According to Spartanburg, SC, plastic surgeon Michael J. Orseck, MD, the breasts are one of the most complained about areas of the body post-pregnancy. “There are so many changes to the breasts that occur from pregnancy including sagginess, unevenness, stretched areolas, pigmentation changes, droopy nipples and a loss of volume at the top part of the breasts.” When you want results that last longer than what a bra can provide, the only viable option to choose is breast surgery.
The problem: Flat breasts
Why they happen: “During pregnancy much of the fullness is around the areola and the upper breast,” explains Las Vegas plastic surgeon Mary C. Herte, MD. “When the breasts deflate after pregnancy and nursing, that upper fullness is lost and the skin of the breast is empty and collapsed because the skin does not always shrink with the breast tissue. The three-dimensional shape of the breast still shows in the skin, but flattens like an empty paper bag.”
Fix them with: Breast augmentation with implants
The details: Breast augmentation surgery can restore the shape of the breasts for those who have a good position of the nipple (it doesn’t point downward but rather forward), good elastic skin and simply a loss of fullness. “Round, smooth saline or silicone implants placed under the muscle, in my opinion, give the best look with the least amount of potential for problems,” says Dallas plastic surgeon Rod J. Rohrich, MD.
The problem: Shrinking breasts
Why they happen: At one point of your pregnancy your breasts may have been the largest they’ve ever been. But after you’ve delivered it’s normal for them to dwindle in size—possibly even becoming smaller than before you were pregnant as your hormones, tissue and ducts return to normal.
Fix them with: Breast augmentation with implants
The details: Placing implants into breasts that are small gives them a permanent increase in size and shape. “Since there is an overall loss of volume that affects the entire breasts, not just one part of the breast, it’s important that an implant that gives a good amount of fullness is used,” says Dr. Rohrich.
The problem: Saggy breasts
Why they happen: When an abundance of weight is gained in the breasts, they can quickly increase in size. “It’s this engorging and enlarging that happens with pregnancy and later when breasts shrink that causes sagginess to occur,” says Dr. Rohrich. It’s not uncommon for the breasts to appear long, wide and flattened out.
Fix them with: A breast lift
The details: Breast lift surgery, also known as a mastopexy, permanently eliminates extra skin on the breasts to reduce the look of sagging—it forces the breast volume to be distributed more evenly, erasing the look of flatness in the upper part of the breasts. Oftentimes, a breast lift is performed along with an augmentation when there is not enough natural volume in the breasts. “Most women need the combination of the lift with an implant to get the right amount of volume in the right area and for breasts to sit in the proper place,” says Chicago plastic surgeon Peter D. Geldner, MD.
