Plastic Surgery and Menopause
Breasts and menopause: why do your breasts change during menopause?
Many women expect hot flashes or trouble sleeping during menopause, but are surprised by the changes to their breasts. Yet breasts in particular are highly sensitive to hormonal fluctuations. They can become larger or slacker, feel more tender, and visibly change shape.
As a plastic surgeon with a particular interest in the health and bodies of women during menopause, I see every day how these changes affect self-image and quality of life.
Why do breasts change during menopause?
Breasts consist of roughly 50 to 70% fatty tissue. That explains why their size and shape change over the course of a life, for example during pregnancy, weight changes, and menopause.
During menopause the hormone balance shifts. Because progesterone decreases and the influence of estrogen changes, part of the breast gland tissue is replaced by fatty tissue. This can make the breasts feel fuller or heavier, while at the same time the skin and connective tissue lose firmness.
The amount of collagen in the skin decreases as well. This makes the skin thinner and less elastic, so the breasts sag more easily and the volume often settles toward the lower part of the breast rather than the upper part.
Many women therefore notice that their bras fit less well, or that the shape of their breasts no longer matches how they feel.
Do you have breast implants? Then menopause is an important moment to reassess.
Many women who are going through menopause now had their breast implants placed ten to twenty years ago, for example after a pregnancy or because they felt comfortable with a breast augmentation for years.
Breast implants are not a lifelong device, however. Depending on the type of implant, its age, and any symptoms, it can be wise to have the implants reassessed.
It is precisely during menopause that your own breasts change shape, which also changes the balance between the implant and the breast tissue. Some women find that their implants suit their body less well, while others develop symptoms or want a more natural look.
During a consultation we discuss, among other things:
- does the volume of the implants still suit your body and stage of life?
- is the shape of the breast still nicely in balance?
- are there symptoms such as capsular contracture, pain, or a changed position?
- is it time to check the implants with an ultrasound or MRI?
Regular monitoring is important in order to assess the condition of breast implants properly.
Which treatments are possible?
Every woman has different wishes. That is why a treatment is always tailor-made.
Breast lift
When the breasts have mainly begun to sag, a breast lift can reshape them and place the nipple higher. Your own breast tissue is redistributed in the process, giving the breast a natural and youthful shape again.
Breast reduction
During menopause many women gain weight. This can also make the breasts larger and cause physical symptoms such as neck, shoulder, or back complaints. A breast reduction decreases the volume and at the same time gives a beautiful, firmer shape.
Replacing or removing breast implants
More and more women choose during menopause to have their implants replaced or, instead, removed. This is often combined with a breast lift, so that the breast itself regains a natural shape that suits the changed body contours.
For women who want to keep their implants, a replacement can provide a better-fitting volume and a more natural result.
Lipofilling
For some women, lipofilling can be a fine addition. Here the body’s own fat is used to fill small losses of volume or to improve contours subtly. Because your own fatty tissue is used, the result feels natural.
My vision
Menopause is a new stage of life in which your body changes. That is a normal biological process. When those changes make you feel less comfortable, it is entirely understandable to wonder what the options are.
During a personal consultation I look not only at your breasts, but at your overall build, skin quality, hormonal stage of life, and personal wishes. Together we choose a treatment that suits who you are, aiming for a natural result that also stays beautiful in the longer term.
To me, a breast correction during menopause is not about becoming younger, but about coming back into balance with your own body.