Breast sagging is, unfortunately, a very common occurrence among many women, and it can happen for various reasons. As we age, our breasts sag because our ligaments, which help hold excess skin in place, become less elastic than before. From normal aging to breastfeeding, here are some of the most common causes of breast sagging, along with potential treatments.
Overweight
Whether you are 5 pounds over your normal weight or 50 pounds overweight, the excess weight you carry will stress your skin and cause it to sag. It can also cause loose skin around the belly and back area to sag. Overweight women have the added risk of developing stretch marks and other skin conditions.
Overweight causes breast sagging by affecting the tendons and muscles within the breasts. The more weight you gain, the bigger your breasts will be, but the thinner and weaker your pectoral muscles will become, which helps support your breasts. As a result, fat from other body parts may be transferred to your chest area. Additionally, your body will not produce as many collagen and elastic fibers as it usually would to help keep the skin tight and elastic as it does when you are a healthy weight.
Age
As we age, our bodies become less elastic, and certain tissues such as ligaments, muscles, and tissues become less firm than before. The best way to avoid breast sagging due to aging is to be active by continuing to exercise. This will improve your circulation and keep you at a healthy weight. Also, do your best to eat a well-balanced diet as this will help you lose excess weight and achieve a healthy weight for your height.
Aging also causes the skin to sag because it is no longer taut and firm like when you are younger. Your skin may also thin out because of fewer collagen and elastin fibers. The skin also loses strength, so it can no longer give support as much as it did before.
Deficiency in Vitamins B or D
Vitamin B is a fat-soluble vitamin essential for bone production and bone health, immune system functioning, red blood cells, and muscle, among other functions. It has a variety of other functions as well. It is found mostly in clams, liver, salmon, and fish oils. Vitamin D is a fat-absorbable vitamin essential for bone health, calcium and phosphorus absorption, cell growth and repair, blood clotting, and even immunity to infections. You can make your own with sunlight.
Lack of vitamin B or vitamin D can cause abnormal bone development, resulting in weak breast ligaments and tissues, causing the breasts to sag. It can also cause osteoporosis which may lead to weaker bones and ligaments.
Breast Feeding
Breastfeeding is natural and the best way to nourish your baby, but it can also cause breast sagging in mothers. The problem with breastfeeding is that it causes the ligaments that hold your breasts in place to stretch out, causing them to sag even when you are not pregnant yet. As you breastfeed, your ligaments become weaker and less elastic which can cause sagging breasts.
Breasts can also be affected by dehydration during breastfeeding or low milk supply. When your breasts become dehydrated, they will sag as well. Dehydration can also lead to disrupted milk production and a low milk supply.
Mastitis
Mastitis is an infection of the breast tissue caused by bacteria and other viral infections that can cause swelling and pain in the infected area. Milk ducts may become blocked, causing plugged ducts which can cause painful cracked nipples called mastitis nipples.
Some potential causes of mastitis include poor latch during breastfeeding, plugged ducts, engorgement of breast tissue, and infection due to bacteria or viruses. Just like most other conditions in which the skin is affected, mastitis can cause the skin to become thin and saggy. This can be corrected through a breast reduction recovery process that involves stitches to close the incisions made during the reduction surgery.
Separation from Skin
As our breasts age, they lose their fullness and elasticity, resulting in the skin separating from them. Hormone changes and lack of firmness may cause this separation. As a result, the skin may lose its elasticity and tightness, making it saggy.
Another cause of separation from the skin is when women gain weight. As you gain weight, you stretch out your skin, making your breasts sag due to loose skin. In addition, if you gain fat deposits in the breast area, this too can lead to separation from the skin.
Breast sagging due to separation from the skin will look much different than sagging caused by other factors such as for overweight or pregnancy. The breasts will become flat and sagging when the skin is stretched out. A dark ring will also be around the breast where it meets the skin.
Weight Gain/Loss
Weight gain or loss can cause breasts to sag as well. As you gain weight, your breasts may look fuller, but this usually won’t last for long as your body is not yet used to all of the extra weight that it needs to carry around on its own. You will most likely gain stretch marks as your skin becomes thinner and more prone to stretch marks.
However, no matter how frequently you change your weight, you can’t change the size of your breasts. The only way to do this is through surgery, and many risks are involved with that. One of the biggest risks is becoming uneasy about your new size, which may make you want breast implants to correct the problem, but this too is risky and may not produce the desired results.
Overuse of Painkillers and Anti-inflammatory Medication
Many drugs are prescribed to people, as well as general pain relief medications such as Ibuprofen and Aleve. These drugs can cause the breasts to sag for the same reason that weight gain does, stretching out your skin.
Anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen may cause skin breakdown or flattening of breasts because they can thin out your breast tissue. The result is that you will see the skin of your breast hanging limply on your chest. You can tell that the skin has thinned out when looking at the backs of your breasts.
Conclusion
Breast sagging is a common problem that women experience throughout life, especially when they are middle-aged. However, many factors can cause breast sagging, and it is important to know what they are so that you can prevent and treat them. By understanding the causes of breast sagging and treating them effectively, you will prevent future saggy breasts and get younger-looking ones in just a few months.
