I’m a doctor – here’s the 7 reasons your boobs sag and how to fix it
TRYING on clothes can be stressful.
If they don't button up correctly or fit the right way, then it can lead to a real dip in confidence.
You might also feel this way if you have sagging , which are usually caused by a number of things, such as aging, smoking and breastfeeding.
While it's completely natural, as your boobs lose firmness and perkiness over time, this can make you feel even less confident in your body.
Now one doctor has revealed exactly why your mammary glands can go downhill and how to avoid excess sag.
Dr Hakan Gundogan of the said there are seven things to look out for.
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1. Smoking
Dr Gundogan said that tobacco use can result in saggy skin, especially around the breasts.
He explained that this is because it can break down collagen and cause them to look less full.
"As well as this, cigarette smoke contains carcinogens that break down elastin fibres in the body, which is a key component of skin elasticity for the firmness of breasts," he said.
FIX IT: If you quit smoking, the guru said that not only will your overall health improve and your risk of cancer will decline, you might also see an improvement in the appearance of your breasts.
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2. Wrong bra
As our bodies change, so do our needs from a bra.
Dr Gundogan said that wearing a supportive bra is important to maintaining breast shape and lift.
Without proper support, over time your breasts will sag, the medic said.
He explained: "When you work out, especially if you're jogging, a sports bra with moulded cups that offer ample support can reduce breast motion.
"Studies suggest that breast motion from exercise leads to stretching and sagging."
FIX IT: Dr Gundogan said he highly recommends that you get a professionally fitted supportive bra at a store that offers this service.
3. Hormones
During menopause, the drop in oestrogen levels may lead to less collagen in breast tissue, the expert said.
FIX IT: To help with this, he recommends taking a hormone test.
He added: "Taking steps to increase oestrogens, such as with phytoestrogens or collagen supplements, may improve breast shape and form. Talk to your doctor before trying to raise oestrogen levels."
4. Weight
When you lose weight, the fat cells in your breasts shrink.
This then means that the skin, ligaments, and other components of your breasts have supported larger boobs for a long time and will stretch enough to continue providing support for a smaller set.
Dr Gundogan added that on the other hand, breasts tend to get bigger as a result of gaining weight.
"The extra fat makes the breasts heavier, which puts more tension on the ligaments and connective tissues that support them.
"As the breasts droop and sag, they also lose shape."
FIX IT: If you are experiencing unusual weight loss or weight gain, consult your doctor and nutritionist to tackle the underlying cause, he added.
5. Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding can change the size and shape of your twins and once your little one weans, you might notice that they start to look different once more.
"Your nipples and areolae (the pigmented area surrounding the nipple) may be smaller and the skin of your breasts may appear stretched out or "empty."
"The size of your breasts will return to its pre-pregnancy state as the milk-producing structures shrink post-breastfeeding," Dr Gundogan said.
FIX IT: He added that you should invest in a comfortable breastfeeding bra and avoid slouching or angling the breast down to the baby when you are feeding them.
"Keep your breasts moisturised, applying cocoa butter in an upwards motion twice a day.
"Breast sagging after pregnancy is natural, but if you are truly unhappy with this change you can opt for breast uplift surgery to achieve your ideal body proportion", he said.
6. Posture
If you constantly slouch, then this will have an affect on your breasts as gravitational pull will accelerate the problem of breast sagging.
"You can't really feel it, but the pull impacts your Cooper's ligament and stretches it. Of course, this happens over a period of time," he said.
FIX IT: Dr Gundogan added that you should try and fix your posture and if you don't wear a bra then you might also experience sag earlier on.
7. Surgery
Breast augmentation is a cosmetic surgery that uses implants to increase the size and projection of a woman’s breasts.
It increases their fullness and gives them a more well-proportioned look, Dr Gundogan said.
"People can choose to have breast augmentation for a number of reasons, and we shouldn’t be quick to judge.
"Reasons for breast augmentation include changes after children, mastectomy, weight loss or desiring better symmetry," he added.
FIX IT: "If you are truly unhappy with your natural breast shape, consider them too small or too big or sagged, research trusted clinics that can offer you plastic surgery operations.
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"The recovery time for breast augmentation is relatively short.
"However, it takes 6 months to 1 year before patients can see the final result of the surgery, namely when the swelling has gone down and the scar has faded away," he said.