All you need to know about sagging breasts

A female breast is made up of fatty tissues and glands that produce milk. These tissues and glands are covered with skin that is naturally flexible due to the presence of a protein called elastin. But when the elasticity of the breast skin is put under pressure, the breasts tend to sag.
We talked to Dr Neema Sharma, Director, Obs and Gynaecologist, Fortis Flt. Lt. Rajan Dhall Hospital, Vasant Kunj about causes, prevention and myths of breast sagging.
(Picture Courtesy: Shutterstock)

Even our breasts can’t escape the damage that cigarettes do. According to Dr Neema, smoking destroys the elastin protein and causes skin to lose its elasticity, thereby making them sag. One cigarette or ten a day, smoking weakens and ages skin by decreasing the blood supply to the skin surface.

Dr Neema says significant weight gain and sudden weight loss can cause sagging of breast. Fluctuations in weight can cause unnecessary stretching of the breasts. Maintaining a healthy weight along with a combination of healthy diet and workout is important to avoid unnecessary stretching. Weight loss should be gradual. Shedding excess weight in a shorter duration may cause your breasts to droop. So instead of going on an extreme diet plan, work out a nutritionally balanced meal plan, which can help your breasts stay in shape. And also wear proper fitted bra during workouts.

Your breast tissue is just like your skin. It needs vitamin C and B to build supportive elastic tissues. And these elastic tissues help in maintaining the shape of breasts. So if you are missing out on fresh orange juice, go have it now.

If you are wearing a bra that is not giving you proper support, it can be a big reason for breast drooping. The more your boobs bounce, more stressed the skin becomes. As your size may vary time to time, ask for a fitted bra next time you go lingerie shopping.

Dr Neema tells sometimes sagging is just because of your genes. Genes play an essential role in determining the strength of your ligaments and elasticity of the skin.

The bigger the size of your breasts, higher are the chances of you having sagging breasts. The constant pull of gravity works upon the skin and ligaments so naturally heavier breasts will droop more easily.

During menopause, the ovaries stop producing estrogen hormone, which is responsible for elasticity of the skin, thus causing loosening of the skin and creating wrinkles. And this happens in the entire body.

Whether your breasts sag or not, depends on the ratio of breast tissue and fat. Your breasts will be less likely to droop if you have high breast density - meaning there's more breast tissue compared to fat. In short, small breasts can also sag.

A bra will hold up your breasts to give you the shape and look you want, but it can’t fix your already sagging boobs, which is caused by stretching of the breast tissue.
By: Pratishtha Tiwari

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the Doctors are their independent professional judgment and we do not take any responsibility for the accuracy of their views. This should not be considered as a substitute for Physician's advice. Please consult your treating Physician for more details.