Sagging Breast Surgery London Concerned about Sagging Breasts?

• Natural Ageing Process: Ageing fundamentally changes both the internal and external structure of the skin throughout the body, including the breast area. As we age, the skin characteristically becomes thinner, less elastic, and weaker over time. This natural process reduces the skin’s ability to provide adequate support for the underlying breast tissues, fat, and muscles, which are continuously pulled downwards by gravity, causing the skin to stretch and the breasts to sag.
• Collagen and Elastin Decline: Ageing causes a significant loss of volume to the internal breast tissues as levels of collagen and elastin start to decline. Collagen provides structural support, while elastin gives skin its ability to snap back after stretching. This decline leaves the breasts less volumised and firm, resulting in excess skin that ultimately starts to sag and lose its youthful appearance.
• Weight Loss Effects: Significant weight loss can cause breasts to sag when the internal mass decreases but the skin doesn’t shrink proportionally to accommodate the reduced volume. This leaves excess skin that hangs loosely, creating a deflated appearance that often requires surgical intervention to correct.
• Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: The dramatic changes that occur during pregnancy and breastfeeding can permanently alter breast shape and position. Hormonal fluctuations cause breast tissue to expand significantly, stretching the skin and supporting structures. After weaning, the breast tissue often shrinks back to a smaller size than before pregnancy, leaving stretched skin behind.
• Hormonal Factors: Oestrogen deficiency, particularly during menopause, can contribute to breast sagging by affecting skin elasticity and breast tissue composition. Hormonal changes can also impact the production of collagen and other proteins essential for maintaining breast firmness.
• Genetic Predisposition: Some women are genetically predisposed to developing sagging breasts earlier or more severely than others, regardless of other factors. This can be related to inherited skin elasticity, breast size, or the strength of supporting structures.
• Cooper’s Ligament Stretching: The Cooper’s ligaments are fibrous bands that help suspend and support the breasts on the chest wall. Over time, these ligaments can stretch and weaken, reducing their ability to maintain breast position and contributing to sagging.
• Gravity and Time: The constant downward pull of gravity over many years gradually stretches the skin and supporting structures, particularly in larger breasts where the gravitational force is greater.

In many cases, sagging breasts also affect the positioning of the nipples, which may appear to sit at the bottom of the breast and point downwards rather than forward. This change in nipple position is often a key indicator of the degree of breast ptosis and helps determine the most appropriate surgical approach for correction.