As you age, your skin begins to sag. The aging process can also cause sagging in the breasts. Perky breasts are the calling card of a youthful body, so it can be unnerving when you notice that your breasts aren't as youthful anymore. Instead of waiting for the inevitable to occur, take steps to preserve your youthful-looking breasts, maintain their perkiness and prevent premature sagging due to weight gain, sun exposure and other factors that contribute to sagging breasts.
Step 1
See a lingerie specialist and get fitted for a good bra. Bras can be difficult to fit on your own, and childbirth, weight gain and aging can all change the size and shape of your breasts. It's important to be measured at least once a year. Wearing a good, supportive bra can help take some of the stress off of your skin, which could lead to stretching without the right support, warns Florida plastic surgeon Petra Schneider in "The Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Women." A good bra can also give the illusion of well-formed, perky breasts, even when they have begun to sag.
Step 2
Maintain a healthy weight. When you gain weight, some of the fat deposits are directed to your breasts, which in turn makes your breasts heavier and harder to support, stretching the skin on your chest and leading to sagging. By maintaining a slim physique through diet and exercise, you ensure that your breasts stay where they're meant to be on your chest.
Step 3
Apply sun protection when you expose your chest to the sun. Sun exposure can actually deteriorate the connective tissue that keeps your skin taut, resulting in a condition known as solar elastosis, notes MedlinePlus. Solar elastosis can result in weak and sagging skin around your chest, leaving your breasts looking less than perky. Slather on sunscreen any time your chest is exposed, whether it's in a bikini or a low-cut shirt.
Step 4
Stand up straight. While good posture can't really stop your breasts from sagging, it can create the illusion of perkier breasts. Practice standing with your shoulders back, your neck relaxed and your chest pressed upward, which can immediately make you look thinner, healthier and younger, with perkier breasts.
Step 5
Exercise your chest muscles so that your breasts have a good foundation. Poor muscle tone in the chest can lead to saggy, floppy breasts that don't hold their shape, warns the book "Busting Out: Putting Your Best Breasts Forward" by Shirley Archer. Try exercises like flies, where you lie on your back on an exercise bench and press dumbbells over your head. Open your arms as if you were giving a hug for a count of three and then press the dumbbells back together to tighten your chest muscles.
References
- MotherNature.com: Saggy Breasts
- MedlinePlus: Aging Changes in Skin
- "Busting Out: Putting Your Best Breasts Forward": Shirley Archer, Neryl Walker; 2007
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