A woman’s breasts can change in size, position, and shape as she progresses through life. While these changes are perfectly normal, two particular events have a dramatic impact — breastfeeding and weight loss.
At McHugh Plastic Surgery, Dr. Thomas McHugh offers a range of effective cosmetic surgical solutions to help women navigate these changes with more confidence. Breast lift surgery, for example, allows women to recapture their pre-weight and pre-baby profiles so they can enjoy the best of all worlds.
On average, about 150,000 breast lift surgeries are performed in the United States each year. It’s a safe bet that many are due to weight loss and/or breastfeeding, so let’s take a closer look at each scenario.
Weight gain stretches your breasts while increasing their volume. After significant weight loss, your skin might not bounce back, leaving your breasts with a “deflated” look you may not be happy with.
This is happening more often now, as more people are losing large amounts of weight with the new class of GLP-1 weight loss drugs — about 15% of US adults have taken them. With these new drugs, people are losing more weight in less time, which can dramatically change breast shape, size, and position.
Breastfeeding also largely influences breast size and shape. During your pregnancy, your breasts will swell as they prepare to deliver milk to your child. Then, as you breastfeed, more changes can happen, such as larger areolas.
In many cases, women’s breasts revert back to their original size and shape after breastfeeding. In just as many cases, however, women are left with more permanent changes — namely, hollowed-out breasts that droop more.
A breast lift repositions your breasts on your chest, removes excess tissue, and tightens support for a more youthful profile. We can also size your areola down proportionately.
Given that weight loss and breastfeeding often lead to sagging breasts, a breast lift is often the best option for achieving an improved contour.
It’s important to note that a breast lift influences position and shape, but not size — that’s a job for breast augmentation. That said, we can add fat grafting to your breast lift. This option fills the hollow upper area where your bra often remains empty, balancing out the lower fullness.
Also, keep in mind that we only recommend a breast lift procedure if you meet these criteria:
This is important because if you breastfeed or experience significant weight changes after a breast lift, you will likely reverse the effects of the procedure.
If you do meet these criteria, you will enjoy a beautifully restored breast profile and contour for years to come.
To discover how a breast lift can help you regain your confidence and undo the physical impact of weight loss and breastfeeding, contact our office in The Woodlands, Texas, to schedule a breast lift consultation.
