Sagging Breasts: How to Perk Things Up

That is a very good question. Unfortunately, there are many ways to perk up the breasts, but they all include surgery. Please do not fall for gimmicks like no scar breast lifts. If there is a lift, there has be to a scar somewhere.

Some breast lifts have smaller scars then others. If we classify them in regards to their scar size we have 3-4 basic types.

From smaller scars to bigger scars they are as follows:
1. Crescent Lift and Donut Lift,
2. Lollipop Lift,
3. J Lift and Anchor lift (or inverted T Lift)

Smaller the scars usually translates to a small lift. But not all patients qualify for a small lift. The inclusion of an implant may help reduce the size of the scar.

In order to know which lift is best for you, an evaluation is needed to determine how much lift is necessary for optimal results. Unfortunately, you can’t have surgery without scars, and scars never go away 100%. They do get better with time and in some cases, they may practically fade completely in a few years. But there are plenty of ways to treat unwanted scars like with silicone gels, lasers and more....so you don’t need to worry about it too much. If you wish to lift your breasts, surgery will be worth the scars. Try to view scars as tools that help us lift the breasts.

Dr. Miguel Mota

There are always costs and tradeoffs in anything worthy in life. It's no exception when it comes to some consequences of pregnancy vs implications of mastopexy(breast lift) consideration.

As a result of repeated inflation/deflation of breasts subsequent to hormonal fluctuation during the course of pregnancy and breast feeding, it is natural for breasts to "sag" and "droop" as a result of volume loss, skin elasticity deterioration and hence the overall loss of perkiness of the breasts. The sense of breast perkiness relates to both its "look" and "feel", e.g.. the "footprints" of the breasts on the chest (whether it's low, medium or high breasted), the nipple positions with reference to the underlying breast mounds & the inframammary fold positions, as well as the degree of "firmness" from the breast tissue quality point of view.

In order to restore all the necessary elements in recreating the pre-pregnancy breast "look" & "feel", an appropriate surgical modification of shape, size & symmetry will be required in a variety of breast enhancement procedures. Depending on individual patient's conditions & preferences, surgical options could range from a spectrum of breast implant related procedures with or without a concurrent reduction/lift approach as well as breast lift techniques which only involve redistribution of internal breast tissues without using any breast implants. 

As it could be a complex surgical procedure and involve a lot of proper decision making from both patient's and surgeon's perspectives, I highly recommend a thorough clinical assessment by a fully qualified specialist plastic surgeon for determining the suitability of your desired breast enhancement procedure.

Hope that helps.

Best wishes

Ellis Choy

A breast lift (mastopexy) is considered the most effective solution. A breast lift addresses excess skin, reshapes the tissue, and repositions the nipples to a more youthful position. There are different lift techniques, with varying degrees of scarring, ranging from minimal (crescent and donut lifts) to more extensive (anchor or inverted T lifts). In some cases, breast implants may be added for volume and to enhance the overall lift.
For women who have experienced changes in breast shape after pregnancy or aging, a breast lift can be life-changing. However, surgery is not the only option in all cases. Some individuals may achieve satisfactory results with implants alone or fat transfer, especially if skin excess is minimal. Regardless, it's important to consult with an experienced plastic surgeon to determine the most appropriate procedure based on specific goals and the degree of sagging. Surgery remains the most effective for significant lifting and reshaping.
Krishna Vyas, MD, PhD, MHSHarvard, Hopkins, & Mayo Clinic Trained Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonNew York, New York