The breast is made up of skin, milk ducts, glands, connective tissue and fatty tissue. The breasts are supported by your rib cage and your chest muscles (the pectoralis major and minor).

Why do breasts sag?
Breast sagging or ptosis occurs for several different reasons — multiple pregnancies, breast feeding, rapid weight loss, genetics, gravity and age. Over time the connective tissue ligaments that supports the breast loses its tension and together with the effect of gravity contributes to the sagging of the breasts.


What are the options currently available on the market and are they proven in their benefits?
Surgical breast enhancement or some form of mammoplasty is probably the most reliable way of correcting sagging breasts. These artificial breast implants can last up to 10 years but are however associated with high costs of the surgery as well as possible risks and potential complications. There is also an extended recovery time period. It is best to discuss with the surgeon concerned the potential risks and benefits of this method before making a choice.

Autologous Fat Transfer (AFT) as a method of breast enhancement has both its supporters as well as those who are not in favour of it. In general, it is a  relatively safe procedure that has been in existence for well over 20 years and the method of preserving the fat to ensure their survival in the host tissue has been improved over the years. There is now a method that  involves injection of the harvested fat together with fat derived stem cells to improve survival. Those using this method claims that the fat transferred to the breast in this way can last for at least 5 years.

There is a non-surgical method known as the Brava Breast Enlargement or Shaping System. This system works through a process known as tissue expansion by applying gentle sustained tension to the breasts. The main drawback to this system is compliance as the user  has to wear the system for a minimum of 10 hours a day for up to 10 to 16 weeks.

There is now also another alternative to non-surgical breast enhancement using a hyaluronic acid body filler called Macrolane. The main drawback to this procedure is the high cost and the fact that this products lasts for only about 2 years.

There are many pills and oral supplements on the market  but they are unproven clinically to enlarge breasts. If there is any result it is usually a temporary engorgement of the breast milk ducts similar to a “hormone “ like effect. This type of increase is similar to the increase seen during a menstrual cycle and cannot be sustained.

As regards to creams that are promoted for this purpose, there have been no studies conducted and published in any medical journal as to the efficacy of these creams.

The use of padded or support bras are good as long as the user continues to use them but the effect is lost once the user does not wears it.