Distressed by postpartum breast deformation? Should new mothers consider breast augmentation or breast lift? Professional analysis from a female plastic surgeon specializing in postpartum breast augmentation.
Female Doctor Profile Common breast deformities after childbirth Is Breast lift the only solution for sagging and loose breasts? Does having large breasts cause them to sag after childbirth? More articles on postpartum breast augmentation Case Sharing
Faced with the blow of breast atrophy and sagging breasts after weaning, many mothers want to know: Are there any postpartum recovery treatments that can improve sagging breasts? If it is a severely sagging "bag-like" breast, is Breast lift the only solution? How can postpartum mothers regain confidence in their bodies? And, does the problem of postpartum breast deformation only occur in women with full breasts?
Arsty Clinic boasts an experienced all-female medical team. Senior plastic surgeons Dr. Hsin-Yu Chen and Dr. Yang Shanchun are leading female experts in postpartum recovery programs, including breast augmentation and liposuction/facelift, possessing extensive clinical experience and numerous cases. The following will provide you with the most complete answers:
—BEFORE & AFTER—
▌Doctor's Profile
Plastic Surgery Dr. Hsin-Yu Chen
Top of the Specialist Examination List of Taiwan Society of Plastic Surgeons
Former attending physician at the Linkou Chang Gung Craniofacial Center
Combining professional skills and a pursuit of quality, we hope to enhance your beauty and achieve a natural transformation!
Plastic Surgery Dr. Yang Shanchun
VASER Liposuction certified physician, recommended by the manufacturer.
Listen to your needs, tailor-make, and create a unique beauty just for you.
Q1. Shrinkage, sagging, and looseness: Understand the common changes in breast shape after childbirth!
Dr. Hsin-Yu ChenIt should be noted that postpartum breast deformation mainly involves three parts: sagging breast tissue, excess skin, and loose fascia.
Breast atrophy >>
Regarding changes in the breasts after childbirth, many women experience the most direct impact as...Breast atrophy leads to a reduction in bra size.Due to hormonal changes during pregnancy, the body prepares for breastfeeding after childbirth, leading to increased breast tissue growth. Additionally, weight gain during this period also increases bust size, causing mothers to notice their breasts becoming fuller and feel satisfied with their cup size (approximately 2-3 cup sizes larger than before pregnancy). However, this is not permanent; the breasts will gradually shrink back to their original size after childbirth, causing mothers to experience a significant sense of disappointment.
Loose breast skin >>
The breast is composed of skin, mammary glands, connective tissue, and fat. Cooper's ligaments are densely distributed between the skin and the fascia of the chest wall, providing support and fixing the shape of the breast. During pregnancy, the breasts enlarge, and expectant mothers often experience breast tenderness. The skin gradually stretches like a balloon, and the suspensory ligaments and connective tissue tighten like rubber bands. After childbirth, when breastfeeding stops, the breasts shrink, and the skin retracts. This repeated expansion and contraction gradually causes the skin to lose elasticity and become loose.
Similarly, similar situations can occur in women who lose weight rapidly. Sometimes, excessive weight gain during pregnancy and subsequent weight loss after childbirth, or excessively rapid weight loss under normal circumstances, can easily lead to noticeable skin laxity and sagging breasts, making it impossible to restore the firm breast shape they should have.
Breast sagging >>
Besides the reduction in bra size, mothers also experience [further complications] after stopping breastfeeding.Breast saggingThis is not an uncommon situation. Breast sagging is related to mammary gland atrophy. When the breasts return to their original size, the skin of the breasts, which were stretched during pregnancy, is in a loose state for a short period of time, making the breast tissue more prone to displacement and sagging. As a result, the upper chest appears fleshless, and the lower chest looks like a bag. In severe cases, it resembles "bag breasts," and the overall breast shape has been lost. Of course, this is a more severe case of sagging. Depending on the degree of sagging, different surgical methods can be chosen to improve it, such as breast augmentation or breast lift. If necessary, breast lift and breast augmentation may be combined, or breast lift and breast reduction surgery may be required.
Meanwhile, the degree of breast sagging is correlated with the number of times a mother is pregnant and breastfeeds. Mothers who breastfeed for a longer period of time and whose breasts become more engorged are more likely to experience sagging.
