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 It must be noted that this research has not yet been peer-reviewed or published in a journal.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.

Tips For Keeping Your Breasts Healthy

There are a number of ways in which you can keep your breasts in good shape. Given below is a list of tips that will come in handy while maintaining healthy breasts.

Maintain form and function

Women who breastfeed their babies for the first twelve months of life have a lower risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer later in life. Breastfeeding is healthy for both the mother and the child. A common myth is that breastfeeding might lead to the sagging of breasts. This hypothesis is not true. Women who breastfeed their babies are not more likely to lose elasticity of their breasts than the women who do not breastfeed their babies. Multiple pregnancies, aging, and smoking are some of the main factors that can cause sagging of breasts.

Avoid getting breast implants

If you are considering getting breast implants, think twice. The list of complications that can arise by going in for a breast augmentation surgery is long. You need to take into account the fact that breast implants do not last your entire life. The most common complications that can arise by going in for breast implants include leaking implants and encapsulation. The woman’s body might reject the presence of a foreign body and form a capsule comprising hard collagen fibers around the implants, leading to pain and functional problems and ultimately requiring further surgery to remove the implants. You must also remember that your implants will not age with your body. Chances are that you would need to go in for another surgery and the number of surgeries might go on increasing. By having this surgery, you are signing yourself up for follow-up operations in future. This decision has a financial aspect as well.

Maintain the bounciness of your breasts

You must invest in some well-fitted, supportive sports bras while exercising or jogging. Strenuous exercising can unnecessarily stretch your breast tissue and might cause a lot of pain, making your exercise routine less effective as well as simply unpleasant.

Maintain the firmness in your breasts

While most breast firmness creams are likely to be entirely ineffective, it is recommended that you apply a retinoid cream to the breasts at night (avoiding the nipple and the areola) to maintain their firmness, especially after age 40. Applying Relastin face cream to the breasts in the morning can improve the skin elasticity.

Keep a watch for lumps

Yearly mammograms are highly recommended for maintaining healthy breasts. Women should begin with yearly mammograms at the age of 40. If you are prone to getting cysts, the doctor might recommend that you take vitamin B6, vitamin E, and a couple of capsules of evening primrose oil. In addition, you will want to perform regular breast self-exams at least once a month. If you are of reproductive age, it is important to perform these exams at the same point in the menstrual cycle every time. That is because the breasts change throughout the cycle.

Maintain a healthy body weight

Being overweight increases your risk of getting various diseases. Obesity can increase the risk of getting post-menopausal breast cancer. Exercising regularly, be it in the form of brisk walking, jogging, or swimming, can help you stay fit and healthy. It is one of the best preventive medicines that you can take. Exercising will not increase your cup size or lift up sagging breasts. But it will definitely help in maintaining breast shape. It boosts your immune system and helps in lowering the levels of estrogen and insulin in your body.

Drink less alcohol and avoid smoking

It is a proven fact that smoking can make your breasts sag. Avoid smoking for maintaining healthy breasts. You must also consume less alcohol. Drinking even about two drinks of alcohol per day increases your risk of getting breast cancer by 21%.

Eat healthy food

Indulge in a low-fat diet that is full of veggies. You should try to include broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprout, and kale as part of your meals. Consuming oily fishes such as trout, sardines, and mackerel that are rich in vitamin D and omega 3 fatty acids can help reduce the risk of breast cancer.