The problem of sagging breasts is familiar to most women who have given birth and nursed a child. Breastfeeding is beneficial for the baby, but usually has a negative effect on the appearance of the mammary glands.
How to tighten your breasts? A similar question often arises among women after nine months of pregnancy and the birth of a child. Before childbirth, the mammary gland is taut and quite elastic. After a woman's reproductive function is completed, the breasts sag. The explanation for this is simple. At the time of lactation, the glands increase in volume and are filled with breast milk. After completion of natural feeding, the breasts significantly lose their volume and become smaller. But the skin is already stretched and cannot recover to its previous state. As a result, the breasts sag, the skin of the mammary glands loses its elasticity, and the nipples droop significantly.
Women are unhappy with this picture and are thinking about how to make their breasts beautiful and attractive again.
How can you tighten your breasts after childbirth?
Breast reconstruction after pregnancy involves surgery. Breast lifting surgery is called a breast lift or mastopexy.
The task of a plastic surgeon is to give a beautiful shape to a woman’s breasts and prevent them from sagging. This operation is complex and lengthy. The mammary glands can have varying degrees of ptosis (drooping), which determines the duration of the plastic surgery and the amount of work required by the surgeon.
During the procedure, the doctor removes excess skin and moves the nipple higher along with the areola. During the operation, a large part of the mammary gland peels off, resulting in serious surgical trauma. But any surgical intervention is always a risk. For this reason, the patient must enter into an agreement with the medical center before undergoing plastic surgery. The main points of the document are consent to the operation and the woman’s obligation to follow the doctor’s recommendations in the future.
A breast lift has a cost that includes the operation itself, as well as a number of additional services: anesthesia, medications, postoperative observation. The cost of plastic surgery is indicated in the corresponding section.
When looking for a breast lift after childbirth on the Internet, you can find many different offers of miracle cures: creams, ointments, or exercises. You need to clearly understand that the mammary gland is not a muscle, it cannot be pumped up, and the use of creams and ointments cannot get rid of excess skin.
Surgical lift
How to tighten sagging breasts and achieve maximum effect - the only effective method of restoring breast shape is an operation called mastopexy. The method is quite expensive, painful and radical, but it guarantees the preservation of a beautiful bust for a long time (from 5 to 10 years or more).
During the operation, the doctor excises excess stretched skin and, if necessary (to maintain the proportions of the breast), moves the nipple-areola complex to its original position, that is, upward. Then the surgeon moves the body of the gland upward and fixes it to the pectoral muscle, after which the wound is sutured.
Mastopexy happens:
- Periareolar or circular
An incision is made around the circumference of the areola, then excess stretched skin is removed and a cosmetic suture is applied. Due to the circular suture, the skin is tightened around the areola, where a scar is formed. Suitable for eliminating mild mastoptosis. The duration of the operation is 60 minutes.
- Vertical
The incision is made circularly above the areola and extended downwards by 3–5 cm or to the submammary fold. During the operation, a skin flap of up to 17 cm is excised and it is possible to partially remove glandular tissue and reduce the areola of the nipple. The gland tissue is then sutured to the pectoral muscle. The duration of the operation is 2 hours, the disadvantages are the formation of a large scar and possible loss of nipple sensitivity.
- T-shaped or anchor
The operation is highly effective and traumatic. An “anchor” incision is made: the skin around the areola is dissected, along the submammary fold and 2 vertical incisions are made that connect them. When the wound is sutured, the scar looks like an anchor, which is why the operation is called anchor mastopexy.
Contraindications for mastopexy
Mastopexy is not performed in the following cases:
- presence of pregnancy or planning it;
- cessation of lactation less than a year ago;
- breast tumors;
- mastopathy;
- endocrine and autoimmune diseases;
- exacerbation of chronic somatic diseases;
- obesity;
- acute infectious diseases, including sexually transmitted diseases;
- mental disorders (schizophrenia, mental retardation);
- large area of scarred skin (burns);
- malignant tumors;
- acquired and congenital immunodeficiency.
Contraindications to mastopexy
There are a number of contraindications to mastopexy. If you have the following diseases, the plastic surgeon may refuse to perform the operation or postpone it for some time:
- Inflammatory processes in the mammary glands.
- Oncological diseases.
