What Would Cause my Breasts to Shrink?

Unfortunately, what you are experiencing are the normal changes that occur in the breast with age.  When you are younger, your breast has more fibrous and dense tissue.  As you age, this becomes more fatty in consistency and you start to lose some of the structural support in the breast.  Also, where your body decides it will store fat also changes with age and may not necessarily go where we want it.  The same thing goes for facial aging, where we lose volume in our face as we get older despite being the same weight. If you are desiring fuller breasts but not necessarily implants, then you may want to consider fat grafting where you borrow fat from one part of the body where you don't want it and add it the area where you want more volume.

There are several factors that contribute to the reduction of breast size such as hormonal changes, pregnancies and fluctuation in weight. Keep in mind that fluctuation of your breast size due to the occurrences mentioned earlier eventually lead to the decrease of elasticity of your skin, thereby leaving your breasts to sag. I hope you found this information to be helpful.

Fat distribution is the key to this answer. Patients distribute fat in different way from patient to patient as well as from one age to another. Some people may have skinny arms and legs while they accumulate all their weight centrally and others are the opposite. When you were younger, fat may accumulate more centrally for you around the chest area. Over time you may find the same weight has now gone to other areas. This is not an uncommon phenomenon and is a normal part of aging.

Hi there, thank you for this great question. It is’s a well known fact that breast volume, shape and density tends to change as weight fluctuates.

The volume of the breast will come down with weight loss and most likely you would require an augmentation with a mastopexy (breast lift) because with the loss of volume comes loose skin which needs to be tightened along with the breast shape. Hope this helps!

Thank you for your question. I am sorry to hear what you are going through. Breasts can change throughout out time. Relying causes can be breastfeeding, weight loss, aging, hormonal changes, menopause and post pregnancy. Breasts can enlarge with weight gain and can swell during breastfeeding. Since you have lost a significant amount of weight you should expect your breast size to have decreased. If your BMI is higher, the fat could be in other areas of the body. I would suggest you schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon for a full examination and discuss your treatment options and the result you are trying to achieve.

There are several factors that may lead to this.  Normal aging processes that effect skin elasticity, density (% of glandular tissue vs fat), weight gain or loss, pregnancy and genetics.  As women age, their breast changes in that there is a higher percentage of fatty tissue compared to glandular tissue to that of a young women, the skin loses its elasticity and thus recoil, leading to drooping of the breast (ptosis).  Large fluctuations in weight and aging will all cause various changes in the distribution of fat on the body.  For example, as a young women you may have gained fat in your abdomen and breast but now it is more localized to your hips and thighs.  A consultation with a plastic surgeon will be beneficial in determining if an augmentation, breast lift or both is necessary to regain your youthful appearance. Hope that helps!

What you are describing is all too common with the aging process. Women's bodies store fat differently as they continue to mature, and women do lose volume at the breasts.  If you are looking to restore volume to and shape the breast, consider #breastaugmentation. Breast augmentation can be achieved with the use of implants or by taking fat from another area and harvesting it to the breasts.  An experienced #plasticsurgeon can assess your breast anatomy, review the details of both procedures and help you make a decision based on your goals for approving the appearance of your breasts.

Unfortunately, your breasts will continue to change over your lifetime. When you are young your breast is composed of mostly thicker breast tissue and minimal fatty tissue. As you age the thicker breast tissue starts to be replaced by fatty tissue. In addition, the ligaments that hold the breast up and keep them firm start to stretch out and the breast starts to drop. Hormones during pregnancy and lactation will also change the breast shape and size. If you are not happy with your current breast shape or size a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon is recommended. 

Thank you very much for your question. It is common for the
breasts to shrink and deflate as you get older. This is caused by a combination
of weight fluctuations, pregnancy, breast feeding, gravity, genetics, and the
normal aging process. The volume loss and change in tissue elasticity can make
the breasts smaller and less firm, even in women who maintain a healthy weight
and lifestyle. If you would like to further discuss options for restoring
volume and shape to the chest, I recommend scheduling a consultation with a
board certified plastic surgeon, experienced in the breast augmentation procedure.

As you age, you breasts naturally lose volume and perkiness, particularly in the upper pole. This effect can be further enhanced when breasts deflate after pregnancy or significant weight loss. While the weight loss draws your attention more sharply to the matter, the reality is that you breasts would likely appear similar today even if you had maintained the same weight throughout. In general, breast augmentation with a silicone or saline implant is solution to your problem. See a board certified plastic surgeon to help develop a plan that is unique for your situation and your desired results. 

Breast size and shape can often change over the course of time.  Breast composition gradually shifts with age from more glandular tissue to more fatty tissue.  Weight gain and then loss, hormonal changes with age, pregnancy, and breastfeeding can all affect breast size.  Your situation is, in many ways, not unexpected.