What are some natural ways to lift sagging breasts?

Dear Reader, 

Whether you call them boobs, jugs, or knockers—your breasts experience the pull of gravity and the passage of time just like anything else. Sagging is completely natural and nothing to be ashamed of. However, if you’re hoping to defy gravity for a little longer, there are options other than surgery that you could consider. Although surgery is the only way to completely “lift” your breasts, non-surgical alternatives can slow down the appearance of sagging and make your breasts look perkier for longer. Read on if you’d like to feel uplifted!

Why do breasts sag?

Breasts are made up of fat tissue, glands, and ligaments that help hold everything in place. Over time, these ligaments can stretch out and end up holding your breasts less firmly. Additionally, the skin around your breasts can lose elasticity as time goes by. Together, these may cause breasts to appear to droop or sag. This isn’t a “problem,” but simply a part of life and human anatomy! Some factors that can increase sagging include:

• Age: As you get older, your ligaments and skin have had to hold up your breasts against gravity for longer. Therefore the ligaments and skin may become slightly weaker or more worn out and this could lead to sagging.
• Pregnancy: During pregnancy, the breasts tend to go through extensive changes, including rapid growth and a build-up of gland tissue. The skin around the breasts may experience stretching as the breasts get larger and the ligaments may experience strain as the breasts get heavier. This increases the chances of sagging. In fact, the more pregnancies you have, the more likely you are to observe sagging. 
• Weight fluctuations: Like with pregnancy, rapid changes in breast size can be caused by both weight gain and loss. These changes can reduce the elasticity of your skin and increase the burden on your ligaments, increasing the probability of sagging.
• Genetics: Breasts come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Sometimes, you inherit a breast shape that’s angled more downward or that’s simply more prone to sagging. 
• Smoking: Smoking can damage certain proteins in your skin that make it firmer and less wrinkly. This doesn’t only apply to the skin on your face—smoking can increase breast sagging by making the skin droopier.

What are non-surgical alternatives to reduce breast sagging?

If you’d rather skip the scalpel and try some non-surgical alternatives, there are a few options. These won’t totally reverse sagging, but they can slow it down going forward, keeping things looking firmer for longer. These alternatives include:

• Exercise: Working out your chest muscles won’t lift the actual breasts, but building up muscle under your breasts can provide a subtle boost. You may find push-ups, chest presses, and other strength training exercises helpful.
• Supportive wear: Wearing a well-fitted bra can support and lift your breasts, as well as help to minimize some of the extra strain on the ligaments that hold them up.
• Skincare: Keeping your skin hydrated and protected from the sun may help keep it elastic. You might consider using a moisturizer and sun protection product on the skin on your chest. While some recommend using skin firming or tightening creams, these haven’t been shown to actually help maintain elasticity.  
• Lifestyle changes: Avoiding smoking, rapid weight fluctuations, and bad posture can all help your breasts stay a little perkier over time. 

Are there surgeries to lift breasts?  

If you’re hoping to “reverse” sagging as much as possible, there is a surgery called a breast lift. During the procedure, a surgeon may remove some of the skin around the breast, reshape the breasts, and reposition the nipple to face more forward than down. This surgery can be done on its own or along with breast implants to add some volume. Recovery times vary but usually range from two to eight weeks depending on the specifics of the procedure. Although breast lift results can be striking and improve self-confidence, it’s important to know that surgery doesn’t stop gravity and can’t completely prevent sagging. You might think of it like the end of daylight savings time: you can turn the clock back, but it continues to tick forward after you reset it.  

At the end of the day, breasts are beautiful and normal at every shape, size, and level of perkiness. Whether you choose to lift, get some support, or embrace the sag, it is completely up to you. If you’re feeling down about your body’s changes, you may find it helpful to meet with a mental health professional. Additionally, if you’re interested in surgical options, you might consider consulting your health care provider. 

Breast of luck!