Q2. Is Breast lift the only solution for sagging and loose breasts after childbirth?
Regarding the need for Breast lift, Arsty Clinic's Breast lift and reduction surgery expertsDr. Yang Shanchunexpress,Mild breast ptosis can be corrected and improved through jelly breast augmentation or Fat Graft for Breast Augmentation.For areas of breast atrophy, breast augmentation can increase breast fullness, while also adjusting breast firmness and shape, thus restoring confidence in one's breasts. However, if...Severe breast sagging requires Breast lift to improve the condition.！
Breast lift surgery is a breast ptosis correction surgery performed for severe breast ptosis. Simply put, the principle of the surgery is to "tighten the bag." Depending on individual circumstances, different incision methods can be chosen for breast lift surgery, such as the "donut" (circular incision method) or the "lollipop" (vertical incision method), or breast reduction surgery. However, before choosing a surgery...You need to first consider whether you can accept the issue of "scars".Asian scars are prone to redness, swelling, pigmentation, or protrusion due to their constitution. Even if they fade over time, they are still relatively noticeable. As a result, many people are hesitant to undergo Breast lift. In fact, unless the breast ptosis is very severe, Breast lift is not a necessary procedure.
The professional advice is to consider whether sagging breasts are affecting your quality of life. If they are affecting your quality of life and making you feel bad, it is worthwhile to choose a suitable clinic for a permanent breast lift surgery to improve the problem of sagging breasts!
Say goodbye to sagging breasts and learn more about Arsty Clinic's customized Breast lift details >>
Professional Analysis: Should I have breast augmentation surgery or Breast lift for postpartum breast sagging?
Q3. Are women with large breasts more likely to experience postpartum breast sagging and changes in breast shape?
Many people believe that only women with large breasts experience breast sagging after childbirth, but this is a misconception!
In fact, breast deformation is a common problem for postpartum women, and it has nothing to do with the size of their breasts. In fact, it is more common for women with small breasts to consult about changes in their breast shape after childbirth, while women with fuller breasts are more aware of the sagging of their breasts.
Case sharing: Full-figured women (D cup or above) are prone to noticeable sagging after childbirth when they stop breastfeeding, which can lead to the formation of "bag-like" breasts in severe cases.
▲After weaning, the mammary glands will shrink, and the originally enlarged breasts will shrink back like a deflated balloon, and the breasts will sag, resulting in a lack of flesh in the upper breasts and a very obvious sagging state, no longer regaining the firmness and elasticity before childbirth.
Meiling is a mother who loves beauty. She naturally possesses a curvaceous and alluring figure, radiating feminine charm. However, after giving birth, she is very dissatisfied with her body. The process of pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding has made her realize the problems with her breasts.Not only is it sagging, it has also shrunk considerably.Even after trying massage cream, she saw no results, often staring blankly at her old swimsuit photos, wondering why she could never get back her former figure. Having previously undergone autologous fat transfer for breast augmentation, she now has a perfectly reshaped bust under the skillful hands of Dr. Hsin-Yu Chen, thanks to a jelly-based breast augmentation surgery…
Refer to postpartum breast augmentation case: Mando jelly breast augmentation creates super-full breasts and rescues sagging breasts after childbirth >>
Case Study: Petite and curvy (B-C cup)
▲The breasts are small, and the breast tissue is relatively dense. Postpartum sagging and prolapse are not too severe, butBreast shape has changedThe contrast is obvious.
Miaomiao gave birth to three babies before she was 30 years old. The petite woman mentioned that the biggest change in her figure after childbirth was...Changes in breast shapeHer breasts were noticeably sagging. Petite yet curvy, she originally had a delicate figure and thought that having children early while she was young would help her avoid the risk of body deformation. However, after breastfeeding, the firmness of her breasts changed drastically, and she felt that they were sagging. She lacked confidence when trying on clothes and gradually became lazy about dressing up. Over time, she became depressed about this and decided to seek help from postpartum breast augmentation surgery after her child got a little older to rebuild her confidence in her body.
