Has gravity taken a toll on your bustline?

If your breasts have begun to sag—due to pregnancy, weight loss or simply the effects of gravity—you’re not alone. “Having kids changed my whole figure,” says 40-year-old “Lily.” “After having two children, my breasts drooped.”

‘I wanted to look perky’

“I wanted my breasts to be more firm,” Lily explains. “Before my consultation with Dr. Rappaport, I thought breast implants might give me the results I was looking for.

“I wanted my waist to look smaller by lifting my breasts,” she adds. “But I wasn’t sure I needed more volume. I didn’t want to look like some women with implants who have a small waist and breasts like huge balloons. That just doesn’t look natural to me. I think a natural look is more beautiful.”

During her personal consultation, Dr. Rappaport explained that Lily, a 34C, still had enough breast tissue, unlike some women who lose breast volume after pregnancy and breastfeeding. “He thought I would be extremely happy with just a breast lift,” Lily recalls.

What is a breast lift?

“Breast lift surgery, or mastopexy, corrects sagging by raising the breasts and repositioning the nipples,” Dr. Rappaport explains. “The areolas, or the darker skin around the nipple, also may be reduced in size.

“If you have lost breast volume over the years or simply want to add more fullness, breast implants may be combined with breast lift surgery to increase your breast size—a dual procedure calledaugmentation mastopexy,” he adds. “But in Lily’s case, implants were not necessary.”

‘Now I feel sexier!’

Lily is delighted with the results of her breast lift. “I feel younger. I feel sexy!” she says. “Now I find myself wearing blouses that show more cleavage. My husband is very happy,” she adds. “He likes
the change.”

Can you have too much of a good thing?

Some women, like 59-year-old Dorothy, have never had children, but are troubled by heavy, pendulous breasts. “I was always large-chested,” Dorothy recalls. “I was a DD+ from the time I was 14 years old.”

After having gastric bypass surgery and losing 90 pounds, Dorothy found that her breasts sagged even more. “My breasts were halfway between where they should be and my waist,” she recalls.

Breast reduction makes breasts smaller, lighter, firmer

“Dorothy was an ideal candidate for breast reduction surgery orreduction mammoplasty,” Dr. Rappaport explains. “This procedure brings the breasts into better proportion with the rest of the body by removing fat, excess breast tissue and skin. Then the breasts are moved higher on the chest and the nipples are repositioned higher as well.” After breast reduction surgery, Dorothy went from a 36F to a firm 36D.