Some patients choose breast surgery as a way to enlarge a smaller bust, while for others, the procedure may be a way of reclaiming a more youthful look. The Chapin Aesthetics team regularly meets with women seeking mastopexy in the Philadelphia area, who are also interested in learning about the impact of pregnancy and breastfeeding on the breasts. Mastopexy, also known as a breast lift, is often an element of a Mommy Makeover procedure, intended to restore the look and proportions of a patient’s pre-baby body.
Aging or weight loss can deplete fat in the body. Since fat cells are responsible for significant volume in the breasts, the change can not only cause size changes, but can also impact the connective tissues, ligaments, and skin that support the breasts. The result can be droopier, flatter, saggier breasts.
Volume changes are also commonly associated with pregnancy and breastfeeding. When a woman is pregnant, her breasts swell as milk production begins. Specifically, a woman may go up a few cup sizes as her ducts expand in the breasts and fat stores increase, while ligaments that support the breasts stretch to accommodate their increased weight. The greater pull puts stress and tension on these support structures.
Each woman’s experience is unique, but in general, when the breasts stop producing milk, they tend to shrink back down. Unfortunately, the supportive tissues don’t always “go back” to their pre-pregnancy state once breastfeeding ends. Sagging, known technically as breast ptosis, is common, especially in women who are older and who have had one or more pregnancies.
While there are several ways address sagging breasts, including chest exercises, a breast lift can provide significant, long-lasting, reliable changes. Unlike a breast augmentation, which enlarges the breasts by adding volume, lifts are used to elevate breasts that have lost their “perkiness” to a higher, more youthful position.
For this procedure, Dr. Scott Chapin makes carefully placed incisions and gets rid of excess skin. The remaining skin is tightened and sutured in place to hold the breast higher. Enlarged areolae may be reduced, and the nipples can be repositioned as desired.
Patients are usually advised to wait until they’ve finished having children before having a breast lift, as a new pregnancy can reverse the effects of mastopexy surgery by stretching out the tissues again.
Considering a breast lift of your own? The team at Philadelphia’s Chapin Aesthetics can guide you on everything you need to know to get started. Call today at (267) 880-0810 or submit a contact form to request a consultation.