Breastfeeding Breast Atrophy and Sagging Lymphatic Massage

Breast milk is nutritionally balanced and contains a variety of antibodies that can reduce the risk of allergies in babies. Therefore, more and more mothers choose to breastfeed. However, a 34-year-old young mother surnamed Xu in Taichung City, after giving birth to two children and breastfeeding for four years, saw her originally plump and firm breasts severely sag, shrink and deform, like the "aging breasts" of an 80-year-old woman. It was not until she underwent breast augmentation surgery to restore her pointed and beautiful breasts that she regained her confidence and smiled again.

About 60% of breastfeeding women in China suffer from sagging breasts. Daily massage can help prevent the condition, but in severe cases, surgery is required to improve the condition.

Postpartum hormone levels drop by 60%, causing breast atrophy in mothers

Hao Zhihua, a plastic surgeon at Guangtian General Hospital, said that due to hormonal changes in pregnant women, the mammary glands and fat tissue will proliferate, and the breast skin will also be stretched. However, after the baby is weaned, the female hormone level decreases and the mammary gland tissue decreases. The breast skin that was originally stretched and loose will easily become dry and sagging. It is estimated that about 60% of women suffer from breast atrophy and sagging after weaning.

Prevent breast sagging by massaging chest lymph nodes before going to bed

During pregnancy, moderate breast lymphatic massage and breast skin care can help unclog the mammary glands, promote blood circulation, help metabolize oppressed old fat cells, and prevent breast sagging after breastfeeding.

• Massage method: After taking a shower or before going to bed every day, put lotion on your hands, put your index finger, middle finger and ring finger together, and massage from the center of the breast to the outside in a clockwise direction in a circular motion, then massage in a counterclockwise direction. Finally, pat the breast from the bottom edge upwards several times with both palms to prevent sagging.

Severe breast atrophy can be saved by breast augmentation surgery

After Ms. Xu's breast augmentation surgery, her breasts regained their pre-breastfeeding firmness and no longer shrank and drooped like those of an old woman. (Photo provided by Guangtian General Hospital)

However, if breast atrophy and sagging are too severe and have an impact on the patient's life and mind, breast augmentation or breast plastic surgery can be chosen to improve the condition.

Dr. Hao Zhihua said that some women do not like to have "foreign" fillers such as saline bags implanted in their breasts, or are worried about surgical risks and scarring, so they hesitate. However, currently, through "micro-liposuction" combined with "autologous fat transplantation for breast augmentation", the excess fat accumulated in the waist, thighs, buttocks, arms, etc. is screened and purified to obtain active fat cells, which are then transplanted to the breasts. The process only requires local anesthesia, no sutures or removals are required, there are no scars, and the fat implanted is one's own body fat, so it is safer and more comfortable than traditional breast augmentation surgery.