Breastfeeding Does Not Affect Breast Appearance, Study Says
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According to a study that was published in an issue of the Aesthetic Surgery Journal, breastfeeding is not a factor in the sagging of breasts. This result of the study is actually contrary to the common belief that breastfeeding is often the cause of sagging breasts among breastfeeding women.
Sagging breasts are technically called “breast ptosis.” Often, women try to seek the help of plastic surgeons to restore the beauty of their bodies after their period of pregnancy, including breast ptosis. However, the said study revealed that breast feeding is not the major cause, but older age, history of smoking, and a higher body mass index (BMI) are the likely culprits.
The aim of the study was to determine the risk factors involved in the development of breast ptosis and ascertain if there is indeed a correlation between breastfeeding and breast appearance. The study involved 93 patients who had been involved in aesthetic surgery on their breasts from 1998 and 2006. All of these patients and respondents had at least one pregnancy.
The results of the study showed that 54 of the respondents, equivalent to 58 percent, had experienced breastfeeding for at least one child. Meanwhile 39 of them did not actually breastfeed their children.
On the other hand, in both groups, the respondents gained weight during pregnancy ranging from about 10 to 100 pounds, while 39 percent of these women have admitted that they have a history of smoking. Majority of the respondents, or 51 of them, claimed that the shape of their breasts had changed adversely after their pregnancy. Weight gain and BMI during the respondents’ pregnancy were higher among those who did not breastfeed their children.
According to the yielded results, breastfeeding is not a major factor affecting breast appearance, but rather, history of smoking, frequency of pregnancy, higher BMI, pre-pregnancy brassiere cup size and older age.
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