- The presence of chronic diseases in the stage of exacerbation or decompensation.
- Endocrine diseases.
- Infections of viral and bacterial nature.
- Body temperature is higher than normal.
- Problems with blood clotting.
- Menstrual days (in this case, plastic surgery is postponed until their completion).
Preparing for surgery
To undergo breast lift surgery, it is necessary that at least 12 months have passed since the date of birth. It is important that a woman does not plan to have another child in the coming years. Otherwise, the next time you breastfeed, there is a high risk that the breasts will still sag, even if plastic surgery has been performed.
Mastopexy is always performed under general anesthesia. Therefore, before surgery, a woman needs to be examined and pass all the required tests. This is blood, urine, testing for syphilis and HIV, viral hepatitis B and C, ECG, coagulogram, ultrasound of the mammary glands, fluorography. If the result reveals any abnormalities, the doctor will postpone the operation or cancel it altogether.
Doctors' recommendations before surgery are to completely stop drinking alcohol and smoking 14 days before surgery and 14 days after it. This will prevent the development of possible complications after plastic surgery.
On the day of surgery, you should not eat anything if the operation is scheduled for the first half of the day. If the operation is planned in the afternoon, a light operation in the morning is possible in consultation with the doctor.
As much as breastfeeding is beneficial for the baby, this process can be burdensome for the breast. Its size increases significantly during pregnancy, and during breastfeeding, the breasts undergo many changes: from swelling to sagging. However, there are many ways to solve this difficult problem.
Why do my breasts sag after breastfeeding?
Most women believe that the only reason for the unpresentable appearance of breasts is lactation, but in fact this process begins long before breastfeeding and before the baby is born.
During pregnancy, the ligaments that attach the rib cage to the muscle (called Cooper's ligament) stretch along with the skin. Bust size increases. This is how the body prepares itself for breastfeeding. It is due to the additional tension placed on the ligaments that the breasts sag.
Over time, ligaments lose elasticity. As soon as the baby is born, the breastfeeding process begins, and the breasts undergo another change: the milk ducts become active and fill with milk. The chest becomes heavier and the ligaments stretch even more.
As soon as the lactation process is established, the bust size returns to that of the pregnant woman and is maintained more or less until the baby is weaned. Thus, it remains large for a significant amount of time, sagging under the additional load.
Another reason for sagging breasts is a woman’s age. Experts explain that after 30 years, the skin begins to lose its elasticity.
In addition to these factors, women who consume more alcohol, carbonated drinks and smoke a lot are prone to premature aging and weakening of the skin.
How to avoid sagging breasts?
There are many non-surgical ways you can prevent breast sagging.
1. Wear a good supportive bra
Wear a bra all the time while breastfeeding and even while sleeping. This will undoubtedly help keep the breasts in the correct position, preventing further sagging.
2. Watch your posture while feeding
Make sure you sit in a relaxed but correct position while feeding. Avoid bending over. Use additional accessories, such as a nursing pillow, to raise your baby to breast level.
3. Exercise
Regular exercise will help you lose those extra pounds you gained during pregnancy and will also keep your muscles toned. This is beneficial not only for the breasts, but also for the whole body.
You can start with gentle exercise such as walking, swimming or yoga. Make sure you don't lose weight too quickly, as this will lead to sagging and sagging skin.
4. Massage your breasts
While showering, massage your breasts with warm and cold water. Hot water will increase blood circulation. Finish your shower with a cold water massage as this will help tighten and tone your skin.
You can even use a towel for a warm water massage and ice for a cold massage. Do not use ice cubes for more than a minute as this will cause numbness.
5. Use a moisturizer
Keeping your skin moisturized while breastfeeding will help maintain the elasticity of your breasts. Choose products rich in vitamin E, as well as cocoa or shea butter, and apply plenty of them twice a day.
6. Eat healthy
Eating right can also prevent sagging breasts. Eat a diet rich in proteins and complex carbohydrates, which provide the skin with essential nutrients. Low saturated fats also help maintain skin firmness.
Postoperative period: features of recovery
After mastopexy, the main complications are swelling of the mammary gland as a result of disruption of the lymph outflow process and hematoma, that is, hemorrhage into the soft tissue. In some cases, sensitivity around the nipple is temporarily reduced.
