Is breast ptosis and breast atrophy the same thing? (Photo)

As previously mentioned, breast atrophy refers to loss of breast tissue, which commonly results after breast feeding or losing weight.  Breast ptosis refers to actual breast droopiness.  Based on your photos, I don't think you'll need an actual breast lift, implants alone should do the job as long as they are placed by your PS to maximize lift.

These are not necessarily the same thing. Breast ptosis is drooping of the breast. A good way to assess this is to determine whether your nipples are below the breast fold. Breast atrophy is a loss of breast tissue, most commonly from pregnancies and increasing age. Breast atrophy will often lead to ptosis, but certainly not always. For someone who starts with a small breast, atrophy can leave the breast envelope  in its native position. A simple implant, without a breast lift, can remedy this situation very nicely.

Breast atrophy is when you lose volume in your breast, which is relatively common after pregnancies.  Breast ptosis is sagging breasts.  Loss of volume often leads to ptosis.  So Atrophy results in Ptosis.

Thanks for your question and photos. Ptosis has to do with the location of your nipple in relationship to your breast fold. Atrophy has more to do with tissue loss or deflation. Both can happen after pregnancy and breast feeding.  You seem to have a mild case of ptosis and implants alone may work for you. There is a small chance you may need a lift after you are all healed. 

Breast ptosis and breast atrophy are two different things that happen to breasts as the result of the natural aging process, time, and especially with the changes that breasts go through with pregnancy and breastfeeding.Breast ptosis, means breast droop - the nipple, and the gland with it, droop to a lower position. Breast ptosis occurs due to age with stretching of the elastic skin and breast tissue fibers, relaxing of breast ligaments, hormonal changes, rigorous exercise, and changes of the breasts with pregnancy and breast feeding. Breast exercises, fancy sports bras, and pushup bras do not prevent breast ptosis. As plastic surgeons we categorize breast ptosis into categories to define how severe the drooping is, and this gives us guidelines to what procedures are needed to restore a youthful look and shape. No ptosis is defined by a nipple that is above the crease under the breast (inframammary fold), grade 1 ptosis describes a nipple position at the fold and higher than the majority of the breast tissue, grade 2 ptosis describes a nipple position below the fold but still higher than the majority of the breast tissue, and grade 3 ptosis describes a nipple position well below the fold at the point of maximum breast projection. Some surgeons consider an additional grade 4 (or severe grade 3 ptosis), where the nipple position is at the bottom of the breast and points towards the floor. When women with ptosis are considering breast augmentation, the degree of ptosis is taken into consideration to determine whether or not a breast lift is also needed to create a nice shape. For grade 0 to grade 2 ptosis, a breast augmentation alone will fill out the breast tissue and give a small lifting effect such that larger scars and a formal lift are not needed. Sometimes a dual-plane technique is used in these cases, which means that the muscle is separated from the breast tissue, allowing the breast tissue to rise to a more elevated position. For patients with grade 3 or more ptosis, often a formal breast lift is required along with augmentation to move the nipple into a better position and redistribute breast tissue into a more lifted position. Without a lift, in these cases, the breast implants will just make the breast look bigger and droopier.Breast atrophy, means thinning or shrinkage of tissue, a look that seems droopy because the breast appears deflated, even if the nipple is in a good position without actual ptosis. Breast atrophy occurs after pregnancy and breast feeding, when the breast ducts involute, it can also occur with hormonal changes after menopause or after ovaries are removed, and with anorexia. Breast atrophy also can occur with large implants that thin our the overlying breast tissue. Breast augmentation is a nice procedure that can restore lost volume and fill up the loose skin of atrophied breasts.Many women have both atrophy and also ptosis, but some have only one or the other - evaluating each of these two things together determines what type of breast augmentation is right for you.

Breast ptosis means sagging. Atrophy means shrinking. I think your breasts should look quite nice with a 400cc implant which will fill you up. I would not recommend a lift for you, based on these pictures. You are empty after breast feeding and the implant should correct that. The only warning I give is that the bigger they are, the more they will sag over time. Get on line and look at other websites and before and after pictures of women with implants the size you are requesting who look like you preop. That should reassure you. Best of luck

Hi Ptosis is the position of the nipple in relation to the breast fold. Grades indicate it is either above the fold, below or at the lowest point of the breast.So you have a degree of ptosis. atrophy is loss of tissue, essentially deflation so the breasts look empty.You could achieve correction of the droop with appropriately sized and shaped implants. That is tall implants and extra projected. You may well develop 'bottoming out' over time. this is when the implant drops and the breast stays up.Best to discuss the issues with your PS in detail before you proceedRegards

Thanks for writing,Ptosis and atrophy are two different things. Ptosis is falling of the nipple relative to the breast crease. A grade III ptosis is when the nipple is at the very bottom of the breast and pointing to the floor. Grade II ptosis; the nipple is above the bottom of the breast but below the breast crease, this is what you appear to have. Atrophy is drying up of the breast tissue, a common thing after breast feeding. The combination of ptosis and atrophy is common with pregnancy and breast feeding.Depending on how large you want your breasts will determine the need for a breast lift with implants or implants alone. To get the lift you have pictured, one will need to go dual plane and use large implants. In my experience you can have what I call 'larger lower slug breasts'. Then there is the issue of the impact of weight over time, ( 400cc implants are just under one pound of weight added to each breast) there will be a tendency for the implants to move down. If you want perky (Grade I Ptosis Breasts) with a smaller to moderately large breasts then I believe you will need a mastopexy (breast lift) and implants.Please take the time to review all of this with your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon before surgery, that way everybody is on the same sheet of music. You also will need to understand the long term implications of either choice you make. Either way you should do well. It's a matter of personal preference and choice, you will do best if you think 3, 5, and 10 years down the road. I hope this helps, good luckStephen M. Davis, MD, FACSGreen Hills Plastic Surgery

Thank you for the photos but an examinAtion is really needed to determine whether you would benefit from a lift - atrophy means loss of volume usually seen after breast feeding - ptosis means drooping of the breasts with the nipple below the inframammary crease.  The two can be seen together or separately Dr Corbin