Every woman has different degree of ptosis. In some cases only smaller lifts might be enough for correction, though there are cases, in which a full mastopexy would be necessary to conduct. The most usual ptotic grades are described below, which can help women better determine what ehty may need. Therefore, it should be pointed out, that this is only for information purposes, because only a well qualified medical profession can ascertain every individual woman’s necessity after a thorough physical examination.

So, in order to tell the degree of ptosis, it would be necessary to determine the mammary crease as it is right underneath the breasts. These two levels may be higher than one another. It is also possible to use a ruler to be surer. The highest part of this ruler is to be right against the junction of the breast and ribcage.

Grade1. In case if the central point of the nipple, not the areola, happened to be slightly above or right in front of the top of this ruler, the woman has Grade 1 breast ptosis (mild ptosis). As to very mild to mild ptosis, only some crescent lift may be necessary to conduct. This crescent or so – to – say “partial” breast lift can correct the areolae position up to about 4 cm, depending on the situation. If the woman will agree not to wear bras often during the scar maturation phase, then it would be possible to stretch the scar by creating an “egg shaped” areola. As for the scar maturation phase, it may take up to one year, or longer, though even after if there is much weight to the breast without it being supported in a proper way, the scar may get stretched.

Grade2. In case if the central point of the nipple, not the areola, happened to be 1 – 3 cm below the top of this ruler, it means that the woman has Grade 2 ptosis (mild to moderate ptosis). As to mild to moderate ptosis, it can be corrected many times with minimum scarring left. Such a procedure, as the Beneli or peri – areolar breast lift consists of removing a donut – shaped piece of skin from the place around the areola, (sometimes the areola itself is also included, if it is necessary to be reduced) with the aim of drawing the breasts together in a way, as if it were a drawstring pouch. After that the edges are sutured, and though, it is possible that some puckering may appear, it usually flattens during the year. This per – areolar lift can also be called a Doughnut or circum – areolar lift.

Grade3. In case if the central point of the nipple, including the areola, happened to be more than 3 cm below the top of this ruler, it means that the woman has Grade 3 ptosis (Severe ptosis). As to severe ptosis, it usually requires the vertical (it is also called keyhole) mastopexy or anchor lift to be conducted. In most cases women with severe ptosis need their areolae reduction along with the above mentioned procedures. This can possibly result in a scar at the iframmamary crease, which is not only a vertical scar, stretching from the crease and right to the bottom of the areola; in addition, there appears a scar around the very areola.

Pseudo – ptosis is the situation, when the nipple occurs slightly or well above the inframmamary crease, though it still appears to be droopy because there is a significant, but somewhat flattened breast lobe. As a rule women, who have pseudo – ptosis, have smaller areola complexes, which do not become stretched even during the period of pregnancy or weight gain. In most cases such women require either a vertical or anchor scar lift in order to reduce the amount of their lobe, though, there are women, who may only need breast augmentation in order to replace the lack of volume.
 
Even in case someone would pass all the “breast ptosis tests”, it is possible that there would still be a kind of feeling that either the breasts are located too low on the chest wall, or the areolae have stretched out too much. Some women may still consider that the breasts sit too low on their torso. The reality can be that one of the nipples or even breasts may sit lower in comparison with the other! If so, an areolae reduction, which will reduce the size of the areolae, along with the mini breast lift to place the actual breasts higher on the chest and create symmetry, are the procedure, necessary to be conducted.