Advice for Sagging Breasts After Weight Loss?

         Massive weight loss
of more then 100 lbs can significantly affect a women’s body. Weight loss of
this magnitude can cause loose saggy skin in multiple anatomic areas. It’s not
unusual for women to lose breast volume and develop breast sag, when this type
of weight loss occurs. For this reason, they frequently request breast lift and
breast augmentation surgery.

 

         Without pictures and
a physical exam it’s hard to know what option is best for you. The majority of
patients want restoration of breast volume, correction of breast sag, upper
breast fullness and symmetry. The majority of patients require a keyhole
mastopexy. In some cases a breast implant is necessary to create upper breast
fullness and restore breast volume.

 

         Breast implants can
be placed at the time of the breast lift or delayed and performed as a
secondary procedure. Both approaches have advantages and disadvantages and many
surgeons have strong opinions about this topic.

 

         When both procedures
are performed together, revisions are frequently necessary. For this reason,
some surgeons feel that staging the procedure is appropriate. Advocates for a
combined procedure feel that this approach saves the majority of patients a
secondary procedure. They don’t view a secondary procedure as a complication
but instead as a necessary next step.

 

         It’s appropriate to
individualize care for each patient. In some patients, a combined procedure is
indicated while in others a staged approach is necessary.

 

         If your considering
breast augmentation and breast lift following massive weight loss, consultation
with a board certified plastic surgeon is appropriate. This surgeon should be
able to help you formulate a treatment plan that will meet your needs. 

Breast lift surgery will use the volume that you already have and reposition it higher, perkier, and tighter on your chest. Weight loss results in excess skin, which must be removed by lifting the breasts to give you the right shape!

If you've lost a significant amount of weight and are experiencing sagging breasts, a breast lift (mastopexy) is a common solution. This procedure involves repositioning the breasts higher on the chest and tightening the skin to restore a more youthful shape, eliminating excess sagging. Additionally, breast implants (saline or silicone) can be added during a breast lift to restore volume, especially in the upper part of the breasts. This combination of procedures is often the best option to achieve both a firm, lifted shape and the desired size, particularly if you want to maintain large breasts. In some cases, surgeons may recommend staging the procedures—first performing the lift and later adding implants—to minimize complications and ensure optimal results.
It's crucial to consult with an experienced plastic surgeon who specializes in breast surgery for post-weight loss patients. They will assess your unique needs, discuss incision types, and help you decide on the best approach. Since skin elasticity may be affected by the weight loss, your surgeon will set realistic expectations about the final outcome. While recovery varies, many women are able to return to light activities within a few weeks, with final results taking several months.
Krishna Vyas, MD, PhD, MHSHarvard, Hopkins, & Mayo Clinic Trained Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonNew York, New York

Thank you for your question, and congratulations on your weight loss!  Deflation of the breasts after losing a large amount of weight is extremely common.  As you've lost volume of breast tissue, the likely best solution for your problem is a combination of breast implants with a mastopexy (breast lift).  Combined, these two techniques will restore both volume and shape to the breast.  This is a fairly difficult, technical operation for even an experienced plastic surgeon.  To insure the optimal result, I would recommend consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in aesthetic breast work, especially in those patients who've lost weight.

Thank you for your question.  You sound like excellent candidate for a breast lift to bring the breasts up and reduce the size of the areola.  Photos would be helpful to best answer answer your question.The type of incision needed is best determined by physical exam.I perform a liposuction breast lift/reduction known as Breast LipoLift®. This specialized technique spares more nerves and blood supply as well as removes tissue from the areas you don't want such as near the armpit and the lower portion hanging near your stomach. Once I use this to shape the breast, I then remove the excess skin to tighten the breast and create a more proportional silhouette with better cleavage. This procedure is also more accurate than traditional breast lifts or reductions since I use 3D measurements to uncover size asymmetries. During the procedure I remove exactly whatever is more from the larger side to get as close to symmetry as possible. Since I perform this less invasively the recovery time is faster and drains are not necessary. Over 90% of my patients are out to dinner the next evening taking only Advil and Tylenol if even needed. The size would depend on the proportion with your body versus going for a cup size.  It has been proven to have less complications than traditional breast reduction (please see my Breast LipoLift® page web page) and should not affect nipple sensation, mammograms, cancer risk or breast-feeding. The best way to assess and give true advice would be an in-person exam.  Please see a board-certified plastic surgeon that specializes in breast plastic surgery.  Best of luck!    Dr. Schwartz Board Certified Plastic Surgeon#RealSelf100Surgeon #RealSelfCORESurgeon#RealSelfTopContributor

