Non-Surgical Breast Lifts: Can You Lift Breasts Naturally?
The shape, size and elevation of the breasts change multiple times during a woman’s life. Age and gravity are the unavoidable contributing factors, but events such as pregnancy and significant weight loss can also have a dramatic impact. Changes in the appearance of the breasts can lead to a loss of confidence, but you can do something about it, and breast lift surgery is the most effective option.
A breast lift (mastopexy) is one of the most common surgical cosmetic procedures in the UK. It removes sagging skin, tightens the underlying breast tissue and repositions the nipple and areola to create a more youthful, shapely and lifted appearance. However, these days, a breast lift is not the only treatment available.
If you’re unhappy with the shape or droopiness of your breasts, there are an increasing number of non-surgical breast lift treatments that claim to be able to help. These so-called ‘natural breast lifts’ do not produce the dramatic or long-lasting results of a surgical breast lift, but with no cuts or incisions and minimal downtime, they might be worth exploring.
What is a non-surgical breast lift?
A non-surgical breast lift is not a single treatment. There are numerous options out there that may offer subtle improvements in breast shape and firmness without the requirement for surgery.
For those looking for a natural boob lift, these treatments aim to improve the appearance of sagging breasts, often by stimulating the production of collagen and boosting skin elasticity.
As there’s no surgery, there are no scars to worry about, and the recovery period is much quicker. That means you can return to your normal day-to-day activities almost immediately. However, the results are more subtle and not guaranteed, and you will need additional treatments to maintain any improvements.
What are the different types of non-surgical breast lifts?
If you’re wondering how you can lift breasts naturally, the good news is there’s no shortage of choice, so you can find a treatment that suits you. The bad news is that none of these treatments can correct sagging or reshape the breasts in a meaningful or long-term way, although they may offer minor improvements in skin tone and texture.
Laser treatments
Lasers use high-power energy beams to increase collagen production and remove dead skin cells. That can produce a slight increase in the skin elasticity, although laser treatments will not lead to any meaningful lifting of the breasts. You also need regular treatments to maintain the results.
Anti-ageing injectables
Some ‘natural’ breast lift treatments involve the use of Botox and dermal fillers. Clinicians inject Botox into the pectoral area to prevent slouching shoulders, which can give the effect of lifted breasts. Others use Botox to smooth the skin, which reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles but doesn’t provide any lift.
Dermal fillers can also be injected into the breast area to provide subtle improvements in breast shape. However, dermal fillers are not recommended for this purpose due to the risk of complications and the lack of long-term studies supporting their effectiveness.
Vampire breast lift
In this procedure, platelet-rich plasma is extracted from your blood and then injected into the breasts and the surrounding breast tissue. The aim is to increase blood circulation and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and scars, which may give the appearance of a breast lift.
However, although it may provide a temporary improvement to the appearance of the breasts, this treatment is not proven to have any long-term benefits. It’s also not suitable for women who have previously had breast cancer or are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Caci bust treatment
This treatment delivers electrical pulses to the muscles surrounding the breasts to improve their tone and provide a natural boob lift. The result can be a smoothing effect on the skin of the breasts, but any lift is minimal, and multiple expensive treatments are required to achieve a meaningful result.
Aptos threading
This treatment uses small, barbed threads to physically lift the skin around the breasts upwards and towards the collarbone. Despite a surgeon inserting the threads beneath the skin using a hypodermic needle, it is still considered a non-invasive treatment.
The threads dissolve after one or two years, and the breasts will revert to their original position. This procedure doesn’t reshape the breasts or change the position of the nipples, and is only suitable for mild to moderate breast sagging.
Creams and lotions
Many expensive creams and lotions are marketed as methods of lifting the breasts naturally, but to date, none have any proven long-term effectiveness. Like other non-surgical breast lift treatments, they do not significantly lift or reshape the breast tissue, and any results are temporary.
What are the limitations of non-surgical breast lifts?
There are several issues with so-called natural breast lifts that limit their effectiveness:
- No breast reshaping – They do not reposition or reshape the underlying breast tissue. That means they cannot achieve the dramatic results of a surgical breast lift. Dermal fillers can provide some minor breast reshaping, but they are not approved for use, can lead to complications, and the results typically only last 12 months.
- No removal of sagging skin – While some natural breast lift treatments claim to tighten sagging skin temporarily, the excess skin remains. A surgical breast lift permanently removes it.
- Limited lifting – Although some natural boob lifts, such as aptos threading, can provide a temporary lift, the results are limited and it’s only suitable for mild sagging.
- No nipple or areola repositioning – Another issue is that a breast lift without surgery does not address the position of the nipple or areola. That’s often required to achieve a more elevated and youthful appearance.
- Regular treatments are essential – Even if you achieve results from a non-surgical breast lift, they are only temporary. You will need ongoing treatments to maintain the results, which adds to the overall cost and commitment.
What is a surgical breast lift?
A breast lift, also known as a mastopexy or breast uplift, is a surgical procedure to lift and reshape the breasts.
During the procedure, the surgeon will remove excess skin and tighten and reposition the breast tissue to improve sagging and give the breasts a more rounded and flattering shape. They may also reposition the nipple and areola to a more youthful and uplifted position, and reduce the size of the areola if required.
There are several different ways to perform a surgical breast uplift. During your initial consultation, your surgeon will examine your breasts and determine the most appropriate technique to achieve your aesthetic goals.
The procedure is carried out under general anaesthetic and is usually performed on a day-case basis, so you will return home on the same day as the procedure. Most patients have one to two weeks off work and fully recover after six to eight weeks. The results typically last 10 to 15 years.
Some patients choose to combine a breast lift with a breast enlargement. They benefit from the lift and reshaping benefits of a breast lift and the added volume of an implant, which creates a fuller appearance. Combining the two procedures in a single surgery is also far more cost-effective than performing them separately.
Is a surgical breast lift right for you?
While a non-surgical breast lift may have a limited and temporary effect on minor sagging, it cannot provide the same benefits as a surgical procedure. The truth is that breasts come in all shapes and sizes, and women who will derive a benefit from a non-surgical breast lift probably don’t need any treatment at all.
A surgical breast lift, on the other hand, can provide significant benefits for patients who are unhappy with their breasts for a range of reasons, including:
- Your breasts have lost firmness and shape due to age, pregnancy, breastfeeding or weight loss
- Your breasts are sagging or drooping to a mild, moderate or significant extent
- The shape or position of your breasts is uneven and they lack symmetry
- Your nipples point downwards or are lower than the breast crease
- You’re unhappy about the shape or position of your breasts and it is affecting your self-esteem, confidence, your clothing choices or your ability to participate in sport and other activities.
To be a good candidate for a surgical breast lift procedure, you should be in good health and have realistic expectations about what the procedure can achieve. For example, a breast lift will not make your breasts larger, but it will improve their shape and position, which may make them appear fuller.
You should also be at or near your ideal weight and not be planning to have any more children.
Get a safe, high-quality and affordable breast lift at Enhance Medical
At Enhance Medical, we are a leading provider of day-case breast surgery from seven state-of-the-art clinics throughout the country. Many of our surgeons are specialists in breast lifts and have vast experience performing this type of procedure on a broad range of patients with unique aesthetic goals.
Take a look at our breast lift before-and-after images to see what we can achieve, find out more about what a breast lift entails and book a free consultation to start your journey.