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A breast lift, or breast mastopexy, is a procedure that raises the breasts and nipples by removing and tightening excess skin to create a more shapely, youthful breast appearance.
There are multiple factors that cause a woman’s breasts to sag, droop, and become less full during her lifetime.
Changes in hormones due to pregnancies, and the weight changes involved, often create drastic changes in a woman’s breast elasticity, shape, and fullness.
Also, natural aging and loosening skin elasticity, paired with losing estrogen during menopause, can further increase breast sagging.
If you’re concerned about your breasts sagging and looking to see if you’re a good fit for a breast lift, then read our 8 signs below.
It’s important to note that a breast lift cannot add more volume to a breast size. In that situation, a breast augmentation is the better option. However, it’s common to combine both an augmentation with a breast lift in some of these situations listed below.
Sign # 1 Your Breasts Sag More Than You’d Like
Breasting sagging, or breast ptosis, is an inevitable part of the aging process for women. Changes in skin elasticity and weight can create a drooping or sagging breast.
The effects of childbearing, breast-feeding, and gravity also take their toll on the shape and appearance of breasts. For women with C and D cups, these effects can be even more pronounced.
A breast lift is your best option to tighten up your breast’s skin and tissue to create a perkier, youthful breast.
Sign # 2 Your Nipples Face Downward
Changes in breast’s elasticity and volume, whether they are the effects of hormonal changes due to pregnancy, or the natural effects of aging, can pull your nipples and areolas farther down than you’d like.
Instead of having your nipples facing up, they tend to sag and face downward, sometimes straight down.
A breast lift procedure can remove excess skin and tighten up your breast so your nipples and areolas can face upwards again.
Sign # 3 Asymmetrical Breasts, One Breast Sags Lower Than the Other
Asymmetrical breasts are common. Around 50% of women have some form of asymmetrical breasts, although the appearance usually isn’t that noticeable.
However, as aging occurs and breast tissue changes, breast asymmetry can become more pronounced, leaving one breast sagging considerably lower.
If you’re concerned about your asymmetrical breasts, especially if one droops lower, then a breast lift could be right for you. Breast augmentation is also recommended to fix breast asymmetry if sagging isn’t an issue.
Sign # 4 Breasts Have Become Flat or Deflated Due to Menopause
It’s common for women to lose volume in the upper area of their breasts due to aging, especially after menopause.
Because menopause greatly decreases the amount of estrogen in a woman’s body, it can lead to a reduced volume and atrophying of the breast tissue, causing the breasts to shrink, sag, and become “deflated.”
Because a breast lift cannot add more volume to a woman’s breast, breast augmentation is usually performed to improve breast volume. In this instance, it’s common to perform both a breast augmentation and a breast lift to improve fullness and breast/nipple position.
Sign # 5 Your Nipples Fall Below Your Breast Creases
The crease underneath a woman’s breast, the inframammary fold, is where the breast meets the chest.
If your nipples tend to sag lower than this fold line, you might be a good candidate for a breast lift.
Nipples that hang around the inframammary fold are considered stage 1 of breast sagging, and aren’t in need of a breast lift.
However, if your nipples hang below your inframammary fold, a breast lift can enhance the position of your nipples.
Nipples and areolas that hang well below the inframammary fold and face downward (Sign #2) are considered stage 3, and can greatly benefit from having a breast lift.
If your breasts are too large and you’re considering breast reduction, know that you can combine a reduction with a breast lift to improve the placement of your nipples over your breast creases.
