One of the earliest rites of passage for adolescent girls is when they are old enough to begin wearing a bra. In many cases, young girls shared around what is known as the "pencil test" to determine if their breasts had grown big enough to need the support of a bra. There was a sense of excitement if you failed the test because it meant you were finally at a point where you could wear a bra. Ironically, older women who are attempting to determine if their breasts have sagged enough for a possible breast lift hope for a positive result from the pencil test. What is the pencil test, and what might it signify in terms of considering a breast lift procedure to address sagging, drooping breasts?

What Is the Pencil Test?

For this test, a pencil is placed under the breasts at the point where the underside of the breast meets the chest wall (known as the inframammary crease). If the pencil stays in place (rather than falling down) once you release the breast, it may have sagged enough that a breast lift procedure might be in order. If the pencil cannot be held in place, a breast lift procedure may not be needed. Of course, these results are the exact opposite of what they might be for adolescent girls, who may consider being able to keep a pencil under the breasts as a positive result because it indicates that they are "grown up" enough to begin wearing a bra.

Is the Pencil Test Enough?

Although it is a good indicator, the pencil test will not give definitive results as to whether or not you are a good candidate for a breast lift procedure. There is another simple test (called the "pinch test") that will allow you to determine if your breasts have sagged enough that you may need a breast lift.

For this test, you will need to use the opposite hand from the breast you are testing for sagging. So for your right breast, tuck your middle and ring fingers of your left hand gently under your right breast at the center of the inframammary crease. Your left thumb should be in front of your breast. Gently pinch your breasts between your thumb and middle fingers. If that point is above the nipple, you pass and may not require a breast lift procedure. If you pinch your breast below the nipple, you fail and may require a breast lift.

The Next Step

What should you do next if you fail both the pencil and pinch tests and want to perk up your sagging breasts? Dr. Paul Pin will determine at the consultation visit if you indeed are a good candidate for a breast lift. There are several measurements he will take, including the distance your nipple may have fallen below the line of the inframammary crease. These measurements will help him determine which breast lift technique will best suit your needs.

It may seem strange that a simple test that meant one thing when you were an adolescent means exactly the opposite today. Nevertheless, the pencil and the pinch tests can help you gauge if you may benefit from a breast lift procedure.