If you’re wondering how to get perky breasts, you may be tempted to try miracle potions and products that promise to enhance the appearance of your breasts or secret exercises that combat gravity’s pull. But the truth is, the only proven way to achieve perky breasts is through cosmetic surgery. There are, however, many habits you can adopt to maintain your breast perkiness, even if there’s no regaining it.
Below, we’re sharing some helpful do’s and don’ts of keeping “the girls” perky, along with before-and-after breast lift photo gallery examples to help you envision what’s possible when we give you a much-needed boost!
Don’t: Waste $ on Creams and Lotions That Promise Enhanced Breast Shape
Breasts sag due to breast tissues naturally losing their integrity, primarily Cooper’s ligaments. These are the fibrous, flexible bands of tissue that support your breasts’ shape and structure. When these ligaments and the surrounding tissues stretch over time, it leads to sagging (or “ptosis”). Unfortunately, no topical product can reverse this. Save your money!
Do: Invest in Quality Moisturizer and Sunscreen
Moisturizing your breasts won’t reverse the sagging process, but it can help your skin remain stronger and firmer for longer. Additionally, UV rays can increase the rate at which tissues break down, so make sure to protect your breasts from the sun with an SPF of 30 or higher.
Don’t: Wear Bras That Give Too Much Lift to Your Breasts
Studies show that wearing bras that are too supportive can actually weaken the muscles supporting your breasts, which can potentially speed up the sagging process.
Do: Wear Properly Fitted Bras That Aid Your Body in Supporting Your Breasts
It might be appealing to have a beautiful lacy push-up—and we’re all for lingerie that makes you feel good about yourself—but the truth is that how a bra fits your breasts should be the most important factor in choosing your everyday bras. If you’ve not been professionally fitted at a lingerie store or your shape has changed since your last fitting, treat yourself to a bra fitting soon.
Don’t: Avoid Exercises That Make Your Breasts Bounce
There is no proven connection between your breasts bouncing up and down and increased sagging. Effective and valuable exercises require a lot of movement and there’s no reason to shy away. Consider investing in some comfortable, supportive sports bras for your workouts.
Do: Maintain a Consistent Weight Through Regular Exercise and a Healthy Diet
Fluctuations in weight stretch the skin of your breasts and result in decreased elasticity of your breast tissue, which contributes to drooping. Increasing your core strength through exercise is a great way to build up the muscles that support your breasts.
Don’t: Expect Breast Implants to Beat Gravity
If you decide to invest in breast augmentation surgery, know that implants increase breast fullness, but do not combat sagging. If you already have noticeable sagging, implants alone are unlikely to cure the issue.
Do: Consider a Breast Lift
The breast lift is an underrated procedure designed to reverse the effects of gravity on your breasts to help restore a youthful shape. Combining a breast lift with augmentation can give you both perkiness and fullness; it’s no wonder the combined procedure is so popular among patients!
FAQs About Breast Perkiness
Myths and misperceptions about breast perkiness abound! Let’s address a few common questions.
Q: Will chest exercises make my breasts look perkier?
A: Building up the pectoralis muscles in your chest will not give your breasts a dramatically lifted look, because it doesn’t affect the fat, skin, and other soft tissues responsible for sagging. But it does have some benefits!
Strengthening your chest, shoulder, and back muscles is a great way to improve your posture, especially when combined with flexibility exercises like yoga. When you pull your shoulders back and lift your chest, your breasts naturally look a little more lifted. Plus, these workouts benefit your overall health and wellness—so go for it!
Q: Why do breasts sag over time?
A: There are two main causes of breast sagging:
- Weakening supportive ligaments: You can thank gravity and the aging process for this one! As collagen and elastin break down over the years, our tissues have a harder time bouncing back from gravity’s downward pull, leaving breasts lower and droopier than we’d like.
- Reduction in breast volume: When we lose breast volume (typically due to weight loss), our skin becomes looser, giving the breasts a deflated look. This often happens after childbirth—not because of breastfeeding but because of the dramatic fluctuations in breast size that happen during and after pregnancy. Women with deflated, saggy breasts after childbirth may opt for a mommy makeover to restore their pre-baby shape by addressing multiple concerns, from plumping and perking up breasts to firming the tummy and more.
Q: Will splashing cold water on my breasts make them firmer?
A: Splashing cold water on your breasts may improve blood flow and boost your skin’s elasticity a bit, but it won’t have a noticeable effect on your breast shape. Skip the ice bath and stay warm instead!
Q: Will sleeping on my side make my breasts sag?
A: Sleeping on your side leaves your breasts dangling downward, which may slightly contribute to sagging. The best sleeping position for your breasts is on your back, which lets your chest support the full weight of your breasts. (This also prevents wrinkles!) But more important than how you sleep is the your ability to get plenty of good sleep so your body can repair itself and stay healthy and youthful.
Q: Does smoking make breasts sag?
A: Yep, smoking does make breasts sag! Smoking breaks down elastin in the skin, which gives us wrinkles and, yes, contributes to breast sagging. It’s yet another reason to try quitting if you haven’t yet.
Q: Are there any nonsurgical breast lift options that really work?
A: There are some nonsurgical treatments out there that claim to work by lifting or tightening the breasts through radiofrequency energy, injections, and more. One of the most effective options is a NovaThread® lift, which uses dissolvable, injectable threads to lift and tighten tissues. But ultimately, nothing really compares to surgical breast lift results in terms of effectiveness and longevity. There’s a reason the procedure gets more popular every year!
Q: I’m thinking about removing my breast implants. Will that make my breasts sag?
A: You likely will have some sagging, drooping, or deflation after removing your implants or exchanging them for smaller ones, especially if your implants were large or in place for many years. It’s often a good idea to combine your implant removal with a breast lift to make sure you end up with firm, lifted, perky breasts. In most cases, this can be done at the same time as your implant removal.
3 Breast-Lifting Hacks You Can Try Now
These quick fixes won’t give you perkier boobs in the long run, but if you’re looking for a temporary solution, here are a few tricks to keep up your sleeve:
- Boob contouring: Yep, it’s a thing! Use darker makeup shades to deepen shadows and add a highlighter to areas you want to stand out. (But maybe steer away from a white neckline that may get smudged!)
- Breast lift tape: You can pick up skin-safe body tape online or at most places that sell lingerie. The downside is that you’ll need to wear clothes that will cover the tape up, so most swimsuits are out.
- Silicone bra inserts: Pop these into your bra to push your breasts subtly upward and inward. In a pinch, you can also use tried-and-true socks for a boost!
And, of course, nothing beats fantastic posture, a gorgeous smile, and the confidence that comes with knowing you are stunning—which you are!
The Bottom Line on Perky Boobs
Beauty blogs, popular magazines, and old wives’ tales may include tips, tricks, and remedies for avoiding or even reversing sagging, but the truth is that breast drooping is an inevitable part of your breasts’ lifespan. But that doesn’t mean you have to let drooping breasts lower your confidence. Breast enhancement procedures like a breast lift, breast augmentation, or combining both procedures at our San Diego-area practice can restore youthful firmness and contour to your breasts by reducing excess, lax skin.
If you would like to talk about your options with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons, please request a consultation online or give us a call at (858) 452-1981. We can’t wait to meet you and help you make your dream breasts real!
This blog post was originally published in October 2021 and updated in July 2024.