The first day after surgery, bed rest is required. The next day, the woman can get up and walk a little. To prevent the development of infection, antibiotic therapy is required.
If there are no serious complications, the patient is discharged after one or two days. During the rehabilitation period, it is necessary to strictly follow all the doctor’s recommendations. Namely:
- Do not lift heavy things, refuse physical exercise.
- Do not go to the bathhouse or take a hot bath.
- Don't sunbathe.
- Wear special compression garments.
- Showering is allowed only after the doctor's permission.
- Following a diet rich in vitamins and rich in protein. Salty foods and smoked foods are not allowed.
Sutures are removed approximately one to two weeks after plastic surgery if non-self-absorbable threads were used.
Mastopexy can be performed separately, as an independent operation, or simultaneously with endoprosthetics, that is, breast augmentation surgery. Carrying out the operation by an experienced doctor with extensive experience, if does not guarantee the absence of complications, then reduces them to a minimum. The result after mastopexy is usually desirable, and patients are usually satisfied.
VIEW PRICES
Tips for a breast lift at home
Few young mothers would dare to go under the surgeon’s knife to restore the previous shape and size of the mammary glands. Therefore, the topic of how to tighten breasts after lactation at home has become a pressing issue on the Internet and in conversations.
Diet
And the first food product that can improve the shape and condition of the breasts is cabbage.
It is recommended to use it regularly in different forms. Poultry and lean veal will also help replenish the loss of fatty tissue in the chest. In addition, such products will replenish the loss of skin collagen. In addition, dairy products will have a positive effect on women's breasts.
Fish products contain many vitamins, as well as antioxidants, which are responsible for youthful and fresh skin. Pregnant women will benefit from vitamin complexes, especially ascorbic acid and fish oil.
You can read more about foods that are good for breasts here.
Physical exercise
You cannot pump up your chest through sports, since it does not contain muscles. But it is attached directly to the major and minor mammary glands, so exercise will help lift the breasts.
- Static arm exercise. Squeezing the palms of your hands together so that your elbows are at shoulder level, you need to hold this tension for 20 seconds. Three approaches for the first time will be enough.
- Push ups. In any form and with varying degrees of load, push-ups will be useful for tightening and improving the shape of the mammary glands. You need to start 10 times in 3 approaches.
- Swing your arms in a circle. Circular movements of the arms back and forth will be very useful for a woman trying to tighten her breasts after feeding, and not only that.
Massage
You can restore breast firmness through self-massage. Such procedures not only improve blood flow, nourishing the breasts from the inside, but also restore elasticity and tone to the skin. You need to massage your breasts delicately, since the décolleté area has thin, sensitive skin. It is important to moisturize your hands before starting work.
- circular massage movements with the palms of the hands around the circumference of the chest;
- weak pats on both mammary glands;
- massage tapping on the chest with fingertips;
- creating chest vibration.
Water treatments
In order for massage courses to bring maximum effect for breast lift, you must first carry out a contrast shower. Using a stream of water, you need to massage the breasts around the circumference one by one, changing the temperature of the water supply every 2-3 minutes. It is important to ensure that the water is slightly cooler than body temperature or not much hotter. While applying water, you can massage your breasts with the palms of your hands.
Moisturizing breast skin
During lactation, it is very important to moisturize the breast skin with special preparations that contain collagen and elastin. Since the breasts are often cleaned and disinfected, they dry out and lose tone. To further moisturize the skin, you can carry out a course of body wraps, wipe your chest with herbal decoctions, make masks from cottage cheese and citrus fruits, honey and other traditional medicine.
- Olive mask. Mix 10 drops of lemon juice, 10 grams of olive oil and a chicken egg (yolk). The resulting mask is applied to the skin of the chest for 20 minutes, after which it is cleaned with a cotton swab dipped in water.
- Scrub. Mix half a glass of vegetable oil and a glass of salt and sugar. While taking a shower, rub the breasts with this product; you should avoid the area of the areola and nipples for 15 minutes. After this, the skin should be immediately moisturized with any cream.
- Oat mask. Crushed oat flakes are filled with boiling water and allowed to brew for some time (8-12 hours). The mask is applied to the skin of the chest, except for the nipple area until it dries completely. After this, the breasts are washed with water and moisturized with a nourishing cream.
