast skin. At the same time, it relocates your nipple and areola to a higher position. If your areolas have stretched over time, they can be reduced in size.

A commonly performed breast lift technique uses incisions that follow your breast’s natural contour. The resulting scar, which is permanent but will fade to some extent over time, encircles the areola and then extends vertically down the breast and horizontally along the crease underneath the breast. There are other breast lift techniques that may eliminate the horizontal incision, the vertical incision, or both. The use of any particular pattern of incisions depends on individual patient factors and your plastic surgeon’s recommendation.

In some cases, in order to address the fullness problem of the breast due to the decrease in breast tissue, a surgeon will require that either a saline or silicone implant be placed into the breast area while performing the breast lift. An implant will help bring back the natural fullness of the breast as well as provide a level of volume to this area as well. In most cases the implant will be placed below the pectoral muscle, and then a routine breast lift will also be performed.

The procedure is performed as an outpatient procedure and patients are normally able to leave shortly after the procedure has been completed. Patients will need to follow up with their plastic surgeon throughout the healing and recovery process of the lift. The plastic surgeon will evaluate your progress during the recovery process, and ensure that all aftercare methods are being followed accordingly.

In order to ensure that you are a proper candidate for a breast lift with or without implants, you will need to meet with a plastic surgeon, who will be able to evaluate your particular case. Based on their evaluations they will determine the best surgical option for your lift, or if you can be a candidate that simply needs breast implants to provide the lift that you desire. Although this is a fairly common procedure for most plastic surgeons, it is recommended you find a board-certified plastic surgeon that has routinely performed this procedure.

Please feel free to ask us any other questions you may have regarding breast lifts. We offer free cosmetic consultations. You can email us questions at surgeryvp@unmc.edu or call us at 402-596-4000.