Thank you for your question and congratulations on the weight loss!  While life-changing for your health and general well being, as you have described, significant weight loss can also affect a woman's body.  The good news is that as plastic surgeons we have options available to patients who wish for fuller and more perky breasts.Without a physical exam it is difficult to say with any certainty exactly what procedure (or combination of procedures) you may need to achieve the result you desire.  To counteract the volume loss and breast sag, or ptosis, that can develop after significant weight loss and/or pregnancy sometimes a combination of a breast lift and breast implants are required in order to restore the volume and shape to the breasts.  You should definitely take pride in and be excited about your weight loss!  There are several options available to help counteract the weight loss' affect on your breasts and I would highly recommend scheduling an in-person consultation appointment with a board-certified plastic surgeon.  At the time of this consultation and physical exam, the best plan of action can be set forth.  Again, congratulations on the weight loss and I wish you all the best!

When many women lose #weight, their breasts lose weight as well. There may also be some sagging of their breasts due to the weight change. These women are potential candidates for a breast lift. A #mastopexy or breast lift operation is designed to improve the shape and position of the breast without reducing their size. Those with breast #sagging or #ptosis experience improvements with the surgery. Some patients will have a better shape to their breast such as increased superior fullness if an implant is used at the time of mastopexy. The procedure can also be combined with a minor breast reduction to reduce the breast width if desired as well. Also, during the procedure, the nipple and areolae can be corrected, if necessary, to the desired size and at the correct height. All in all, an elevated, more youthful breast can be a satisfying result for the patient following their #weightloss.

Mastopexy is a procedure to move the nipple areola to a normal position, reduce the areolar size to a youthful diameter, remove and even up sagging tissue, and create a fuller more youthful shape to the breast mound. it can often be done without an implant as long as you understand that you will be slightly smaller after the surgery and not have as much cleavage and upper pole fullness as women that choose an implant. Look at lots of picture of before/after of women with and without implants and decide what is right for you. Good Luck!!

There are multiple techniques
to achieve excellent breast results after weight loss. From the surgical standpoint, the best option for rejuvenating the
breasts after losing weight are either a breast augmentation and/or a breast lift.
Sometime a combination of the two procedures will provide the best
results possible. As long as you
are willing to have a scar, you can anticipate lifted, perkier and larger
breasts. Depending on your anatomy, the type of scar can vary. Sometimes, a
circular scar around the areola will be sufficient, other times a keyhole of
lollipop type or anchor scar may be needed. Hope that helps!Sincerely,Joshua Kreithen, M.D.
Sarasota, FL

Weight loss can have a dramatic impact on your entire body, and the breasts are no exception to this.  In many cases a properly executed breast lift is able to remove excess skin and reshape the breast to achieve a more desirable appearance.  In some cases implants can be used as well to achieve the desired shape.  Each patient's goals and anatomy differ, so discussing this with your surgeon is your best place to start.  

Your situation is very common.  While it is similar in many ways to what happens to many women after several children and breast feeding there are some unique elements about weight loss that you need to consider.Essentially you need to address both the SHAPE and the VOLUME of your breastsShape means a lift.  Given the amount of weight you have lost you will likely need an anchor lift.  Volume means adding an implant either saline or siliconeNow since you have lost a lot of weight you must be careful not to go too big as your skins elastisity will never be the same and while it will look good for a short time it may sag again.  Addtionally your surgeon must be careful not to be too aggressive with creating your pocket because weightloss patients are at risk for malposition of the implant....meaning it sits in the wrong location.Hope that helpsDr Rahban