One of the questions that concerns young mothers is how to restore breasts after childbirth. The mammary gland undergoes changes during pregnancy as it prepares for the process of producing breast milk. After feeding is completed, the glandular lobules return to their original state, but the muscle tissue may shrink and weaken. This is especially noticeable with initially large breasts, which require strong, elastic muscles to maintain. In order for the shape and size of the breast to undergo minimal changes after childbirth, it is necessary to follow a number of rules - and not only during and after feeding the child, but also during pregnancy.
Causes of sagging breasts
Changes in a woman's breasts occur already during the period of bearing a child - therefore, the statement that its shape will not change if you stop feeding is not true. On the contrary: if a woman did not breastfeed or stopped breastfeeding early, then the shape of the breast may be lost, since the glandular tissue of the breast does not have time to be replaced by fat. Another reason for loss of breast shape is due to genetics. The question of how to tighten breasts after childbirth becomes especially relevant after lactation ends. Often women themselves are to blame for the problem, who:
- Take the wrong position when breastfeeding;
- The baby is put to the breast less often than once every three hours. Too long breaks between applications lead to the fact that the breasts become very engorged and require pumping, which causes even more milk production;
- The baby is placed more often on one breast. Feeding should be carried out evenly on both breasts, excluding constant stimulation of one breast. This can lead to the development of breast asymmetry;
- Express milk by hand. By manually expressing, you can tighten your breasts. If this procedure is necessary, it is best to use a breast pump.
Methods for restoring breast volume and shape
Modern plastic surgery has a huge arsenal of methods and means that allow you to both enlarge breasts after childbirth, and reduce their size, restore height or adjust other parameters. Breast lift. This operation can be performed as an independent method of correction or supplemented with endoprosthetics. There are three types of mastopexy used today:
- periareolar. It is used when it is necessary to remove excess skin and raise the nipple-areolar complex to a height of up to 2 cm, but breast augmentation is not required. The surgeon excises tissue along the perimeter of the areola, and sutures are placed there, which makes the results of the operation almost invisible;
- T-shaped or anchor. During the operation, three incisions are made: along the lower line of the areola, along the natural fold under the breast, and a vertical incision that connects both previous ones. This type of mastopexy is performed in cases where ptosis is severe, it is necessary to tighten the breasts along with a decrease in their volume or eliminate the asymmetry of the mammary glands;
- vertical. This method is used less frequently than others. It allows you to remove pronounced excess skin and raise the mammary glands higher. Incisions are made along the lower line of the areola and vertically, perpendicular to the inframammary fold.
Which type of mastopexy is preferable in a particular situation is determined by the surgeon, who takes into account both the characteristics of the clinical case and the wishes of the patient. It is important to know that during a breast lift, correction of the nipple-areolar complex is always carried out. This is due to the fact that when the height and shape of the mammary glands change, the nipples and areolas remaining in the same place reduce the aesthetic value of the operation to zero. After their correction, the result of plastic surgery is a breast that looks harmonious and attractive. Breast augmentation. Plastic surgery is performed using endoprostheses. They allow you not only to make your breasts larger, but also to give them the desired shape and height. Depending on the model of the implant being installed, access can be achieved through an incision:
- folds of the armpit;
- areolas;
- folds under the breasts.
Depending on the purpose of the operation, the initial condition of the mammary glands and skin, as well as other circumstances, a round or teardrop-shaped (anatomical) shape of the implants, varying degrees of their density, a certain type of shell surface and other characteristics can be selected. Breast augmentation surgery can be combined with a breast lift, correction of the shape of the mammary glands and nipple-areolar complex, and elimination of asymmetry.
Breast reduction. Reduction mammoplasty is performed in situations where the mammary glands after childbirth have not returned to their previous size, which causes physical and/or psychological discomfort to the patient. Breast reduction in volume is carried out using different methods. Which one is right for the patient is determined by the surgeon, taking into account:
- initial volume of mammary glands;
- the amount of fat and glandular tissue that needs to be removed;
- amount of excess skin;
- the presence or absence of asymmetry of the mammary glands and other factors.
Breast reduction surgery may involve correction of asymmetry, relocation of the nipple-areola complex, and/or changes in areola diameter and nipple size. Correction of the nipple-areolar complex. This operation is often required after childbirth. During surgical breast augmentation, reduction, or lifting, the nipple and areola need to be moved and/or changed in size in order for the overall result of the operation to be truly aesthetic. As an independent operation, correction of the nipple-areolar complex can be performed if after childbirth and breastfeeding, changes affected only this part of the breast. During the operation, the innervation of the nipples is not disturbed, therefore, after the completion of the recovery period, normal sensitivity returns to them.
Is it possible to maintain breast shape after childbirth?
