I'm Assuming I Need a Breast Lift, but Don't Like the Scarring, Do I Have Any Other Option for Better Breasts?

After pregnancy, nursing children, and weight fluctuations, many women are left with deflated, sagging breasts.

Depending on the degree of sagging, this can be corrected with either a breast lift or breast implants.

Women who have a minimal amount of sagging, would like to have larger breasts with more superior fullness, and have a nipple that is no more than about an inch below the breast fold can consider placement of breast implants to correct sagging breasts.  If women have a moderate degree of sagging that cannot be corrected with implants alone, placement of breast implants may limit the extent of the breast lift needed to fully correct the sagging, thus resulting in smaller, less noticeable scars on the breasts. 

On the other hand, women who have a significant amount of sagging and do not wish to be larger will require a breast lift to fully correct their breasts.

Like with normal breasts, pregnancy and breast feeding will likely stretch out the skin of the augmented breasts, leaving you with some sagging and a loss of fullness of the breasts.  However, because augmented breasts have the added weight of an implant, you may notice accelerated deflation and sagging after a breast augmentation than what may have occured without a breast augmentation.  I recommend that you postpone a breast lift or breast augmentation with implants until after you have had all of your children.

Based on your description, you should do well with breast lift surgery. Unfortunately,  for patients who describe their breasts as “deflated sagging”,  there is no good alternative.

I would suggest that you wait on having the surgery until you have completed pregnancies and are once again in a long-term stable relationship.

I hope this helps.

A breast augmentation also has scarring. If you are planning to have more children then the surgery should be deferred or you may need additional work later on. Pregnancy and breast feeding could result in additional sagging which would require correction. Augmentation can help in patients with a limited amount of sagging, or ptosis. WIthout photos, it is impossible to determine whether this would be appropriate for you. If the tradeoff between the scarring and the lift isn't viable in your case, then the sagging is probably something that you could live with. There are a variety of methods for mastopexy and it is important to see a board certified plastic surgeon in consultation to determine which ones would be applicable to your circumstances and concerns.

There are three possibilities. If your breasts are simply empty, then they can be filled out with implants. If they are simply saggy, hanging down below the breast creases but with adequate volume, they can be lifted. However, if they are both empty and saggy they need both a lift and an implant. Let's hope your condition is the first, because with that you can avoid the scars of a lift.

Dear Satailja,

Breast augmentation alone may help "fill out" and lift deflated breasts if there is a limited amount of sagging. If there is more significant sagging present, then a breast lift with or without implants may be necessary. I would consult an experienced plastic surgeon about your concerns.

Warmest wishes,

Larry Fan, MD