Mastoptosis
Mastoptosis is a sagging of the female breast, in which there is a decrease in volume, loss of elasticity and elasticity of the tissues of the areolar—nipple area and mammary glands.
The content of the article:
Anatomical and physiological features of mammary glands
Causes of saggy breasts
Degrees of mastoptosis
Saggy breast lift surgery (mastopexy)
Indications for breast lift:
Mastoptosis
Elastic and beautiful breasts are every woman’s dream, they represent a kind of symbol of female sexuality, while performing an aesthetic function. Despite the external indicator, we should not forget about its main purpose, which is to breastfeed newborns. It is with the birth and postpartum processes that most cases of mastoptosis are associated. After childbirth and during the feeding period, the breast significantly sags, the upper part suffers the most, it becomes characterized by a flat shape with a sharp transition to a halo, the former bulges occasionally occur only during an active rush of breast milk. Under the breast, the presence of a pronounced fold is often observed.
Termination of lactation entails the following signs of mastoptosis:
skin stretching;
reduction of the volume as a whole and the periarticular part;
often the breast loses several sizes.
Such factors not only affect the appearance of the breast, but also the psychological state of the woman. It is impossible to eliminate mastoptosis by physical exertion and special creams, only surgical intervention can restore the original shape. However, sagging breasts can be hidden from prying eyes due to special underwear with corrective properties.
Anatomical and physiological features of mammary glands
The functional features and structure of the mammary glands change over the course of a woman’s age. All processes are activated from the moment of its development until the period of reaching the maximum size. Active growth mainly covers 10 years, since twenty-year-old girls already have fully formed breasts. Its size and shape depends on such factors:
genetic;
hormonal;
age – related;
weight (a woman’s body weight directly affects the appearance of the breast).
If we consider the latter factor in detail, then with weight loss, especially sharp, mastoptosis may also occur. This is due to the fact that stretch marks appear on the skin of the mammary glands and it loses elasticity, because the structure of the organ does not provide for the presence of muscle tissue, therefore, even with active sports, the whole body will be tightened except for the chest. The skin stretches and contracts due to hormonal changes, including the peculiarities of the menstrual cycle. As for the diameter of the areola and the color of the nipple, they are purely individual and are determined in the womb.
The most important factor is genetic, but throughout life hormones and nutrition make their own adjustments. The level of adipose tissue in the breast can reach a very high level. The predominant amount of fat is observed in elderly women, it is their size and shape that are directly related to body weight, there is also always a sagging breast. If there is more glandular tissue in the paired organ, then the weight indicator will slightly change its shape and size. Only sex hormones can affect the latter parameter, the changes are most noticeable during the menstrual cycle, when taking contraceptives and with the onset of menopause.
The structure of the mammary glands is particularly susceptible to modifications in the following life periods:
Childhood;
Active phases of puberty;
Pregnancy;
Lactation;
Menopause.
The main function of the mammary glands is performed by glandular lobules, they are responsible for the production of milk. These morphofunctional segments are separated from each other by rather thin connective layers consisting of tissues and subcutaneous fat. They are located circularly around the nipple. The structure also contains sac-like extensions, they depart from each glandular lobule in the form of milk ducts, which after in the areole zone are connected into single milky sinuses. There are milky pores on top of the baggy extensions. The ligamentous apparatus is most responsible for the elasticity of the breast, it holds the tissues and thus serves as a kind of corset. These Cooper ligaments are attached to the pectoral muscles.
The normal location of the breast:
the border of the upper part is the level of 2-3 edges;
the border of the lower part is the level of 7-8 ribs, separated by a fold under the chest;
the transverse parameter is from the sternum to the armpit area.
Breast sagging is prevented by the skin of the paired organ itself and its ligaments. The parameters of both the ligaments and the skin of each woman are different, those who have them are more fortunate. According to the statistics conducted regarding the appearance of mastoptosis, the following can be distinguished:
5-10% of respondents claim that age does not affect the elasticity of the breast in any way;
20% of girls noticed sagging after breast enlargement (for various reasons, be it hormones or weight gain);
70% of women report a significant loss of volume and significant sagging after the birth of a child, including after lactation.
Causes of saggy breasts
No matter how hard a woman tries, but sagging breasts is an inevitable process. Of course, it can be suspended if you follow the diet and lead an active lifestyle, not forgetting about sports loads on the pectoral muscles. With age, however, the skin and ligaments will lose a high elasticity index, which will give mastoptosis a vivid expression. At the same time, negative changes can occur sharply, they will manifest themselves in the form of flabbiness, the presence of deep sweetness under the mammary gland, sprains and the plane of the upper part of the breast. When sagging, the main tissues of the organ are concentrated in its lower part.
