Posted November 23, 2020 in breast lift surgery, breast surgery
3 Minute Read:
Many women find that their breasts do not maintain their youthful perkiness as they age. This is most often caused by sagging breasts, which occur naturally over time, but may also be exacerbated by many factors.
A breast lift, or mastopexy, is a surgical procedure that lifts and reshapes the breasts. This process adjusts sagging breasts to a higher and perkier position on the chest and can correct many of the issues patients have with their bust as they age. The operation may also adjust the size and projection of the nipple-areola complex, which can significantly benefit a patient’s confidence.
What Conditions Make A Breast Lift Appealing?
Many women seek out breast lift surgery for one of three major factors. These conditions are linked to breast sagging and other signs of aging.
Weight Loss
Many women who lose weight find that their breasts shrink, and this loss leaves loose skin and weakened tissues. A breast lift raises the breast tissue back to a higher position and removes excess skin. This prevents new sagging from occurring, so long as the skin remains firm and weight remains stable.
Pregnancy
Much like with weight loss, women often find that their breasts sag after pregnancy. This often occurs after they stop producing milk and the breasts shrink back to their more regular size. Unfortunately, the skin and tissue that hold up the breasts do not always bounce back. When that occurs, the breasts may sag.
Breastfeeding can also impact the nipple-areola complexes, which often do not shrink following weening. This can cause the areolas to grow in size and the nipples to project downwards, forming an undesirable aesthetic. Breast lift surgery can correct nipple-areola projection, restoring nipples to their pre-pregnancy state.
Menopause
After menopause, many women experience sagging breasts. This occurs due to hormonal changes and the effects of gravity over time on the breast tissues. This sagging may be natural but is often unwanted. Fortunately, a breast lift can reverse the effects of breast sagging after menopause.
A breast lift cannot stop the aging process, but it can reverse some aging effects already present. This means that while sagging breasts can be raised back to a more lifted position, a breast lift will not prevent new sagging from occurring. Some women choose to get a second breast lift years later to maintain beneficial effects.
There are a series of lesser factors mentioned by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons that you can find here.
Do I Need a Breast Augmentation or Breast Lift?
Some women think that they can correct their sagging breasts with breast implants through a breast augmentation procedure. This is not accurate. While breast augmentation can be performed with a breast lift, the two procedures address different concerns. Breast augmentation increases the volume of the breasts but does not directly correct sagging breasts. If you are interested in both breast enlargement and more perky breasts, you may want to consider both procedures.
Want to Learn More?
If you are interested in breast procedures and want to learn more about which procedures are ideal for you, please contact us. Call our Dallas office at (214) 363-2575 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Pollock, where he can answer your questions. You can also contact us online!
