Just Say No To Gravity
Why Do Breasts Droop
By David A. Newman, M.D.
The effects of gravity and
the aging process affect tremendous
change over our entire body
and nowhere is this more dramatic
than in the breast. But why
does the breast yield to these
forces more than other parts
of our form?
Part of the reason is that
the breast tissue itself undergoes
tremendous change over our
lifetime. After puberty,
the breast begin to grow,
stretching the skin to accommodate
to the new volume. The pressure
on youthful skin is not such
a problem because the skin
has a large amount of collagen
and elastic fibers as well
as the ability to regenerate
new cells.
During the childbearing years,
the breasts are subject to
the most change. Once pregnancy
starts, the breast tissue
begins to grow, further stretching
the skin envelope. With each
successive pregnancy, there
is a cyclical enlargement
and diminution in breast tissue
size, and the skin is subject,
thusly, to stretching and
relaxation. In fact, under
the effects of estrogen, the
skin can even crack, leading
to stretch marks, or stria.
Once women are no longer pregnant
there is a resorption of breast
tissue which results in a
significant loss of breast
size. So, after pregnancy,
there is both a loss of fill,
and the problem of extra skin
which has been created during
the pregnancy process. Both
of these are instrumental
in leading to drooping, or “ptosis”.
The deep attachments which
meld the breast to deeper
structures are really where
the action is, though, when
discussing how the breast
actually droops. Unlike the
large, rope-like structures
which keep our bones attached
to each other, these deep
attaching ligaments are really
fine, narrow fibers which
extend from the back of the
breast and project into the
deeper tissue of the chest
to maintain breast position
and keep the breast from falling.
If one could look at the back
of the breast, one might see
thousands of these fibers
extending from the entire
surface of the posterior breast
which act as a small army
of breast anchors.
These fibers which suspend
the breast from the chest
wall are especially dense
in the lower part of the breast
where the lower pole of the
breast folds down over the
chest. Here, in the fold
under the breast, skin and
breast have fibers on their
undersurface which firmly
attach to underlying structures
and provide strong support.
The cyclical stretching and
loosening of the breast during
pregnancy years has a significant
effect on these fold fibers
and result in their damage
and stretching. Stretching
of the fibers causes the breast
to droop and fall over the
fold, but also, the entire
breast slides down the chest
and is seen to be positioned
at a lower level.
So, in summary, drooping results
from stretching of the skin
and breast tissue and also
stretching of the support
structures which are necessary
to maintain breast position.
Genetics may also play a strong
role in determining whether
a woman’s breast will droop
with the aging process. If
you are concerned about drooping,
and how it can be remedied,
feel free to schedule a consultation
with Dr. Newman, at his Plastic
Surgery Center in Temecula.
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"I researched
several surgeons before selection
Dr. Newman, I had many questions
and concerns leading up to
my surgery and Dr. Newman
and his staff always took
the time to answer every questions
truthfully. It was very personal
and intimate experience and
Dr. Newman and staff always
made me feel like a friend
as opposed to a patient. Most
importantly I could not be
more pleased with my new look….I
has breast enlargement."
Lisa Shapiro
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