Pregnancy is hard on women’s bodies and causes many changes.  Many changes are reversible (i.e. weight gain, swelling), though many simply are not.  Many women notice breast sagging, stretch marks across the lower abdomen, and a bulging of the abdominal muscles which fails to improve with vigorous exercise.  For these things, cosmetic surgery offers hope!

During pregnancy, the female breast undergoes many changes.  The breasts typically grow during the pregnancy secondary to hormonal changes and then become engorged with milk near the time of delivery.  After the baby is born, the breasts continue to change.  During this period, some breasts shrink to their original size while others remain large.  Even those that get smaller tend to become more ptotic (saggy).  After a lady desires no further children, she often finds her breasts droopy and her upper chest flat.   For this, there is surgical help.  The breasts can be lifted in multiple ways by the cosmetic surgeon.  Breast lifts are very common procedures performed for new mothers, even those who previously had augmentations.  Lifts can be done in multiple ways via multiple incisions. 

If the breasts are only mildly ptotic and a previous breast augmentation has been performed, an internal lift may be a nice option.  These lifts utilize an incision underneath the breast and place sutures in the scar tissue that has formed around the breast implant.  These sutures act to lift the implant and breast upwards, and are enough for patients with mild drooping. They do however leave a small indentation in the scar beneath the breast that resolves with time. 

For more severe ptosis with pointed breasts and/or nipples, a Binelli (aka periareolar lift) may be a good option.  These lifts are performed around the nipple and the scar is only around the areolar margin.  While scarring is minimized in these lifts, they do have one disadvantage which is flattening of the breast mound.  If the patient does not mind flattening of the breast tissue and wants to minimize the scar on the breast, this is a suitable option.  This option is also good for women with tubular breasts.

For severe ptosis and a goal of creating a very natural appearing breast, the traditional mastopexy is the best. This procedure not only lifts the breast but shapes it as well.  The scar goes around the nipple (like the Binelli lift) as well down the lower portion of the breast, and looks like a “lollipop” on completion.  This lift is probably the most common lift in our practice as it yields the most natural and youthful appearing results.  Though many fear the scar, most of our patients’ scars are nearly invisible two years after the procedure.  Occasionally in very large ptotic breasts, there may be an additional scar in the lower fold of the breast that aids in lifting the breast.  This scar is ultimately shaped like an anchor and is simply a modification of the traditional lift.

One thing women may desire is a change in breast size.  If you always wanted larger breasts, augmentations can be performed at the same time as breast lifts.  Many women choose this option because they desire more fullness in the upper portion of the breast and they want more cleavage.  Augmentations can be performed with silicone or saline implants and are easily performed at the same time as the lift procedure.

As plastic and cosmetic surgeons, we recognize that pregnancy is very hard on women’s’ bodies and that diet and exercise simply cannot restore the pre-pregnant body in most women.  If you are bothered by drooping breasts, see your cosmetic surgeon for consultation.  These procedures are outpatient surgeries that have wonderful lifetime results.  When you re-discover the body you had before your babies, you’ll be glad you did!