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!!

The combination or pregnancy, breast feeding and aging creates a definite change in the size, shape, and laxity of the breast tissue and skin envelope. The surgical decision depends on the volume of the breast tissue and the degree of laxity of the skin. 
A breast lift alone is acceptable if there is satisfactory amount of tissue to create the size and shape of the breast. If there has been significant loss of breast tissue and a loss of skin support, then a combination of breast augmentation (submuscular) and breast lift will give you the ideal result, with both size and shape.
Be careful not to use an implant alone to lift the sagging breast. If the implant is too large and heavy, there will still be sagging without the cure. 

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

With time, gravity and childbirth women experience drooping with
or without deflation of the breasts. Options can vary depending on the
patient’s anatomy. If the patient has a significant amount of breast tissue,
but simply have too much drooping of the breast a lift can be performed without
implants. If more volume is needed then implants or fat grafting can be used to
add fullness to the breast if lost through the natural volume. If the breast is
simply deflated, but there is no skin excess then implants can be used to fill
up the volume without needing a lift. Which type of technique is best for you
should be determined with your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon based on a
detailed examination of your breast size, tissue excess, skin quality and a
number of other factors. Unfortunately, once breasts droop there is rarely any
good options for patients besides surgery. However, the good news is that
patients are usually very happy with the surgical improvements and this turns
the clock back to the time before the breasts were damaged by time and
pregnancy.

Thank you for your question.  Pregnancy is notorious for causing volume loss in the upper portion of the breast.  While a lift will restore nipple position, it will do little to restore size , shape or volume to the upper portion of the breast.  An implant works very well for this.  The implant does not have to be very large. Often, a small implant is preferable.  seeking consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon will provide some insight. best of luck! Dr. Pacella

So its very common to have some sag following having babies let alone with age alone.  While there are lots of things tossed around in regards to "perking" up the breast most don't work.  SO if you have minimal sag, actually deflation, then an augmentation MAY do the trick.  This only works in specific cases and if the sag is too much it can make matters worse.  If the sag is moderate then a lift is the way to go.  Now which lift depends on your anatomy as there are various kinds available.  Your plastic surgeon can help guide you as to which is the right one.....not which one you want but rather which one you need.  Hope that helpsDr Rahban

Breast implants alone do not help sagging very much.  So a breast lift is usually recommended.  In most of my patients, implants are used simultaneously.  A breast lift alone can help correct extra loose tissue of the lower poles, but does little to restore fullness of the upper poles, which most women desire because this is flattering and looks youthful.  Not all breast lifts are created equal - the vertical technique provides the best shape and least amount of scarring.  I've attached a link to this portion of my website to show examples.

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.