Breast Lift vs. Implant for Breast Sagging

Many women develop sagging breasts after pregnancy, breastfeeding, and with age.  The decision to treat the sagging or drooping breasts depends on the patient's aesthetic concerns and the position of the nipple, the quality of the skin, and the native volume.

I discuss all of these issues with the patient.  The decision to perform a breast lift depends on the willingness of the patient to undergo surgery with resultant scars, the nipple position relative to the breast, and the elasticity of the skin.

Many women lose volume and shape in their breasts after pregnancy, regardless if they breast feed or not.  The changes in skin tone, size and shape of the breast can be irreversible in most cases. Some women merely want to restore their shape, which can be done with a mastopexy or breast lift, of which there are many types.  Some women merely require the insertion of a breast implant to restore some of the lost volume and "fill out" the loose skin, to a certain extent. Then there are those women who need a breast augmentation and a breast lift at the same time to give both size and shape back to their breasts.

Remember, if you become pregnant after a breast lift/augmentation, your breast shape can change, resulting in the possible need for a revision in the future.

The best procedure(s) for you can be determined by consulting with a board certified plastic surgeon.

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Breast shapes and sizes vary between patients. "Sagging" for one patient may actually only be loss of  breast volume. True sagging, where the skin is stretched out and the nipple sits too low, usually requires some sort of breast lift. Loss of volume is usually best treated with an implant. Commonly, both operations need to be performed at the same time.

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