Treating Saggy Breasts

Sagging breasts are a common alteration in breast appearance that most women notice, particularly as they age. This is generally a natural cosmetic change. Nonetheless, some women prefer not to have sagging breasts.

The clinical name for sagging breasts is breast ptosis. There’s a lot of discussion about what actually contributes to sagging breasts — some points are accurate, while others are myths.

Either way, there are methods to help prevent and improve sagging breasts.

What causes saggy breasts?

Most often related to aging, the ligaments that support the breasts (known as Cooper’s ligaments) elongate over time. Gravity is usually the main factor, though other influences can play a role.

Information about what causes — or does not cause — sagging breasts can be mixed. Fortunately, evidence has clarified facts from misconceptions over time.

True contributors to saggy breasts include:

• advancing age
• reduced collagen
• low estrogen
• gravity
• high body mass index
• larger breast volume
• menopause
• multiple pregnancies
• rapid weight loss followed by regain (or the opposite)
• tobacco use

Debunked contributors to saggy breasts:

• breastfeeding
• not wearing a bra
• wearing an ill-fitting bra

The decline in skin elasticity due to aging is the leading cause of sagging breasts. Smoking is another contributor because it accelerates the aging process and can cause breasts to sag sooner than they otherwise would.

Having multiple pregnancies can also contribute, although breastfeeding itself does not. Hormonal shifts cause milk ducts to expand and contract with each pregnancy, which may loosen supporting tissues. Rapid weight fluctuations during and after pregnancy can also worsen this.

Larger breasts are more likely to sag simply because greater mass is more affected by gravity.

However, choosing to breastfeed does not affect breast firmness. Many assume breastfeeding stretches breast tissue and causes sagging, but evidence does not support this belief.

How can you prevent or improve saggy breasts?

Looking to lower your risk of sagging breasts or to enhance breast firmness? Here are several strategies you can try.

Maintain a stable, healthy weight

You don’t necessarily need to lose or gain weight; aim to keep your weight steady and within a healthy range for you. This can help reduce the risk of sagging and may keep breasts firmer.

Wear a well-fitting, comfortable bra

This is particularly important during exercise, such as running. A supportive sports bra (with molded cups) can limit breast movement. One study indicates that breast motion from exercise may lead to stretching and sagging, although more research is necessary.

Outside of exercise, that same study suggests you don’t necessarily need to wear a bra to prevent sagging. In some cases, wearing the wrong bra size could be more harmful than not wearing one.

Don’t smoke, or quit if you do

Smoking speeds up aging. As tissues — including breast ligaments — lose firmness with age, smoking exacerbates this by damaging elastin, a protein that helps skin stay elastic.

Consider hormone testing

A decline in estrogen, which commonly occurs during menopause, may be linked to reduced collagen in tissues. Finding safe ways to support estrogen levels (for example, through phytoestrogens or supplements) might improve breast contour and firmness.

Speak with your doctor and have hormone levels checked before attempting to increase estrogen.

Think carefully about pregnancy

If preserving the current look of your breasts is more important to you than expanding your family, you might choose to avoid pregnancy. Research suggests the more pregnancies a woman has, the greater the likelihood of experiencing sagging breasts.

Try pectoral-strengthening exercises

Although the breasts themselves contain no muscle, you can strengthen the muscles beneath them — the pectoralis major muscles. Exercises targeting these muscles can provide a modest natural lift.

Consider plastic surgery

Various surgical procedures can lift the breasts and restore a more youthful, firmer contour. While costly, surgery typically offers the most noticeable improvement. If you’re researching surgical options or less invasive alternatives, this article on nonsurgical breast lift may be helpful.

The bottom line

Sagging breasts occur for several reasons. Breastfeeding, wearing or not wearing a bra are not things you need to worry about.

Normal aging, pregnancy, smoking, and hormonal shifts are the principal factors. There are multiple approaches you can take in daily life to help improve breast firmness.