Unfortunately, our breasts age right along with the rest of our body. When it comes to our face, we know too much sun and smoking can contribute to aging, among other things, but have you ever thought about what makes the breasts age faster?
“As women age, the breasts are not immune to the process. With age, the ligaments of the breast, known as Cooper’s ligaments, can stretch, resulting in a sagging appearance. This is called ptosis—Greek for ‘to fall,’” says New York plastic surgeon B. Aviva Preminger, MD. “When Cooper’s ligaments stretch, the breast tissue falls to the lower part of the breast, and the upper breast fullness is reduced.”
Well-endowed women may have won the lottery in the earlier half of life, but in the latter half, they’re more likely to see their breasts age quicker. Pasadena, CA plastic surgeon Lily Lee, MD, says genetic factors are likely to outweigh everything else. “So go ahead, live life! Then find yourself a good plastic surgeon,” she advises. While many of the factors are out of our control, like gravity and genetics, there are others we have more of a handle on.
