What shoud i do for sagging Breasts: A lit, Prostheses or Both?

Breast ptosis, or sagging breasts, is a phenomenon that many women around the world suffer from.

This sagging can be unpleasant for the sufferer, which is why cosmetic surgery now offers effective and long-lasting solutions to remedy it. Two solutions in particular are being considered to restore the breasts to their original firmness and appearance: a breast lift and the implant of prostheses.

Which solution is more suitable? Is it possible to combine the two techniques to obtain a better result?

Do you have Saggy or Droopy Breasts that need Surgery?

If you’re feeling self-conscious about saggy or droopy breasts, surgery might be the solution you’re seeking. Breast lift surgery, also known as mastopexy, can help restore a more youthful and lifted appearance to your breasts. Whether it’s due to aging, pregnancy, weight loss, or genetics, sagging breasts can affect your confidence and self-esteem. With breast lift surgery, excess skin is removed, and the breast tissue is reshaped to create a firmer, perkier contour. It’s a transformative procedure that can boost not just your appearance but also your confidence. If you’re considering breast lift surgery, schedule a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon to discuss your options and determine if it’s the right choice for you. Don’t let saggy breasts hold you back from feeling your best!

What causes breast ptosis?

Breast ptosis, characterized by a drooping of the breasts, often results in a less firm and aesthetically pleasing appearance. This phenomenon can manifest naturally or be triggered by significant life events. Common causes include repeated weight fluctuations, which affect the skin quality of the breasts and promote ptosis. Additionally, aging inevitably leads to a loss of breast firmness, with older individuals facing a higher risk of developing ptosis. Pregnancy and breastfeeding can also contribute, as the breasts may sag and lose volume postpartum, particularly with prolonged breastfeeding. Genetic factors, termed congenital ptosis, may predispose individuals to breast ptosis, with symptoms potentially emerging as early as adolescence within affected families.

Why do breasts get saggy and droopy over time?

As we age, it’s natural for breasts to undergo changes that can result in sagging or drooping. Several factors contribute to this process. Firstly, the skin loses elasticity over time, causing it to become less firm and resilient. Additionally, the ligaments and connective tissue that support the breasts may weaken, leading to a loss of structural integrity. Pregnancy and breastfeeding can also cause the breasts to stretch and expand, which may result in sagging once the breast tissue returns to its pre-pregnancy size. Significant weight fluctuations, smoking, and genetics can further exacerbate the sagging process. Ultimately, the combination of these factors can lead to breasts that appear less lifted and youthful over time. However, various surgical and non-surgical options are available to address sagging breasts and restore a more youthful contour if desired.

Correcting breast ptosis with a lift

The breast lift, or mastopexy, is a procedure that allows the breasts to be lifted without the need for implants (and therefore without giving them more volume).

It is indeed possible to do without breast implants in several cases, especially when the breasts have an average volume, and when the skin loss is not very important. The lift will give the breast a firmer and younger appearance and will also allow the areola to be repositioned.

During a breast lift, the surgeon will remove the excess skin that was causing the breasts to sag. The incisions made and the scars that result from the operation will depend primarily on the amount of excess skin.

Remedying breast ptosis with breast implants

If you have sagging breasts, and if they have also suffered from hypoplasia (loss of volume in the breasts due to breastfeeding, for example), then a simple lift will not be able to give an optimal result. On the other hand, it is possible to lift the breasts while giving them volume and beautiful curves, thanks to breast implants.

The breast implants, which are made of silicone gel, are used to fill the lost volume. The implants can last for many years (10 years on average), and it is possible to choose the desired shape and volume depending on the desired result.

In the case of a correction of sagging breasts, the implants placed will generally be of small volume, as the aim will essentially be to restore the old shape of the breast.

Depending on the patient’s glandular volume, the surgeon will determine the position of the future breast implants: they will be placed either in front or behind the pectoral muscle. When the patient returns to the clinic after several years to repeat the operation, the new implants will be placed in the same position as the old models.

Combining a breast lift with implants

When a breast lift is combined with implants, it is possible to kill two birds with one stone: to remedy the drooping of the breasts while giving them more shape and volume. This combination gives a very satisfactory result and a natural appearance to the new breast.

Depending on the condition of the breasts, the combination of a lift and prosthesis may be essential: this is particularly the case when the patient’s breasts, in addition to suffering from sagging skin, have undergone a significant loss of volume; in this situation, the surgeon will recommend the fitting of prostheses in addition to the lift.

There are many advantages to having a breast implant in addition to a breast lift: the skin of the breast is tightened, the breasts gain volume, and the look more harmonious. Not to mention the fact that this operation has an undeniably positive effect on the patient’s mind: she has more self-confidence and is satisfied with the new cleavage.

Since this operation combines two surgical procedures, it can last up to 2.5 hours. It is performed under general anaesthesia. The augmentation will be performed according to the patient’s wishes and morphology. The procedure can also be used to correct breast asymmetry (two breasts that do not have the same volume). By adding a prosthesis to a lift, we speak of a ptosis-augmentation cure. This is an operation that is now widely performed throughout the world, with very satisfactory results.

Are other solutions possible?

In order to effectively remedy breast ptosis, breast augmentation by prosthesis can be replaced by breast lipofilling. This technique makes it possible to fill the volume of the breasts not by implants, but by injecting fat directly into the breast. The fat that is injected comes from the same patient.

The required amount of fat will be taken from other parts of the body (hips, thighs…), and after a laboratory treatment, this fat will make it possible to increase both breasts in a discreet way.

However, it should be borne in mind that the patient who wishes to benefit from this operation must have sufficient fat reserves.

It is also important to know that lipofilling does not allow for much gain in cup size; therefore, for a clearer increase in breast volume, the fitting of prostheses remains a better option.