What shoud i do for sagging Breasts: A lit, Prostheses or Both?

Breast ptosis, or sagging breasts, is a phenomenon that many women around the world suffer from.

This sagging can be unpleasant for the sufferer, which is why cosmetic surgery now offers effective and long-lasting solutions to remedy it. Two solutions in particular are being considered to restore the breasts to their original firmness and appearance: a breast lift and the implant of prostheses.

Which solution is more suitable? Is it possible to combine the two techniques to obtain a better result?

What causes breast ptosis?

Breast ptosis is a phenomenon that is characterised by a fall of the breasts. The breasts then look droopy, less firm, and less aesthetic.

This phenomenon can occur naturally, without any apparent cause, but it can also occur following certain major life events.

The most common causes of breast ptosis are

– Repeated weight loss and weight gain: weight changes will have a negative effect on the quality of the skin of the breast, and thus promote the appearance of breast ptosis.

– Old age: with age, the breasts inevitably lose their firmness. The older the patient, the greater the risk of developing breast ptosis naturally.

– The aftermath of pregnancy: after the birth of the baby, and in particular after breastfeeding, the breasts will sag to a greater or lesser extent and lose their volume. The longer the breastfeeding lasts, the more likely the sagging will increase.

– Genetic factors: this is known as congenital ptosis and is a phenomenon that is detected in the patient’s family. In this case, breast ptosis can appear from adolescence.

Correcting breast ptosis with a lift

The breast lift, or mastopexy, is a procedure that allows the breasts to be lifted without the need for implants (and therefore without giving them more volume).

It is indeed possible to do without breast implants in several cases, especially when the breasts have an average volume, and when the skin loss is not very important. The lift will give the breast a firmer and younger appearance and will also allow the areola to be repositioned.

During a breast lift, the surgeon will remove the excess skin that was causing the breasts to sag. The incisions made and the scars that result from the operation will depend primarily on the amount of excess skin.

Remedying breast ptosis with breast implants

If you have sagging breasts, and if they have also suffered from hypoplasia (loss of volume in the breasts due to breastfeeding, for example), then a simple lift will not be able to give an optimal result. On the other hand, it is possible to lift the breasts while giving them volume and beautiful curves, thanks to breast implants.

The breast implants, which are made of silicone gel, are used to fill the lost volume. The implants can last for many years (10 years on average), and it is possible to choose the desired shape and volume depending on the desired result.

In the case of a correction of sagging breasts, the implants placed will generally be of small volume, as the aim will essentially be to restore the old shape of the breast.

Depending on the patient’s glandular volume, the surgeon will determine the position of the future breast implants: they will be placed either in front or behind the pectoral muscle. When the patient returns to the clinic after several years to repeat the operation, the new implants will be placed in the same position as the old models.

Combining a breast lift with implants

When a breast lift is combined with implants, it is possible to kill two birds with one stone: to remedy the drooping of the breasts while giving them more shape and volume. This combination gives a very satisfactory result and a natural appearance to the new breast.

Depending on the condition of the breasts, the combination of a lift and prosthesis may be essential: this is particularly the case when the patient’s breasts, in addition to suffering from sagging skin, have undergone a significant loss of volume; in this situation, the surgeon will recommend the fitting of prostheses in addition to the lift.

There are many advantages to having a breast implant in addition to a breast lift: the skin of the breast is tightened, the breasts gain volume, and the look more harmonious. Not to mention the fact that this operation has an undeniably positive effect on the patient’s mind: she has more self-confidence and is satisfied with the new cleavage.

Since this operation combines two surgical procedures, it can last up to 2.5 hours. It is performed under general anaesthesia. The augmentation will be performed according to the patient’s wishes and morphology. The procedure can also be used to correct breast asymmetry (two breasts that do not have the same volume). By adding a prosthesis to a lift, we speak of a ptosis-augmentation cure. This is an operation that is now widely performed throughout the world, with very satisfactory results.

Are other solutions possible?

In order to effectively remedy breast ptosis, breast augmentation by prosthesis can be replaced by breast lipofilling. This technique makes it possible to fill the volume of the breasts not by implants, but by injecting fat directly into the breast. The fat that is injected comes from the same patient.

The required amount of fat will be taken from other parts of the body (hips, thighs…), and after a laboratory treatment, this fat will make it possible to increase both breasts in a discreet way.

However, it should be borne in mind that the patient who wishes to benefit from this operation must have sufficient fat reserves.

It is also important to know that lipofilling does not allow for much gain in cup size; therefore, for a clearer increase in breast volume, the fitting of prostheses remains a better option.