How To Prevent and Treat Breast Sag

Some women have sagging breasts (medically known as ptosis). A number of factors from aging to genetics to gravity contribute to sagging breasts. These factors almost guarantee that, as we age, our breasts will lose their youthful perkiness. Large-breasted women may experience this to a higher degree since their breast tissue is denser and heavier. Fortunately, plastic surgeons can easily remedy breast sag with a procedure known as breast lift. Sometimes breast lift will be combined with breast augmentation using breast implants and sometimes it will be performed on its own. Your plastic surgeon can let you know which option might be best for you. Sagging breasts usually result from a combination of factors, some of which we can control, others that we cannot. Following are some of the factors that may contribute to your case:
AgeDenseness of Breast TissueSize and Weight of BreastsLoss of Estrogen or ProgesteroneBreast FeedingLoss of Skin ElasticityPtosis affects many women. You can measure your degree of ptosis at home very easily using a ruler and your breast crease as a guide. Place the highest part of the ruler directly under your breast and against your ribcage, sitting under your mammary fold. Mild ptosis occurs when the central point of your nipple is above or on top of your measuring tool. Remember, the areola and your nipple are two different parts of your body, so make sure you are using your nipple as a guide. If your nipple is 1-3cm below the ruler, you have moderate ptosis. More severe cases see a 3cm drop between the nipple’s center and the mammary fold. This could also be evidenced by your nipples pointing down toward the floor. Asymmetry could also be present in ptosis patients who feel their breasts are too low on their chest wall or experience stretched out areolae, or may have a low breast all together (with no ptosis.)

Some women think they suffer from ptosis, but it’s really pseudo-ptosis (also known as pseudoptosis). Your nipple’s center will still rest at or above your mammary fold, but since your breast lobe is a bit flattened, your breast appears droopy. This condition may result from weight gain or pregnancy and may occur in breasts with smaller areolae. Typically pseudoptosis can be corrected with simple breast augmentation and does not require breast lift.

Chest-exercises, massage and creams have all been rumored to firm up the tissue in your breast area. Your breast muscle is separate from your breast tissue, so the improvement you notice from exercise is probably better muscle tone in your chest, but not any actual change in your degree of breast sag. Massage can increase blood flow and, in turn, make your breasts appear more youthful, but it won’t eliminate existing breast sag. Good, high quality moisturizing creams can certainly help to keep your skin more elastic, slowing down the process of aging and breast sag. However, by far the best way to prevent breast sag is to buy good quality bras that fit your properly.

You should always wear a supportive bra, even though it may be fun not to, and even when young. It is during youth when many young women make the mistake of wearing a non-supportive bra or play sports without the proper sports bra and fall victim to gravity and loss of elasticity. Look for a good fitting bra with underwire and a soft fabric. There is a very good technique for you to measure for bra size, so be sure you are headed to the store with the right information and not going by what seems to fit well. Most often, your bra store or lingerie representative can help measure you to make sure you are purchasing and wearing the right size bra and getting the support you need!

Remember, if your breasts already sag, your plastic surgeon can easily help you fix that with either a breast lift or breast augmentation. 

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