As you age and undergo significant changes to your body, your breasts may become saggy or droopy. Saggy breasts can cause a loss of self-esteem and can negatively affect your self-image, as they may also make some types of clothing more difficult to wear. Fortunately, there are procedures to help treat saggy breasts, to help you return to a higher level of self-confidence.
There are a number of factors that can cause saggy breasts, from weight fluctuations to genetics.
The most common cause of saggy breasts is aging. As you age, the ligaments that comprise your breast tissue stretch and lose elasticity, since your body produces less collagen and elastin with age. The result is breasts that have lost their natural fullness, and that appear droopy or saggy.
When you gain or lose a substantial amount of weight, your breasts may become saggy. When you lose weight, you may also lose weight in your breasts, leaving you with stretched skin and droopy breasts. When you gain weight, fatty tissue in your breasts is increased, which also increases tension on the ligaments. This may cause your breasts to lose their shape.
In many cases, the shape of your body is influenced strongly by genetics. If other members of your family have or develop droopy breasts over time, it is more likely that your breasts will also droop or sag.
Because smoking cigarettes can cause elastin to break down, your skin – on your breasts and elsewhere – can lose its tightness. Skin on your breasts and elsewhere will then stretch out, which can lead to your breasts becoming soft and droopy.
In some cases, your breasts may become saggy simply because of their size and shape. Breasts that are very large, full and heavy are more likely to sag over time than breasts that are small.
When you become pregnant, your breasts increase in size and volume to accommodate the production of milk. After your pregnancy, and when you have finished breastfeeding, the skin of your breasts may be stretched and experience a loss of elasticity, which can lead to saggy breasts.
There are some lifestyle changes you can consider, such as exercises that engage the chest muscles and quitting smoking, to help prevent your breasts from sagging. You can also try to ensure you manage a healthy weight, and, if the shape of your breasts is a serious concern, carefully consider whether pregnancy is the right choice for you.
In some cases, a well-fitting bra can help prevent changes to the shape of your breasts. When exercising, it’s important to choose a supportive, properly fitted bra. This type of bra helps reduce breast motion, which has been shown to lead to stretching and sagging.
If your sagging breasts are severe, or are impacting your quality of life, you may wish to consider a surgical solution.
A breast lift, also known as mastopexy, is a surgical procedure that corrects breast sagging or drooping breast tissue. During a breast lift, our surgeon will remove excess skin and reshape your breast tissue, helping to correct sagging and drooping.
Unlike a breast lift, a breast augmentation involves the insertion of implants to help restore or provide fullness to the breasts. During this procedure, your surgeon will make incisions either under the breast, at the areola, or under the armpit, and will insert implants to provide a fuller, more even profile to your breasts.
A breast lift and breast augmentation can be combined to both correct a loss of volume and provide a full, more youthful appearance to your breasts.
If surgery is not an option for you, there are some non-surgical options to consider for addressing your saggy breasts.
Because a lack of motion can help your breasts maintain their fullness and elasticity, consider booking a professional bra fitting. Wearing a correctly sized bra will not only support your breasts and help them maintain their shape, but will help prevent back pain.
Workouts that target the chest and upper body muscles, such as weight training, pull-ups and push-ups, can help tone the muscles under the breasts and improve the appearance of sagging breasts.
Laser treatments, such as a laser breast lift, can help improve the appearance of saggy breasts. While less dramatic than a surgical breast lift, high-powered laser beams are used to tighten breast tissue, which can result in your breasts looking tighter, fuller, and less saggy.
Botox may work to improve sagging breasts when it is injected into the pectoralis minor chest muscle. The back muscles then lift the breast.
Check out our before and after section here!
The cost of your treatment will depend on what type of procedure you choose. Non-surgical options, such as Botox and laser treatments, tend to be significantly less costly than invasive treatments such as a breast lift or breast augmentation. However, surgical treatments will offer more dramatically visible, long-lasting results.
At SpaMedica, Dr. Thomas Bell has more than 25 years of experience in plastic surgery, including surgical procedures targeting the breasts. He has received numerous accolades, and was named Canada’s best plastic surgeon by W magazine. Dr. Bell will work with you to determine your ideal outcomes, and will recommend both the ideal procedure, as well as any necessary aftercare or lifestyle adjustments during your recovery period.
At SpaMedica, Dr. Bell and his team of clinicians will work closely with you to help restore your self-confidence and self-esteem by determining the best saggy breast solution for you. Contact the clinic to book your consultation today.
Procedure to lift breasts up for a more feminine and youthful appearance.
A procedure that uses high tech, man-made, Health Canada approved prosthetic devices, called a breast implant to augment the volume, proportion, and shape of the breasts.
