Ptosis or sagging of the female breast is a natural consequence of aging (wikipedia). There are various scientifically proven factors that leads to sagging of the female breasts and there are various myths surrounding breast sag. Unfortunately, the myths are popular among people than the facts. This has led a lot of people astray as to the real causes of ptosis (breast sagging), possible preventive measures and or possible treatment.
Breast ptosis is not a condition that comes with age as there are ladies in their twenties with saggy breasts and there are ladies in their forties with perky breasts.
Because of lack of awareness and education in this part of the world, there are a few misconceptions about the causes of breast ptosis. These stems from a place of lack of proper orientation on how the female body works.
In this part of the world, it is believed that having multiple sex partners as a lady is a major cause of saggy breasts. Of course this is not true, this is just one out of the many inaccurate causes of breast ptosis.
Possible Causes of Breast Ptosis
AGE: Age is one of the causes of breast ptosis, there is every tendency that your breast will sag the more you age. Sagging is just a normal part of the aging process, especially after menopause when hormone changes can affect the structure and volume of the breast tissue.
EXERCISING WITHOUT PROPER SUPPORT: Some exercises require a lot of breast movement, this in turn puts a strain on the breast ligaments which can cause the breast to lose its elasticity. Exercising without putting on the right bra to provide support for the breast, will cause the breast to sag.
RAPID WEIGHT LOSS OR GAIN: Sudden weight gain can cause the breast to become bigger than it was which will stretch the breast ligament, which will then lead to ptosis. When you lose weight, the breast reduces in size which will cause it to sag. It is like overstretching a rubber band, it won’t come back to it’s normal size or form.
GENETICS: The genes you get from your family play a part in the size and shape or your breasts, the strength of your Cooper’s ligaments, and your body weight.
PREGNANCY: Breastfeeding does not lead to ptosis. What leads to ptosis is the pregnancy and not breastfeeding. A 2008 study in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal reveals that, breastfeeding is not a risk factor for breast ptosis. Actually, the pregnancy itself is probably the bigger culprit, says Mary Jane Minkin, MD, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Yale University School of Medicine. “Breasts increase in size with pregnancy and stay enlarged with breastfeeding, but they then slowly shrink back down once a woman is done nursing,” she says. “That weight loss and deflation of the breasts can make them sag.” Some women stop breastfeeding their child/ren for how necessary because of the wrong notion that their breasts will sag. While in actual sense, the process started from pregnancy.
BREAST SIZE: Women with larger breasts are prone to experience ptosis earlier than those with small or medium sized breasts. This is because of the weight of the breast.
SMOKING: Smoking causes the skin to lose elasticity, this makes parts of the body that are firm to begin to sag including the breast.
These are possible causes of saggy breasts, contrary to the popular notion that a woman’s breast sag if she has been with multiple men. There is no relationship between breast ptosis and sex.
Another wrong notion is not putting on a bra. While growing up, teenagers who at the time hadn’t started putting on bra, were teased with “your breast go quick fall if you no wear bra.” How wrong this was, but this was the orientation, even though it’s not fact.
SOLUTION
Ptosis is permanent, that is it has no permanent cure. Though it can be managed with surgery (mastopexy), exercise, balanced diet, correct posture among others. The exercise can help strengthen the muscles therefore making the breast look firm.
– Igomu Agatha Achenyo
Mass Communication Student, Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), Kogi State.