Changes in each woman are individual, mastoptosis can progress at different rates. A significant part is prone to sagging breasts due to aging, since this process involves the involution of glandular tissues, weakening of ligaments and other supporting mechanisms.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding become the main periods that provoke mastoptosis. Lactation is characterized by a rapid excess of milk, which naturally leads to sprains, and the baby pulls the breast down when sucking, after which it remains in this position. Doctors strongly recommend wearing special comfortable underwear, it will support the chest and stop the occurrence of mastopathy. The degree of sagging after pregnancy directly depends on the age of the woman in labor and the former condition of the breast. Young mothers won’t really notice the drastic changes. They will also be inconspicuous for those who have trained the pectoral muscle group. Recovery processes in such women take a short time.
Heavy weight has an extremely negative effect on the condition of the breast. Undoubtedly, it will increase in several sizes, which some women like, but at the same time leads to mastoptosis, which is inevitable under the force of high gravity. Plastic augmentation surgery has the same consequences. The ligamentous apparatus is not able to hold an uncharacteristic and unusual breast weight, due to which sagging occurs.
Human habits and lifestyle, among other things, play an important role. The thoracic ligaments weaken if there are violations of posture or the girl is often in a static position for a long time, because they can no longer support the gland.
Degrees of mastoptosis
Mastoptosis is distinguished by the degree of sagging of the breast. It is extremely important to determine it in the case when surgical corrective intervention is planned. Breast lift depends on the location of the nipple. To do this, determine the location of the nipple in relation to the submammary fold.
Pseudorthosis is the initial stage of mastoptosis, in which the nipple is above the fold, but the predominant part of the breast is under it. In the first degree, the nipple is located at the level of the fold or slightly lower, in the second degree it is lowered by 1-2 cm. The extreme degree of mastoptosis is the third, in such clinical pictures the nipple is lowered from the fold by 3 or more centimeters.
To determine the type of mastoptosis really and independently at home, it is enough to put your palm under the mammary glands. It is necessary to judge the degree by the results:
Covered up to 2 fingers — 1st stage.
Covered from 2 to 4 fingers — the 2nd stage.
The whole palm is involved — the 3rd stage.
Saggy breast lift surgery (mastopexy)
Mastopexy is a type of mammoplasty. This surgical intervention allows you to perform a breast lift. Based on the degree of sagging , two types of mastopexy are considered:
Periareol. It allows you to restore not only the height of the breast, but also to reduce the areola to the desired size, however, it will not be able to correct the significant sagging of the breast.
Circular. It is able to eliminate mastoptosis of any degree, consists in removing excess skin and giving the breast the correct shape.
If necessary, other operations are performed together with the matopexy to correct the volume, as well as its size. The complexity of such an intervention will be much higher, but the aesthetic result will exceed all expectations.
Indications for breast lift:
loss due to age-related changes in elasticity and elasticity;
sagging after childbirth;
sharp weight loss, with the same volume and pronounced ptosis;
omission of the chest of various nature.
For those women who have already become a mother, it is better not to do mastopexy if they are planning their next pregnancy in the near future.
Contraindications to the elimination of mastoptosis:
oncological diseases;
poor blood clotting;
infections;
exacerbation of a chronic disease of an internal organ;
disorders of the endocrine system;
diabetes mellitus;
severe breast disease;
scar tissue on a large area of the breast.
Before mammoplasty, it is forbidden to drink alcoholic beverages and smoking is not recommended.
Mastopexy is performed under general anesthesia and lasts up to 3 hours, depending on the degree of mastoptosis and the degree of intervention. After surgery, edema often occurs, but within a month they pass. The site of the incision of the tissue is finally scarred after about a few years. The results of the operation can be assessed in 6 months, until then all the postoperative consequences will disappear and changes will become clearly visible.
After mastopexy, it is recommended:
Wear compression underwear for a month, it will help to keep a new shape.
Monitor nutrition and not dramatically reduce / gain weight.
Physical activity should be moderate.
Avoid taking hormonal medications for six months. The exception is the appointment of a mammologist or gynecologist.
Mastoptosis is an inevitable problem, it can be avoided only by a scanty number of women who have genetically laid beautiful and elastic forms. Breast sagging is solvable and modern mastopexy techniques will help to eliminate it.
