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

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
about 1 year ago

2

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
9 months ago

3

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
8 months ago

4

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
7 months ago

5

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

Anonymous
7 months ago

6

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
7 months ago

7

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
6 months ago

8

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
4 months ago

9

oops, I mean 32C in my previous comment.

JJ
4 months ago

10

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
2 months 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
about 1 month ago

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