Case Study: Flat Chest (Below B Cup)
▲She already had a flat chest, and after childbirth, her mammary glands atrophied, making her breasts even flatter than before childbirth, and she also had problems with poor breast shape, so she needed breast augmentation to improve them.
Mandy has a slender, flat figure and has always had a small B-cup where her ribs were visible. The biggest problem with her small bust was that she couldn't fill out nice clothes and had to rely on padding to boost her confidence. After giving birth, she was surprised to find her body had changed, as she hadn't expected small breasts to sag and lose their shape. Seeing her flat chest in the mirror was unsightly and really hurt her self-confidence. With her husband's support, she decided to undergo breast augmentation surgery at Arsty Clinic to rescue her figure!
Refer to complete breast augmentation case studies: Mando jelly breast augmentation looks and feels incredibly realistic! A married woman says goodbye to her flat-chested life >>
What are the different types of postpartum breast augmentation surgery?
Depending on each individual's specific circumstances, there are three types of breast augmentation surgery to choose from: silicone gel breast augmentation, autologous fat breast augmentation, and a two-in-one composite breast augmentation.
Silicone jelly breast augmentation offers a variety of implant options and is performed endoscopically via incisions under the armpit, under the breast, or at the nipple. Nipple reshaping surgery (adjusting nipple length and size) can also be performed simultaneously. The advantages of silicone jelly breast augmentation are that it is not absorbed by the body, and it allows for a significant increase in cup size in one procedure. For those seeking quick and impressive breast augmentation, silicone jelly breast augmentation is the preferred choice. However, post-operative care and massage are necessary for a period of time to allow the implant to integrate perfectly with the tissue and to achieve a more elastic and natural feel. However, with advancements in implant materials, some implants now claim to require no post-operative massage…
Learn more >>> Three options for postpartum breast augmentation
Why do breasts sag during pregnancy?
Breastfeeding is the best gift a mother can give her baby, but why does it sometimes cause breast sagging? This is because...Postpartum, the breasts repeatedly go through cycles of engorgement and emptying. Once breastfeeding stops, the mammary gland tissue atrophies, but the overall skin area becomes larger and looser. At this point, the breast tissue will shift to the lower half of the breast, resulting in an upper half resembling a washboard and a lower half resembling a bag, losing its original firmness.As skin stretches and shrinks, it naturally becomes loose. After weaning, the mammary glands return to their pre-breastfeeding size, and the breasts sag noticeably, like deflated balloons, with the upper chest appearing flat. This situation doesn't only occur in postpartum breastfeeding women; people who experience rapid weight gain or loss in a short period can also experience similar problems such as loose breast skin, sagging breasts, and outward breast expansion. Many people try to improve breast deformation through massage or wearing shaping bras, but the improvement in loose breast skin is often limited.
Learn more >>> Postpartum breast sagging: breast augmentation or breast lift?
▍How should you choose the material and shape of breast implants?
What proportions define a beautiful teardrop-shaped breast? Ideally, a beautiful, natural breast should have the nipple as the center point, with the upper half occupying approximately 45% of the total breast area and the lower half approximately 55% of the total breast area. The nipple should be erect and slightly upturned at about a 20-degree angle, connecting downwards from the ribcage. The upper half of the breast should have a smooth or slightly concave curve, while the lower half should be a rounded, full sphere, resulting in a natural, drooping teardrop shape. Currently, the mainstream material for breast augmentation is cohesive silicone, characterized by its high internal cohesion. Even if the implant membrane ruptures, the silicone will not disperse or leak outwards. Because of its jelly-like texture, it is nicknamed "jelly silicone."
Learn more >>> Breast augmentation materials & shapes: How to choose the best one?
▍When is the best time to have breast augmentation or Breast lift after childbirth?
It is generally recommended to plan postpartum recovery surgery six months after stopping breastfeeding.Especially for procedures like breast augmentation, because breast milk contains rich nutrients, it can be a breeding ground for bacteria during surgery. Therefore, it is more appropriate to plan the surgery after breastfeeding has stopped. On the other hand, after weaning, the mammary gland tissue will gradually atrophy and reach a new balance with the skin, connective tissue, and adipose tissue. At this time, it is more accurate to assess the condition of the breast.
Learn more >>> What to do about breast atrophy? Can breast augmentation be achieved?
