Cosmetic Surgery - Breastfeeding & Sagging

Breastfeeding Leads to Sagging Breasts: Fact or Fiction?

By Sophie Brink

Published on February 12, 2008

Many new mothers decide not to breastfeed because they are afraid that their breasts will sag. Those that do breastfeed often blame breastfeeding for their sagging breasts. After repeatedly hearing breast lift patients explain that they wanted the surgery to correct what breastfeeding had done to their breasts, Lexington, Kentucky plastic surgeon Brian D. Rinker decided to put this old wives' tale to the test.

The Yale-educated doctor interviewed 132 patients who visited the University of Kentucky's plastic surgery clinic between 1998 and 2006 for a breast augmentation or breast lift consultation. Researchers noted each woman's age, BMI (body mass index), pre-pregnancy bra cup size, breastfeeding history, weight gain or loss during pregnancy, and smoking history.

Of the 132 women, 93 had at least one term pregnancy before considering breast lift surgery. Out of these 93 women, 54 breastfed at least one child and 51 believed that their breasts changed in size and shape following their pregnancy.

The Results

Dr. Rinker presented his findings in a report titled "The Effect of Breastfeeding upon Breast Aesthetics" at the annual meeting of the American Society for Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) in October 2007 in Baltimore. In the report, he concludes that breastfeeding does not contribute to breast ptosis (the medical term for breast sagging). According to Dr. Rinker, the factors that adversely affect the appearance of a woman's breasts include a larger pre-pregnancy cup size and a higher number of pregnancies.

Age and a history of smoking were also determined to increase the degree of breast sagging. Both age and cigarette smoking are associated with the loss of skin elasticity, which may well account for their role in breast ptosis.

The Breast Choice

Dr. Rinker's study could aid breastfeeding advocates in their struggle to banish the beliefs that lead women to prefer the bottle over the breast. Organizations such as La Leche League International, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization (WHO) have issued statements extolling the benefits of breastfeeding.

According to La Leche League International, human breast milk is tailor-made to meet the specific needs of human babies. In addition to providing all the necessary nutrients to help babies grow strong and develop properly, breast milk is full of antibodies that protect them from illnesses. It also decreases a baby's risk of developing allergies or cavities later in life. And the benefits of breastfeeding aren't just restricted to babies. La Leche reports reduced rates of breast and ovarian cancer in mothers who breastfeed.

Ultimately, it is a mother's choice whether or not to breastfeed her baby, but studies such as Dr. Rinker's can help mothers to make educated choices.

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Comments

1

This "dr." plastic surgeon is definetly inncorrect in his finding. I gave birth to my first child at 17 and breast fead him untill he was 2 years old and wouldnt change it for the world although. Before my pregnancy i was very athletic 5' 2" 110 and a FULL C cup i had never smoked nor drank. during my pregnancy my breast filled to a large D and after birth during breast feeding reached a DD. once i stopped breast feeding and my milk had dried up my breast barely fill a B cup and lool like a 90 year old womens breast i am 24 now and it does not improve it only get worse. Now to say that constant stretching of skin does not cause sagging is obserd, its common fricken sense dont listen to this "dr." base your decison to breastfeed on the fact that its the best thing you can do for your child and that is what your breast are meant for. you will never experience a bond with your child like you do with breastfeeding. You can always get surgery to correct an imperfection just like millons of women do women how havent even had children. but you can never go back and get that experience breast feeding gives you.. :)

jz
about 1 year ago

2

breastfeeding does not lead to sagging breasts. many scientific studies prove this. there are a thousand other lifestyle choices that result in the lost of breast elasticity and "perkiness". Having a child at an early age or later in life effects breast aesthetics. Wearing the incorrect bra size (which 80 percent of women do) and drinking alcohol also effect aesthetics. Sagging is also caused by pregnancy itself. The expansion of your body results in stretch marks on your breasts that later result in ptosis. There are millions of reasons why a woman's breasts change. 9 times out 10 its because of other lifestyle or genetic factors. "Personal experience" is not more valid than medical research.

Jasmine
over 1 year ago

3

I did want to add that I don't regret giving my kids the best for them. I would do it again.

Jess
over 1 year ago

4

Yeah 2 kids. Breastfed both. Definitely affected my breasts. Worse with the second. Breastfed him longer....4 months with the first....12 months with the second. Surgery someday.

Jess
over 1 year ago

5

Yes they sag after breastfeeding. I never weighted more than 50 percentile (for my height) before, during and after pregnancy. And I was only a 32A before pregnancy! Even then I noticed they sag. But would I breastfeed my baby if I knew this? In a heartbeat. I would give up anything for by baby and this is one of the greatest gifts I can give.

Alice
over 1 year ago

6

I am pregnant with my 1st and have always had lager breasts in Highschool I wore a 36DDD and now that I am in my 20s I ware a 36F. I have been scared to death that breastfeeding would make my boobs sag and now I am convinced. Thanks for all your posts you all have confirmed my decission to bottle feed. I figure they make bottles I'll take advatage of them..

