Sagging Breasts
Sagging breasts, a common concern for many women as we age, can impact both physical comfort and self-confidence. Known medically as breast ptosis, this condition is characterized by a downward shift in the position of the breasts, downward-facing nipples, and/or asymmetrical breast shape.
Female plastic surgeon Dr. Emily Kirby has helped numerous patients achieve a natural-looking breast shape and position with breast lift surgery. Understanding the causes, symptoms, and available surgical options can help you make an informed decision to address this concern.
Causes of breast ptosis
Breast ptosis can result from various factors:
- Aging: Natural aging leads to a decrease in skin elasticity and changes in breast tissue, often resulting in sagging.
- Smoking: The nicotine in cigarettes exacerbates the natural loss of skin elasticity that happens with age.
- Sun Damage: Like smoking, sun damage from tanning or other unprotected UV exposure may lead to thinner skin over time.
- Lack of Adequate Support: Going braless, or wearing a bra without adequate support, may exacerbate stretched tissues.
- Hormonal Changes: Hormonal fluctuations during menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause can affect breast size and shape.
- Weight Fluctuations: Significant weight gain or loss can stretch or deflate the skin, affecting its ability to retract.
- Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: The expansion and contraction of breasts and the levels of hormones during these periods can lead to deflation of natural breast tissue.
- Genetics: Inherited traits related to skin quality and breast density influence how susceptible you are to breast ptosis.
Breast lift surgery
Breast lift surgery, or mastopexy, is a procedure designed to elevate and reshape sagging breasts. The surgery involves removing a small amount of excess skin, tightening and supporting the surrounding tissue, and repositioning the nipple and areola to a more appropriate level. This procedure can:
- Restore a firmer, more feminine breast shape.
- Improve breast symmetry.
- Enhance your overall silhouette and body proportions.
The surgery typically takes 1 to 2 hours under general anesthesia. Incisions may follow different patterns, depending on the degree of lift needed:
- Around the areola and vertically down to the breast crease, with an additional horizontal incision along the breast crease to address more significant sagging (most common).
- Around the areola and vertically down to the breast crease (less common).
- Around the areola only (least common).
Post-surgery, you can expect swelling and soreness for several days. You will likely be able to return to work within a few days, depending on the nature of your work. Many patients prefer to take 1 week off work.
Mommy makeover
Common concerns after childbirth include sagging breasts, tummy pooches, diastasis recti, and stubborn fat deposits. If you are experiencing several of these changes at once, you may choose to consider a “mommy makeover,” or a combination of plastic surgery procedures to address your concerns.
Mommy makeovers combine a breast lift, augmentation, or reduction with other surgeries like a tummy tuck or liposuction, and in most cases, they can be safely performed in one day under a single anesthetic. The goal is to address concerns related to both breast and body shape, restoring your pre-pregnancy appearance. The benefit of combining these procedures is to have one surgery, one anesthetic, and one recovery.
If you are considering these options, the next step is to consult with Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Emily Kirby for expert, personalized advice about how to best meet your expectations and how to time surgery to work with your lifestyle.
Female Plastic Surgeon Fort Worth
- Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
- Over 12 years of experience in private practice
- Founder and Medical Director of Kirby Plastic Surgery, Kalos Medical Spa, and City Surgery Center—a Quad A-accredited, state-of-the-art facility located onsite
- Specialist in breast surgery and body contouring, including postpartum
- Castle Connolly Top Doctor since 2019
- First female Chief of Plastic Surgery, Texas Health Resources Harris Methodist Hospital
