Whether it was in junior high gym class or sometime later, you may remember discovering that every woman’s breast size and shape differ vastly different from your own. In fact, no two breasts are alike. Think of them as being as distinctive as fingerprints. And for many of us, our breasts might not quite match but instead slightly vary in size or shape. Again, totally normal.
Breasts start as small prepubescent buds and, over an adolescent period of about five years, develop into the size and shape you have as an adult. And they’re also subject to a genetic lottery. You may have your mom’s perky size C’s, your dad’s sister’s double D’s or your maternal great-grandma’s athletic A’s. What’s more, weight loss and gain over your lifetime, hormones and diet can all affect breast size and shape.
“The breast tissue that isn't made up of milk ducts is largely composed of fat cells that increase and decrease as weight is gained and lost, potentially changing the shape as well as the size of the breast,” says Constance M. Chen, M.D., a board-certified plastic surgeon, clinical assistant professor of surgery (plastic surgery) at Weill Cornell Medical College and clinical assistant professor of surgery (plastic surgery) at the Tulane University School of Medicine.
Chen has special expertise in using innovative natural techniques to optimize medical and cosmetic outcomes for women undergoing breast reconstruction.
Other factors influencing breast size and shape include the hormonal changes that accompany pregnancy, breastfeeding, perimenopause and menopause. Some changes are a natural consequence of aging, as skin loses elasticity and as breast-tissue composition shifts to a higher concentration of fat, which is prone to sagging. A properly fitted bra, however, can enhance your comfort at any age, and not just for large-breasted women, Chen points out.
“Every woman will be more comfortable and less restrained in her physical activity if she wears a properly fitted bra,” she notes. This can be tricky, since most women find that their breasts’ shape changes more than once over their lifetime, prompting them to retire the size, shape or style of their current bra.
How breast shape influences your bra size
Though you may believe you’re a size 32B or 36G, you may not realize how much your breast size and shape affect the style and size of the bra you need.
“Any catalog of breast shapes is only an approximation,” Chen says. “Just as every woman is unique, her breast shape cannot be expected to conform to a picture or description.”