Emily
over 1 year ago

7

Hi, i am 19 years old. My height is 5 ft. Nonsmoker. I have had two term pregnancies. I breastfed my first child till he was 2 in a half months old. My prepregnancy weight for my first child at age 18 was 124lbs. My prepregnancy weight for my second child at 19 was 116lbs. I am currently 10 weeks postpartum and breastfeeding. My problem is before i had breastfed my first child i had 36B perky breasts. AFTER i breastfed him my breasts were nothing but skin resting on my chest. My breasts were completely lifeless. If it werent for all the extra skin then im sure i would have been a 36A. Nowadays my breasts are the same exact way except when they are full needing to feed my second child. My question is if it has to do with age, number of pregnancies, and if you smoke then does this mean my breasts will sag more and more with age and more kids? That is ridiculous. This doctors findings is NOT a one fit all. My reason is because even with my FIRST breastfed child at the YOUNG age of 18 my breasts STILL sagged.

Becca M
over 1 year ago

8

I am a 30yr old mother of 3. The oldest being 5 the youngest 10mo. My breasts look like a 70 yr olds and they were a very perky 34B before breastfeeding. My mother had 3 children never breast fed and hers are not sagging, I think the constant stretching while filling and shrinking during feeding definitly affects skin elasticity, and firmness.

missy
almost 2 years ago

9

I breastfed my four children for a year each.No regrets-loved it,so uch easier too than aking up bottles. But,my breasts got bigger and I am always self consious.I have dreaded having to buy clothes for years. My eighteen year old daughter has just had breast reduction surgery.I am so relieved she will not have to suffer the back and neck pain I have had for thirty six years. I'm just sad to think she will not be able to breastfeed.(She tells me that she never wanted to anyway!)She looks so much more in proportion now.

carol
almost 2 years ago

10

I am 26 pregnant with my first child and have 38DD breasts and after reading this have no consideration in breastfeeding!!!! Thank you moms

crystal w
almost 2 years ago

11

i forgot to add, the doc is definitely wrong... aah my breasts are suddenly revolting after breast feeding 4 children.. i think he needs to look again at his findings

t
over 2 years ago

12

i breastfed 4 children. i never had perfect boobs but at least when i lay on my side they were nicely rounded. now when i lie on my side the lower one looks like a deflated balloon. i feel self consious in bikini tops. my boobs wrinkle and fall out of nearly every bra i own. they are simply disgusting. so now i have sagging, wrinkly, empty bags for breasts... what can i do??

t
over 2 years ago

13

oops, I mean 32C in my previous comment.

JJ
over 2 years ago

14

I was a 34B before, after breastfeefing my 1st baby till she is 20 month old, I shrank to a 34C, although they did't look too bad, still had mass and were full. Now after breastfeefing my 2nd one 13 months, my breasts are sagging, empty, and flat, they still fit in the 34C bra but outside the bra they look lifeless. I suspected the nursing bra I wore after my 2nd child was not supportive enough since I used a different brand than the 1st one. but after researching on line it doesn't seem to be the case. Age and number if pregnencies are the reasons. what can I do? it's all over for me! this is the price to pay for having kids!

JJ
over 2 years ago

15

I also just got done breastfeeding my baby for 5 months and I am 19 years old. I was in a 34B now i'm in a 32A. :( They feel very empty like nothing is in them no mass nothing. And when I lean over they look really flat.. They were never like that before.

annoymous
almost 3 years ago

16

Yea, I just got done Breastfeeding and I'm kinda happy but yet sad to learn that I'm not the only one with boobs that can't fill a bra. Going from a 38C to an A is a sad thing. My stomach sticks out more then My Boobs and I'm not that big of a person. If only health care covered boob implants for moms that breast feed their babies

CC
almost 3 years ago

17

Oh yes, I failed to mention I'm 5'4", and also that I'm only 26!

Anonymous
almost 3 years ago

18

I had to comment. Breastfeeding is the right choice, but it made my breasts sag. I was 34B 135lbs before kids. I've had two children and nursed both. I am 135lbs now and my breasts barely sag into a 34 nearly A. I have good nutrition, take vitamins, and exercise regularly. I had one child at 21 years old and the second at 24 years old. Dr. Rinker is mistaken on his causes.

Anonymous
almost 3 years ago

19

I am 23 years old, non smoker, and 5'2'' and pre pregnancy i weighed 107 lbs, and now i weigh 120 lbs, with little fat. My pre preg, bra size was 34 a, its now a 34 b, but they sag! i breast fed my baby until he was 11 months old! They fold when i lay on my side, and they basically look like fried eggs hanging on nails!! Im told they'll get better as the year of non breastfeeding goes on...i can only hope!!

bea
about 3 years ago

20

I breastfed four children, and two of them for four years each. (It was a twelve-year career!) In my first few weeks of milk production, they looked and felt great...D cups. (Thank you for the blissful few weeks of ultra milk production!) But they would loose mass quickly, and more so with each child. I went from a 24C cup to a 24AA-A. They look like empty sacks, just hanging out. Put my arms above my head, and they all but disappear, with shar pei skin. Forget about bending over. They are not rolling pins, but flat flasks of flesh! And if I lie on my side, the bottom one looks like something they'd put on your plate at IHOP.

So...ahem! Do breasts sag after breastfeeding?

Short answer is mmm-hmmm.

LP
about 3 years ago

21

I AM A WOMEN IN MY MID 20'S. BEFORE I GOT PREGNANT I HAD BREAST THAT HAD A DECENT MASS TO THEM. AFTER I WAS FINISHED BREASTFEEDING MY BREAST SEEM TO HAVE SAGGED AND HAVE NO MASS TO THEM. THEY FEEL EMPTY, HOLLOW, AND JUST NOT THE SAME. WHY ... WHY...

AC
over 3 years ago







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