In order to maintain the shape of your breasts, you need to take care of them not only in the first days after childbirth, but already during pregnancy. To do this you need:
- Choose a bra of the appropriate size with wide straps and wear it in the last trimester and during feeding;
- Refuse manual expression in favor of breast pumps;
- Observe hygiene rules and avoid stagnation of milk;
- Place the baby alternately on one or the other breast;
- Perform special exercises for the chest.
Recommendations for patients on how to get in shape after breast augmentation
Often the breasts undergo the greatest changes after the second and subsequent births. If all of the above measures do not give the desired result, surgical correction is possible. An operation performed by an experienced surgeon with the possible use of implants will definitely give the desired result and help a woman feel beautiful and desirable again. You can get professional advice and learn more about high-quality German POLYTECH® implants by calling: +7 (499) 918-77-70.
Breast care before and during pregnancy
Before and during pregnancy, your breasts require special attention. The advice of oncologist-mammologist Maria Sergeevna Medical Chudinovskikh and our recommendations will help you maintain a beautiful bust and successfully feed your baby with breast milk.
Before pregnancy
First of all, dear expectant mothers, when planning a pregnancy, conduct a full breast examination in order to identify possible diseases (please note that many diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are dangerous to carry out during pregnancy). Be sure to visit a mammologist, undergo an ultrasound procedure, and you may need to have a mammogram (X-ray examination of the mammary glands) to examine your breasts. This procedure can be done only 2-3 months before conception.
Do not delay visiting a mammologist if you have:
- you have had repeated abortions or miscarriages, you took OCs for a long time, you had problems with breastfeeding after a previous pregnancy
- there are (or were) diseases of the thyroid gland, pathology of the pelvic organs (endometriosis, ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids), diseases of the mammary glands (fibroadenomas, cysts or mastopathy)
- The first pregnancy occurred after 30 years.
If you have even the smallest tumor, it can increase during pregnancy. Unremoved fibroadenoma can block the ducts of the mammary gland, as well as provoke mastitis and other diseases.
Now let's talk about the anxiety of expectant mothers that the breasts will lose their attractive appearance and will never look the same again. Do not panic, dear women, you will have time to prepare.
Most likely, you are already watching your weight, and this is very good for your bust. Striae (stretch marks) are less likely to appear during pregnancy and lactation if you do not have extra pounds. With normal body weight, the breast is approximately 25% adipose tissue and 75% glandular. If you are overweight, then there is more fat in your breasts. During pregnancy, the breasts prepare for lactation - under the influence of estrogens, the glandular tissue grows, but the “amount” of skin remains the same. Imagine what will happen to your breasts if next to the glandular tissue there is excess fat or even additional fat that you can “build up” during pregnancy! In addition, such a load stretches the ligaments that support the breasts, so after lactation they will sag.
Special creams containing elastin, silicone and vitamin E strengthen the skin of the chest, abdomen and thighs and increase its elasticity. Start using these creams before pregnancy, before your metabolism and hormone levels change - these are the most common causes of stretch marks.
Preparing nipples for feeding is a separate topic. Consult your mammologist if you have flat or inverted nipples. You may need to use a special feeding shield when feeding. During pregnancy
Firstly , we monitor the condition of our body. Regular aching pain in the chest, its uneven enlargement, the appearance of lumps and depressions, and even more so discharge from the nipples - all this is the basis for an immediate visit to a mammologist.
Don't worry if you feel your breasts itching: the glands are expanding in preparation for milk production, and the stretched skin may be itchy. In this case, use anti-stretch mark creams.
Quite often you can hear the recommendation to rub your nipples with a rough towel. In practice, its implementation quite often leads to irritation of the skin of the nipples and the formation of cracks even before feeding begins. In addition, this procedure stimulates the release of the hormone oxytocin, which causes uterine contractions. And if during breastfeeding this phenomenon allows the uterus to return to normal faster, then during pregnancy such contractions cannot be called useful. They increase the tone of the pregnant uterus and can provoke premature birth in late pregnancy.
Pouring the chest with cold water is only useful in combination with dousing the entire body - as an independent procedure it is meaningless. Numerous studies have not confirmed the opinion that dousing and hardening the breasts increase lactation.
Secondly, in the 3-4th month of pregnancy, buy a maternity bra one size larger than your usual one. And at the 6th month - another size larger. Buy underwear only in maternity stores or pharmacies. Here there is a guarantee that the underwear meets quality standards and has the necessary degree of support. If the breasts are not securely “fixed” during pregnancy, they may sag after childbirth. Do not buy one large bra “for growth” - the cups should fit tightly to the skin and support the breasts well. Wear special bras during the day and nighttime maternity bras or special tops for sleep.
Thirdly, from about 5-6 months of pregnancy, sign up for courses on preparing for childbirth and natural feeding.
Here they will tell you everything about lactation and how to overcome lactation crises and milk stagnation. Feeding is only partly instinctive - it also needs to be learned. And also – be able to teach this to your baby. Articles on the topic All about colposcopy. Diagnostics,... What is the thyroid gland?...
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