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

Surgery generally is the only way to correct sagging after having babies, however you have some options.  Depending on the degree of sagging, which can be determined at the consultation, you may qualify for breast implants/augmentation or a breast lift.  Either way you should be able to reshape the breasts and perk them up!!

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

Thank you for your inquiry! You have options for perky breasts! You can do a small implant, fat transfer to the breasts. Both of these can be done with or without a breast lift. Schedule a consult with a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon to help you reach your goals.

A breast lift, or mastopexy, is the most effective way to not only lift, but also shape the breasts to a more youthful position. If you also desire to have a larger breast also, a breast implant or a fat transfer can be performed at the same time, depending on what your goals are. There are several different techniques for breast lift with different incision patterns. Depending on your body type, skin quality etc, you may be a better candidate for one versus the other.

10 Things to Consider Before Breast Lift Surgery
Are you a candidate for a breast lift? Should you also consider implants? What can you expect during recovery? Here are 10 things consider.
A breast lift, or mastopexy, raises and firms your breasts, giving them a more youthful look. Dr. Ted Eisenberg accomplishes this by removing the excess skin, moving the nipples to a new, higher position, and suturing the remaining tissue together to create a sling – essentially a natural support bra – that raises and reshapes your breasts.To determine if you are a candidate for a lift, try the “pencil test.” Take off your bra and look in the mirror. Place a pencil horizontally along the crease under your breast where your bra band would rest. Does your nipple – not your areola – rest above, below, or at the pencil?If your nipple is above the pencil, relax. You are probably not a candidate for breast lift surgery. Use some of the money you save for new, uplifting bras.If your nipple hangs below the pencil, your breasts would be considered moderately to severely ptotic (or droopy) and you would need a breast lift to raise and reshape your breasts.If your nipple is at the pencil and your breasts are mildly droopy, it’s a borderline situation. You might get a good result with breast implants alone because a breast augmentation can give the illusion of a lift. As the implant fills out the upper portion of the breast, it also fills out the lower portion, which makes it appear as if the nipple is located higher on the breast. After about 9 months, when the implant has settled, you’ll have a better idea if you are perky enough. You can always get a lift later if needed.After a lift, your breasts will be the same size as they were before surgery, because only excess, stretched skin is removed during a breast lift; no breast tissue is taken away. You’ll look exactly how you look before surgery when you are wearing a good bra.To determine if you need a breast lift and implants, put on your bra and look in the mirror. If you are satisfied with the size of your breasts, then a breast lift alone might be the right procedure for you. If you wish your breasts were bigger, you are probably a candidate for a breast lift and implants (an augmentation mastopexy).Women report minimal discomfort after breast lift surgery. That’s because a breast lift involves removing only loose, stretched skin. If implants are added at the same time, the skin and muscle will be stretched, which may cause a little more discomfort.More than 90 percent of my patients are back to work on the fifth day after surgery if they work in an office setting. Women whose work requires lifting, pushing or pulling usually go back to work toward the end of the second week.It’s very likely that breast lift surgery won’t affect your ability to breastfeed because your milk ducts, which run from the mammary glands to the nipple, are not disturbed. Only skin from the perimeter of the areola is removed, and there are no milk ducts there.Dr. Ted Eisenberg, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Author RealSelf Distinguished Hall of Fame Inductee

Thank you for your question. Aging, and pregnancy can greatly alter the appearance of the breasts. My recommendation would be to visit with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, and he/she will be able to take appropriate measurements to address your concerns. A breast lift will provide the greatest lift, however, there are non-invasive options available that yield good results.

Thank you for your question! Saggy breasts are caused by having more skin than breast tissue. The breast tissue itself can stretch out over time as well. Unfortunately there is no non-surgical way to remove excess skin and reshape the breast tissue. And the tradeoff for a nicely shaped breast is scars. But over time the scars fade quite well. The surgery is done as an outpatient, and only takes a couple of hours. You go home the same day, and most patients are back to work within a few days. 

Thank you for the excellent question.  A breast lift, called mastopexy, is most commonly done for women who are finished having children and are concerned about having breast deflation and ptosis (excessive sagging or loose skin), along with displacement of the nipples below their ideal location. This is a highly satisfying procedure for the right candidate who has realistic expectations about the outcome. The biggest concern for some women is the anchor-shaped scar (a scar around the areola, a vertical scar from the areola down, and a horizontal scar in the crease under the breast). Each of these three scars is a result of a surgical maneuver aimed to alter the breast in an effort to restore its original anatomy. A breast is a 3-dimensional surface, and a deflated, ptotic breast has excess skin in both the vertical and horizontal dimensions. The vertical scar from the areola down is a result of excising the excess skin in one dimension; the horizontal scar hidden in the crease under the breast results from excising the excess skin in the other dimension; the scar around the areola results from the surgical raising of the nipple-areola to a new, higher location on the breast, which means that a new skin opening for the nipple-areola has to be created. In a patient who accepts this scar, the results are a dramatic improvement in the shape of the breasts. The excess skin is the only portion of the breast that is removed during this procedure; no other part of the breast is removed. The bottom third of the breast, which is typically the ptotic portion of the breast, can be used for auto-augmentation of the breast by relocating it internally to the central portion of the breast, giving the breast more fullness in the location where it makes the most sense aesthetically. Depending on the individual anatomy of the breast, it may be necessary to combine a mastopexy with breast augmentation using either an implant or fat grafting.  Make sure you are evaluated by a board certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience in plastic surgery of the breast.

Thank you for your question. While I would need to examine you in person to say with certainty, surgery is likely your best option. A significant percentage of women experience breast ptosis, or sag, due to many different factors, so you are not alone! Breastfeeding and pregnancy can lead to permanent changes in the shape of the breasts. Microscopic connective ligaments in the breasts called Coopers' ligaments help maintain breast structure and shape, but these ligaments become stressed upon weight gain or due to hypertrophy of the breast milk glands during breastfeeding. These ligaments may be stressed beyond the limit of their elasticity and may be unable to return fully to their original shape. Plastic surgeons actually grade breast ptosis, and the most severe grade is characterized by a nipple positioned at the lowest part of the breast mound. In my experience, even this type of ptosis is actually quite common.Breast lift surgyer, or mastopexy, is a very effective way to raise the breast mound. I perform one of three surgical techniques depending on the degree of ptosis (sag): periareolar (incisional scar only around the areola), vertical (or lollipop - periareolar plus a vertical incision down the lower pole of the breast to the inframammary fold beneath), or wise pattern (a vertical breast lift plus an incision hidden in the inframammary fold). I strive to minimize the incisions required for my patients, but it's important to choose an appropriate option given the extent of ptosis. Surgical scars typically heal to thin lines, and my breast lift patients are overwhelmingly happy. (Some patients are worried about their scarring before surgery, but afterward, few patients even mention it. The change in breast shape and position is far more dramatic.)I am highly experienced in this operation, and I urge you to visit a board-certified plastic surgeon who is a specialist in cosmetic surgery of the breast and body. There are significant differences in the aesthetic results of a high quality breast lift versus a mediocre one.