My bra post seemed to have generated quite a bit of interest, and a fair few questions. Whilst I am certainly not an authority on the matter I have seen plenty of cases where ill fitting bras cause a multitude of issues. So let’s dive into things a little further.
We begin by looking at the structure of the breast first 💡
The amount of working (milk producing) tissue is roughly equal amongst all women irrespective of breast size, although it tends to be more densely packed in younger women. The rest is made up of fat cells, and the amount of fat present directly correlates to their size.
Additional body fat storage, often correlating to total body weight in most sedentary individuals, will increase the size of the breast, and in proportion to the number of fat cells present / distributed in the breast region.
Amazingly, for some this means gaining *or losing* as little as 5lbs (2.5kg) can mean a change in cup size, whilst others may be able to gain / lose ten times as much before needing a different bra size.
As a minimum it is recommended people (women?) get remeasured and fitted every two years, to ensure the best possible fit. Not only because breast tissue is constantly changing both in shape and size, but also because the support and structure of the bras themselves can suffer over time, especially if they aren’t hand washed as per the instructions on most bras. This in turn can affect its load carrying and load distributing capabilities.
As an added complexity, there have been reports that women on an ultra low carb diet, whilst generally losing body fat systemically, actually increase their fat deposits in the breast tissue, resulting in bigger breasts.
Proportionately very large breasts, or ‘breast hypertrophy’, can bring its own set of problems. Not least of all the additional off-centre weight your body, and in particular the bra straps have to manage. Many bras, IMO don’t come with adequate width to evenly distribute weight across the top of the shoulder strap, normally causing a ‘cutting in’ effect for those with heavier breast tissue.
Additional padding can help in this area, although a correct fit is still essential.
Next time we’ll look at fitment after reconstruction, maybe 🤔
Bra strap width. Image credit unknown.
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