5 Myths About Breast Sagging and the Ultimate Solution
Are you one of the several women who will do anything to delay or prevent your breasts from sagging? If yes, you need to start with identifying truth from deception. To assist you in your journey towards perky breasts at any age, allow us to set the record straight about these false misconceptions of breast sagging.
Myth #1: Wearing a bra 24/7 prevents sagging.
No data shows that push-up bras or undergarments with underwires can prevent sagging. Similarly, no scientific evidence supports the hearsay that wearing a bra during sleep helps to prevent sagging. There is one exception, however: Many experts recommend wearing a sports bra during exercise. The constant pull of gravity, the bouncing, and movement in certain physical activities can stretch the breast tissue and lead to drooping. Some sports bras function like body armor for women, holding the breasts in place as if there is no movement at all.
Myth #2: Being a breastfeeding mom can cause sagging.
According to a 2008 study, breastfeeding is not a contributor to ptosis (another term for sagging). Pregnancy itself might be the bigger culprit, says Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Yale University. She notes that "breasts increase in size with pregnancy and stay enlarged with breastfeeding, but they then slowly shrink down once a woman finishes nursing. That weight loss and deflation of the breasts can make them sag."
Myth #3: Certain exercises help to maintain the shape of the breasts.
Breasts do not contain muscles, so no type of workout targets them. But exercises that focus on the chest muscle is a different and beneficial story. The pectoralis major muscle is in your upper chest, fanning across the shoulder to the breastbone. Some chest exercises, including push-ups and dips, can help to elevate the breasts and give them a more perky appearance.
Myth #4: Small breasts never ever sag.
FALSE. Big or small — gravity does not discriminate. Small breasts are susceptible to sagging, although not as much. "It is true that, in general, small breasts do sag a bit less than larger ones because there is less tissue pulling down," says Dr. Minkin. "Whether or not your breasts sag depends on the ratio of breast tissue to fat," adds Deborah Axelrod, MD, medical director of clinical breast services and breast programs at New York University.
In other words, if your breast density is high (more breast tissue than fat), then your breasts are less likely to sag than if you have low breast density (more fat than breast tissue).
Myth #5: Sagging is inevitable.
While sagging is a natural occurrence that all women will experience at some point, there are ways to minimize it. For example, did you know a high BMI (body mass index) and a history of smoking are risk factors for breasts bulging downward? In addition, yo-yo dieting is a significant contributor to sagging. "If a woman gains a lot of weight, her breasts will stretch out like the rest of her skin," states Minkin. "However, if she then loses that weight, she will be left with the extra skin, which sags because it no longer has all that tissue holding it up.” Maintaining a healthy weight can do wonders for your body and prevent excessive skin sagging at any age.
Lasting Solutions to Sagging Breast
Some women who come into our office are not 100 percent sure of what they want. Two questions we hear often are:
● “What is the difference between a breast augmentation and breast lift?”
● "How can augmentation or lift surgery correct my sagging breasts?"
One way to understand the difference between these cosmetic procedures is to consider the different results they can achieve.
Is Breast Augmentation Right for You?
Breast augmentation in Phoenix, AZ, technically known as augmentation mammaplasty, is a cosmetic procedure that enhances the size of your breasts. Because it involves saline or silicone implants, the procedure also reshapes your breasts beautifully. Breast augmentation is an excellent choice if you are looking to enlarge your bust line.
If you have excessive sagging, it is not recommended that you have an augmentation only. This sagging can be determined by the level at which your nipple sits relative to the mammary fold (the crease on the underside of the breast). If your nipple is lower than the beginning of the mammary fold, consider a lift instead of, or simultaneously with, breast augmentation.
Is a Breast Lift Right for You?
Breast lift surgery literally "lifts" breasts that have lost their shape and elasticity. When that happens, a deflated look known as ptosis can make your breasts appear as if they are drooping. The goal of a breast lift in Phoenix and Scottsdale, AZ is to help you attain firmer-looking breasts that are proportionate to the rest of your body.
When your level of sagging is moderate to severe, and you do not desire an increase in size, a breast lift is an ideal solution. Aside from a consultation with a specialist in breast lift surgery, a thorough self-assessment is a great way to determine if you need the procedure. To test your breasts, stand in front of a mirror and look at your nipples in relation to the crease beneath your breasts. If your nipples are lower than your breast crease, then you most likely need a lift.
Lift and Augment for a Powerful Combination
Because of many different reasons, with age being a leading factor, it is common for the breasts to suffer from a loss of volume and have significant sagging. In these cases, the combination of breast lift surgery and augmentation may achieve your desired look.
Here at Guerra Plastic Surgery Center, we often perform a breast lift first to remove excess skin or tissue, as well as lift the nipple higher on the breast. After which, we can insert breast implants to enhance the size, shape, youthfulness, and overall appearance of your breasts. We can complete both procedures in a single session, eliminating the need for multiple surgeries.
Do you have a question about whether breast augmentation or breast lift surgery (or both) is right for you? Call 480-970-2580 or Categories: Breast Lift
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