Weight loss is a common goal that brings positive effects on your appearance and general health. However, there can also be common downsides, such as sagging of skin and tissue of the breasts. Although weight loss may result in an overall increase in confidence and self-esteem, many women find they feel self-conscious about the appearance of their breasts following losing weight, which may lead to them feeling uncomfortable about wearing certain clothing, such as swimwear or taking part in activities such as sports. So, how does weight loss affect the breasts, and what can be done about it?
How Weight Loss Affects the Breasts
The breasts appear unsymmetrical - changes to the position, shape and size of the breasts, may not be the same on each side. Losing weight causes the fatty deposits in the breasts to be reduced. The ligaments that support the muscle behind the breasts may also be overstretched and unable to return to their previous position.
The Science Behind Breast Changes
Ever since your mom gave you that book about puberty, you’ve known that everyone’s breasts are different. So it isn’t a shocker that breasts are affected by weight fluctuations and that how exactly they’re affected also varies from body to body. Weight loss or weight gain won’t dramatically affect cup size, says Daniel Maman, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Manhattan who sees several patients for breast surgery every day. But it varies. Each person gains and loses weight more readily in different areas. Also, the composition of breasts isn’t uniform from person to person. Breasts are made up of parenchyma [breast tissue], a layer of fat that varies in thickness, and skin. Generally speaking, weight loss makes your breasts sag.
David Shafer, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon and breast surgery expert in New York City, offers up a helpful analogy: “Imagine a balloon that you blow up. If you let out just a little bit of the air, the balloon is still pretty firm. But when you let all the air out, the balloon is stretched out and saggy; it’s lost some of its ability to contract to its original shape.” Your breasts, he says, are just like balloons.
The Impact of Weight Loss Speed
Not all types of weight loss have the same effect. Rapid weight loss is hardest on your breasts. As your skin hurries to keep up with your quickly shrinking breasts, your collagen production is disrupted. That means you’re likely to end up with stretch marks and breasts that have a deflated appearance-emptier on top, fuller on the bottom, with the nipples pointing downward. A “starvation diet” compounds the problem: “Severe calorie restriction means that your skin isn’t getting the proper nourishment from your diet, making its quality even worse,” says Shafer. Yo-yo dieting is similarly damaging: “Every time you gain or lose, you’re weakening the integrity of the skin’s structure.”
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There is, however, one scenario in which your breasts don’t head so far south: “Slow, steady weight loss-maybe one or two pounds a week-with a program of good nutrition and exercise, gives your skin the chance to adjust to the changes,” says Dr.
Weight Fluctuations and Breast Tissue
Weight fluctuations can impact a person’s body in various ways, from changes in metabolism and organ function to increased risk of obesity-related diseases. Many women report that they notice changes in their breast tissue and appear larger or saggier following a weight gain and notice size reductions with weight loss. This shift in breast size and sagging can be related to alterations in breast tissue density and elasticity.
When you gain or lose weight, it’s not just the fat cells in your breasts that change. The structure of your breast tissue also changes in response to the increased or decreased weight. When body weight increases through an increase in fat, the increased weight of the breasts can cause stretching of the breast tissue and cause laxity. At the same time, weight gain can also lead to increased breast tissue density. This is because more adipocytes, or cells where fat can be stored, are produced when a person gains weight. When the body loses weight, these adipocytes shrink and the breast tissue becomes less dense.
Can You Lose Weight Without Sagging?
In cases of dramatic weight loss, it is very hard to fully prevent sagging due to the extensive stretching of the skin, combined with large amounts of fat being lost.
Non-Surgical Options
Surgery is the most effective and permanent method to correct saggy breasts caused by weight loss. However, some non-surgical approaches and lifestyle changes may make some small differences to saggy breasts.
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Maintaining a stable weight - Fluctuating weight is more likely to cause the skin and ligaments around the breasts to permanently stretch. A good posture - Although keeping a good posture won’t fully correct sagging breasts, it will make your breasts appear to be more lifted. It is important to remember that non-surgical and lifestyle options may not provide the same dramatic effects as surgery.
If the thought-or reality-of your breasts losing their shape is bothering you, don’t feel deflated! There are loads of options to give your girls a lift. The right bra can make all the difference in the world; a little padding in the lower portion of your cup makes your breasts look rounder on top. Since the breakdown of skin-supporting collagen and elastin are at the root of weight loss-induced droop, treatments that improve your skin’s production of those two proteins will make your breasts look perkier, says Dr. Day, who’s seen improvement from retinol-based body creams, and off-label treatments using ultrasound, radiofrequency, even injections of diluted dermal filler.
Surgical Options to Fix Sagging Breasts
- Mastopexy (Breast Lift): This is a surgical procedure performed under general anaesthetic. The excess skin resulting from weight loss is removed, and the breast and nipple are repositioned into a flattering and lifted position. This is most suited to patients who are happy with their smaller breast size after weight loss, as there is no extra size achieved.
- Breast Augmentation: Also known as Breast Enlargement, or a Boob Job, is a surgical procedure which increases the size of the breasts and enhances their shape using breast implants. The breast implants fill the space in the breast left by the excess skin, caused by weight loss, resulting in a smoother, firmer appearance.
- Fat Transfer to Breast: For patients who do not wish to use breast implants to increase the size and enhance the tone of their breasts, Fat Transfer to Breast is a popular alternative that uses the body’s own fat, extracted with Liposuction, to fill the space within the breast pocket. It is not usually possible to gain the same size increase as breast implants can provide, but for patients looking for a natural and subtle result, Natural Breast Augmentation is a good option.
- Augmented Mastopexy (Breast Lift with Implants): Patients who are looking for the lift of a Mastopexy and the added volume of a Breast Augmentation can consider an Augmented Mastopexy (also known as a Breast Lift with Implants). This surgical procedure involves the implants being placed into your breasts before your surgeon removes the excess skin and repositions the breast and the implant into the most flattering position.
All these surgical breast procedures have recovery periods of 6-8 weeks. You will have to wear a surgical bra for this recovery time to support your breasts, prevent swelling and maintain your surgical result.
Surgical procedures for saggier and/or denser breasts
For women who are struggling with the appearance of saggier and/or denser breasts following weight gain, various procedures can help address these concerns. Both surgical and non-surgical treatments are available, and a board-certified plastic surgeon, such as Dr. Thomas Fiala, can help determine the most effective procedure to achieve the desired results.
For example, a breast lift can be a great option for women looking to improve the appearance of saggier breasts. This procedure allows the surgeon to remove excess breast skin and reshape the natural contours of the breast. The breast lift will also allow patients an opportunity to change the location and position of the breast nipples, so they are at the desired level while maintaining a natural look. If the patient is also looking to decrease the density of their breast tissue, they may opt to receive a breast reduction. This procedure includes the removal of excess breast tissue to help lighten and lift the breasts. Breast augmentation can be a great option for women looking to increase the size and buoyancy of their breasts. This procedure involves the use of silicone or saline implants to help achieve the desired size and shape.
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Additional Tips
- Strength Training: Strength training your pectoral muscles with exercises like bench presses, chin-ups, or rowing will build the muscle of your chest wall, which can help hold up your boobs. “During the weight-loss process, we always recommend weight training,” Fitch says. “Cardio helps to burn fat, but weight training helps to increase metabolism.