There are plenty of things to look forward to as we get older - wisdom, confidence, perspective - but unfortunately, saggy breasts isn’t one of them. We can’t press pause on aging or fight gravity. But the good news is, there are healthy habits you can adopt to help keep your breasts as upright as possible. Here’s why sag happens and what you can do to prevent it.
As we get older and go through different life stages, it’s natural for our breasts to change. Breasts are made up of fat, connective tissue, milk-producing glands and Cooper’s ligaments. As we get older, fat tissue replaces the milk glands in the breasts. This fat naturally has less support.
Cooper’s ligaments are connective tissue in our breasts that connect to the pectoral muscles and help support the breast to keep its shape. These ligaments are thin bands though and are not that strong, especially when it comes to larger breasts. The ligaments lose their elasticity over time, like a stretched rubber band. Without the support of the Cooper’s ligaments, the breast tissue sags under its weight and begins to lose its shape.
There’s no specific age when your breasts will start to sag. It’s common for some droop in your 40s and beyond, but many women experience saggy breasts earlier. If you’re lucky enough to escape the droop in your 30s and 40s, you’ll most likely notice changes in elasticity and fullness as menopause approaches.
It just makes sense that smaller, rounder breasts tend to hold their shape better than bigger breasts.
Gaining or losing weight, especially quickly, such as during pregnancy, can change the shape of your breasts. It can also stretch or shrink the skin surrounding them.
Your genes play a part in breast size and shape, weight, and the strength of your Cooper’s ligaments.
Exercise can put lots of extra strain on breast ligaments. If breasts - especially large ones - aren’t adequately supported, such as with Triaction Bras, stretched ligaments and saggy breasts can result.
Exposing your face to UV rays without using protective sunscreen can lead to wrinkles. Your breasts and cleavage are not immune from sun damage, either! The sun stretches out collagen and damages your skin. Your sensitive breasts can also burn quickly and easily. The sunburn affects your skin cells and elasticity, encouraging wrinkling. Cover up where possible or protect yourself with good quality, high protection sunscreen to help keep your breasts looking perky for longer.
A supportive, well-fitting bra should also feel comfortable. From everyday activity through to vigorous exercise, the right bra is critical for preventing breast sagging by reducing excess bounce and movement.
We know how important regular exercise is for our wellbeing, so finding the right sports bra is essential to help prevent breast sagging over time.
Whether you’re a yogi, runner or cyclist, it’s worth getting professionally fitted to make sure you’re wearing the best bra for your shape and lifestyle.
Keep your skin healthy and hydrated to help preserve its elasticity. It’s a good habit to get into for your overall health, too.
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