Treatment of Large Breasts

About the disease

With age, skin loses its elasticity and becomes less toned. Breasts that were pert in a woman’s youth will tend to sag with age. The medical term for this process is “ptosis”.

There are a few factors, other than age, that can cause breasts to sag. A genetic predisposition plays a vital role in how a woman’s body will look throughout her lifetime. If a woman does not exercise or follow a healthy diet, the risk of developing sagging breast tissue after 35-40 years of age is high, especially if her mother and grandmother developed ptosis early on in life as well.

Women who have a larger breast size are more likely to develop sagging breast tissue because of the weight of the breast itself, which causes the skin to stretch over time. Also, breast size and shape can dramatically increase and decrease during and after pregnancy and breastfeeding. Obesity and being overweight can also influence the appearance of a woman’s breasts, as can smoking.

Women whose weight has frequently gone up and down throughout their life may also develop sagging breasts, even earlier than 35 years of age, because the skin has been stretched too quickly. It is important to lose or gain weight gradually, rather than going on express diets, so the skin has time to adjust to the changes in the body. A weight-loss diet should always be complemented by physical exercises that tone the muscles.

Symptoms

• Sagging breasts is the only symptom

Diagnosis

• During a general examination, the doctor will examine the patient’s breasts using palpation.
• The doctor will ask the woman if she has been experiencing any hormonal problems lately, such as early menopause or sudden weight gain. She will also be asked about the regularity of her periods, any previous pregnancies and her sex life.
• Having hair on the nipples or strange discharges may indicate hormonal problems. The patient may need to undergo a blood test, to check the levels of testosterone, progesterone and estrogen.
• The doctor may request imaging tests to examine the structure of the breast tissue in more detail and see if everything is functioning normally.

Treatment

• Physical exercise is important because it increases the blood circulation to the skin, which increases its elasticity and resistance to the changes caused by age.
• Plastic surgery can correct the shape of the breasts and lift them. In some cases, women opt for artificial implants that increase the breast size and improve their shape and position.

Authors: Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova, Dr. Farrukh Ahmed