At What Age Do Your Breast Stop Developing?

Growth is finished at an early age but changes continue throughout your life. Weight loss/gain, genetics, pregnancy, and age can all affect your breasts over a lifetime.

Most breast growth occurs during puberty and is stable by age 16-20.  Then, pregnancies, weight gain, weight loss and hormone replacement (birth control pills, pellets, and post menopausal hormone replacement) can all influence breast growth.  Some would say that the breast keeps changing throughout life. 

In general, breast development slows/ceases roughly 2-5 years after the onset of a patient's menstrual cycle.   However with that being said, women can still anticipate some physical changes (size and shape) in the appearance of ones breasts throughout her lifetime.  Factors such as fluctuations in weight (gains and losses), pregnancy, breast feeding, and menopause are some of the things that will affect the evolution of a woman's bust line over the course of her lifetime.  If you are considering having a breast augmentation procedure, I would strongly recommend consulting with a board certified plastic surgeon.  At this consultation, your plastic surgeon will evaluate your breasts and your breast history (pattern of growth, patient age, lifestyle, etc...), to better guide the discussion as to what breast procedure would work best for you.  Good Luck!

Hi, thank you for your question. 
In most women, the breasts will begin developing with the onset of puberty, which occurs at approximately 9 years of age. By age 14, the breasts have reached their mature borders, but they continue to enlarge until the late teenage years and sometimes into the early twenties. Development of breast shape depends on a number of factors, including fat content, volume, muscular & skeletal contour and the skin/connective tissue surrounding it.  The final breast shape and size are dependent on your genes and will change with age as the supporting ligaments that hold the breast in place become lax and most of the actual breast will be replaced by fat. This means that the breasts become more ptotic (droopy). This process may be expedited with the changes that occur during pregnancy, lactation and breastfeeding. 
I hope this answers your question sufficiently. 

Thank you for your question.Generally, breast development has slowed or neared completion by age 18 to 20, but changes continue throughout your life, according to your weight loss/gain, genetics, pregnancy, and age. These conditions can all affect your breasts over a lifetime.

The breasts will stop growing in different ages in different women. Generally, late adolescence is the time but this can vary widely.

This is a greatquestions as often patients are eager to have their breast augmentationperformed, but don’t want to have it done to early.
Women’s breaststypically stop developing by age 16 or 17. I typically will not perform a breast augmentation until patients haveare at least 18 years of age. This waypatients can be fully developed prior to any elective surgery. Occasionally in younger patients that havecongenital deformities of the breast I will perform reconstructive surgery at ayounger age.
I hope thisanswers your question please consult with your board certified plastic surgeon.

Answer from Dr. Sean Hill, Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon at Lone Star Plastic Surgery – Frisco, TX:
This is a common question, especially from patients exploring breast enhancement or considering surgery.
Breast development usually begins in early adolescence — often between ages 8 and 13 — and most individuals reach full breast maturity between ages 17 and 18. That said, it’s completely normal for the breasts to continue changing subtly into your early 20s, especially with hormonal changes, weight fluctuations, pregnancy, or birth control.
Here are a few things to keep in mind: • Puberty is just the beginning: Breasts continue to evolve even after your period becomes regular. • Your unique genetics and hormones play a big role in your final size, shape, and symmetry. • Life events like pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopause can further impact breast tissue.
If you’re considering breast augmentation or a lift, the most important thing is that your development is stable and your expectations are clear. At Lone Star Plastic Surgery, I take the time to assess not just physical development, but also your long-term goals to ensure the best possible outcome — whether that means volume restoration, reshaping, or correction of asymmetry.
If you’re unsure whether your breasts have fully developed or are a candidate for surgery, we’d be happy to walk through it together during a consultation.
Warmly,Dr. Sean Hill

For the majority, breast development is considered complete by age 18-20. During puberty, which usually begins between ages 8 and 13, the breasts start developing under the influence of hormones like estrogen. Growth can continue throughout adolescence and may slow down once a person reaches their late teens. However, breast tissue can change based on genetics, age, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and weight and hormonal fluctuations, even after the primary development phase is complete.
Krishna Vyas, MD, PhD, MHSHarvard, Hopkins, & Mayo Clinic Trained Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonNew York, New York

Breast development typically concludes around the ages of 17 to 18, marking the end of puberty. However, it's important to note that breasts can continue to change in response to factors such as weight fluctuations, hormonal changes, pregnancy, and aging, and some may notice changes into their early 20s.

Breast tissue starts developing at puberty. The breast is a hormonally active organ so breasts can always respond to changes in your estrogen levels, whether that’s due to pregnancy, child birth, breast feeding or even hormonal medication later in your life. Typically, in your 50s and 60s breast tissue involutes and becomes more fatty in texture. Breasts really develop over your lifetime. As it relates to breast growth for a breast reduction candidate, growth is typically complete once your growth plates have closed. In a young patient, often times we obtain a wrist x-ray to make sure the growth plates have closed and the patient is ready for the reduction. Breasts can also grow with weight gain and can decrease with weight loss at any age.