Introduction
Women are often preoccupied with the aspect and the health of their breasts. The reality is that the breasts are an important factor for a woman’s sex appeal, and breast health is crucial for the well-being of the person.
Some women complain about the size of their breasts or the level of sagginess at the breast level. For others, the aging process is having an impact on the appearance of their breasts. Every woman wants to have breasts that are healthy and in good aesthetic condition. Gravity, aging, and lifestyle choices can have an impact on the appearance of our breasts. This is why more and more women ask a plastic surgeon for help in achieving their dream: breasts which looking amazing and are healthy.
With age, the breasts change accordingly with other bodily changes. It is a well-known fact breastfeeding causes tremendous changes to the breasts. Other factors include drastic weight loss and weight gain, menopause, and breast cancer.
A Woman’s Age and the Health Condition of the Breasts
When a woman is in her 30s, hormones such as estrogen ensure the firmness of the breasts. Breasts don’t have any muscular tissue, but they are made out of adipose tissue, fiber tissue, and dense glandular tissue which includes the structures that produce the milk. Theses structures are called lobules and galactophorous ducts (channels that are used for the milk flow).
During the fertile period in a woman’s life, breastfeeding offers a sort of protection against mammary cancer. Therefore, breastfeeding has a double purpose: on one side it ensures an optimal nutritional input for the infant, being considered the best type of food for the newborn baby. On the other side, breastfeeding also ensures protection for the mother against breast cancer.
Even if the breastfeeding benefits are known to most women, many women are concerned as to how breastfeeding may modify the visual aspect of the breasts. The experts explain to us the way these changes occur at the level of the breasts. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, the skin stretches. Once the breastfeeding is over, the mammary glands reduces their dimensions,
skin surplus will remain. This contributes to sagging breasts effect. The medical term for this is mammary ptosis.
The Causes of Breast Tissue Atrophy:
Even if the general perception is that breastfeeding is a cause of breast tissue atrophy, recent studies show that the modification of the breast aspect that comes with the passing of time is entirely due to other factors. These factors include the number of pregnancies, and even smoking, which reduces skin elasticity. When considering the changes that occur at breast level, the natural aging process is also to blame.
Over a period of years, both the glandular and adipose tissues at the breast level get atrophied, which leads to the diminishing of the firmness of the breasts. Another important factor is the stretching of some fiber tissue bands, called the Cooper ligaments. These fiber tissue stripes are holding the breasts in an upward position, but they can stretch with time. Even under the breast’s own weight, and this can lead to the mammary ptosis, or the sagging of the breasts.
Avoiding Breast Tissue Sagging and Atrophy
As mentioned, the breasts do not contain muscular tissue, just adipose tissue. This is why the experts note that there are no efficient exercise to prevent breast sagging.
Doctors insist that wearing the right bra or support brassiere while running or exercising at the gym can make all the difference when it comes to the changes at the breast levels. Wearing a tight bra when resting doesn’t have much effect on breast changes, but when this bra is used while jogging, its effect is considerably improved and can prevent mammary ptosis.
With menopause, the breasts tend to accumulate fat and simultaneously shrink, due to the atrophy of the mammary gland. These modifications come to follow the reduction in production of the sexual hormones. Without support, the breasts become less and less firm, and the mammary ptosis becomes a reality.
Breast Tissue Atrophy and Breast Augmentation
The changes at the breast level occur both in the cases of natural breasts and in breasts with mammary implants. In some cases, a breast lift can be required to correct and improve the aspect of the breasts. However, the results of the surgery will only last if your lifestyle choices permit it. Even after a breast enhancement procedure, the breasts will still be prone to changes, especially after pregnancy or massive weight loss or weight gain. Despite the miracles of modern plastic surgery, there is no way to avoid the natural aging process. This is another factor that will impact the appearance of your breasts and breast atrophy, whether or not you have had breast surgery.
Conclusion
While breast tissue atrophy occurs due to the aging process of diminished sexual hormone production, there are things you can do to offset the effects of aging. Such proactive efforts include earing proper supportive bras while exercising, and making healthy lifestyle choices such as giving up smoking.
Breast atrophy appears as a result of the mammary gland atrophy, and can be affected by multiple pregnancies and weight fluctuations.