For the ladies what you need to know about Breast Sagging (ptosis)

What is breast sag?

Breast sagging (ptosis) refers to a situation where the breast tissue sags or
drops lower on the chest and the nipple points downward. This is a normal
consequence of aging; however there are factors that could influence the rate
of development.

The rate of breast sagging varies
between individuals. The factors are:

·      
Age

·      
Genetics

·      
Smoking

·      
Body mass index

·      
Number of pregnancies

·      
Breasts size before pregnancy

Categories of ptosis are determined by
plastic surgeons who evaluate the position of the nipple relative to the
inframammary crease (the point where the lower side of the breast meets the
chest wall). They do this by measuring from the center of the nipple to the
sternal notch (at the top of the breast bone) to determine how far the nipple
has fallen.

Stages of breast sagging (ptosis)

Plastic surgeons describe the degree of
breast sagging using a ptosis scale. The normal breast has the nipple position and breast tissues above the
inframammary fold as shown. The stages as shown in the diagram above include: 

• Grade I: Mild
  sagging: The nipple is at the level of the
  inframammary fold and above most of the lower breast tissue.

• Grade II:
  Moderate sagging: The nipple is
  located below the inframammary fold but higher than most of the breast
  tissue hangs.

• Grade III:
  Advanced or significant sagging:
  The nipple has dropped below the inframammary fold and at the level of
  maximum breast projection.

• Pseudoptosis:
  The nipple is located either at or above the inframammary fold, while the
  lower half of the breast sags below the fold. This is most often seen when
  a woman stops nursing, as her milk glands atrophy, causing her breast
  tissue to sag.

• Parenchymal
  Maldistribution: The lower
  breast tissue is lacking fullness, the inframammary fold is very high, and
  the nipple and areola are relatively close to the fold. This is usually a
  developmental deformity.

Treatment
of breast sag

The correction or treatment of
breast sags is usually plastic surgery.

There are several procedures
involved. Surgery to correct the size, contour, and elevation of sagging
breasts is called mastopexy.

There is also placing of implants
above the muscle which helps fill out the breast tissue