Women seek a custom breast procedure at different ages, from the 20s to the 60s and beyond. Each age group tends to focus on specific surgical corrections. In the earlier decades, breast augmentation and correction of inherited breast shape problems are often sought, while later in life, women may seek treatment for sagging breasts, or require breast reconstruction.
No matter what your age, you want your breast surgery to be performed by a highly-rated, board-certified plastic surgeon with a reputation for excellence in surgical technique, patient care, and outcomes: Dr. Darren Smith.
The 20s
Main Concern: Treating breast developmental issues
Small Breasts
Resolved with breast augmentation by placing:
- Silicone implants
- Saline implants
- Structured saline implants
Asymmetry
Corrected with one or more of the following:
- Enlarging smaller breast with breast implants
- Decreasing size of larger breast with breast reduction
- Lifting the lower breast with a mastopexy (breast lift)
Inverted nipples - Corrected with nipple eversion procedures
Tuberous breast deformity - Corrected with breast implants and procedures designed to improve areola size and shape and relieve constriction of the inframammary fold.
Uncomfortably large breasts - Corrected with breast reduction
The 30s
Many issues seen in the 20s (size, shape, hereditary concerns) are also addressed in the 30s (augmentation remains most common). Additionally, we start to see issues associated with weight gain, weight loss, pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Changes after pregnancy and breastfeeding
“Deflated” appearing or sagging (“ptotic”) breasts
- Most frequently treated with breast lift with or without implants depending on desired size
- Mild cases of breast ptosis can sometimes be addressed with breast implants alone
Enlarged or distorted areola
- Treated with areola reshaping or reduction procedure
Enlarged nipples
- Treated with nipple reduction procedure
Changes with weight loss
Similar to the situation after pregnancy and breastfeeding (loss of breast volume leads to
relative
skin
excess, causing a deflated appearance)
- Treated with breast augmentation/breast lift
“Deflated” appearing or sagging (“ptotic”) breasts
- Most frequently treated with breast lift with or without implants depending on desired size
- Mild cases of breast ptosis can sometimes be addressed with breast implant alone
Inverted nipples
- Correct with nipple eversion procedures
Address breast size, shape
Most common: small breasts: Addressed with breast augmentation
- Silicone implants
- Saline implants
- Structured saline implants
Changes with weight gain
Breast enlargement
- Treated with breast reduction
The 40s
In addition to addressing the changes from childbearing described above, this is a time during which the focus of breast surgery is often on rejuvenating the breasts and restoring their appearance to a state of vitality and youth.
- Breasts that are sagging, or ptotic, may be lifted with a mastopexy.
- Breasts that are sagging only mildly and are smaller than desired can be treated with breast implants alone.
- If there is significant volume loss in addition to the ptosis, the patient may opt for a mastopexy (breast lift) with implants.
- In instances in which the breasts are larger than desired, with or without ptosis, a breast reduction is a common solution.
The 50s and beyond
In addition to addressing the changes in breast shape and volume frequently corrected in earlier decades, women who have implants in place may desire a change in appearance or require maintenance procedures.
-
Implant malposition (for example “bottoming out” due to gravity over time)
Corrected with breast implant revision surgery.
-
Breast asymmetry
Improved with a breast lift (mastopexy), adjustment of the height of the fold beneath the breast (the “inframammary fold”), or other procedures.
-
Breast implant removal
Women that no longer want to have implants in place can have them removed. Some may opt for a breast lift (mastopexy) at the same time to address the skin excess and sagging appearance that frequently occurs after a larger implant is removed.
-
Improve breast size, shape, projection
Procedures like breast augmentations, lifts and reductions are popular in this group as well for those that wish to improve the appearance of their breasts.
