Bras Cause Saggy Breasts. Should You Stop Wearing Them?

Women have been wearing bras for generations, believing that wearing bras can prevent their breasts from sagging, in addition to preventing back pain and improving overall posture. Have you ever wondered if your bras actually provide you the support you have been led to believe they do? Or do you only wear a bra as that is the norm and also because it looks good?

A study conducted by Jean-Denis Rouillon, who is a sports science expert from the University of Franche-Comté, has found that women who do not wear bras tend to sag less than their bra-wearing counterparts.

While conducting the study at the university’s hospital, Jean-Denis Rouillon formed a sample population of more than 300 women ranging between 18 and 35 years of age. The breasts of these women were examined over an impressively long period of 15 years. It must be noted that this research has not yet been peer-reviewed or published in a journal.

As part of the study, the height of the breasts was measured using a slide rule and a caliper. This was done for the purpose of recording the changes in breast position of the women if they do not wear bras over a period of time.

Wearing bras does the work of the breast ligament and therefore ends up reducing their effectiveness. One of the participants in the study said that by not wearing bras she could breathe more easily, carry herself better, and had less back pain.

The study points out that all women should not throw away their bras immediately after this study, however. Women who are older than 45 years of age will not benefit by throwing away their bras. This is typically true for women who are in this age group and are overweight and have had multiple pregnancies.

The study concluded that when young women stop wearing bras, no deterioration is observed in the orientation of the breasts. Moreover, there is an improvement in the overall orientation of the breasts.

Many women wear bras to prevent their breasts from sagging. As per a study conducted by plastic surgeons at the University of Kentucky in 2008, it was observed that smoking can make the breasts sag by reducing the amount of elastin present in the ligaments that support the breasts. The study also found that breastfeeding also did not make the breasts sag, contrary to popular belief. However, having larger breasts, being overweight, and aging can indeed lead to the sagging of breasts.