The breasts lie on top of the chest wall and over the pectoral muscles. They contain glands, lobules, fatty tissue, and other structures. Milk ducts lead to the nipples, which are surrounded by a darker area called the areola. Both males and females have breasts, but they are more developed in females.
Anatomically, the adult breast sits atop the pectoralis muscle (the "pec" chest muscle), which is atop the ribcage. The breast tissue extends horizontally (side-to-side) from the edge of the sternum (the firm flat bone in the middle of the chest) out to the midaxillary line (the center of the axilla, or underarm).
Your breasts should feel warm (but not hot) to the touch, like the rest of your torso. Take Note: Have a doctor check out any areas of your breasts that are extra warm or reddened.
A nipple that sits above the line of the fold is considered normal. If your nipple is even with the fold, it's first-degree ptosis. Second-degree ptosis is when the nipple is below the fold, and third-degree ptosis is when the nipple is pointing downward.
The skin on your breasts should naturally be more or less flat and smooth. Again, consistency is key. Bumps and birthmarks that are always present are not a problem. A sudden change in the skin on your breasts should be reported to a doctor.
There's no specific age when your breasts will start to sag. It's common for some droop in your 40s and beyond, but many women experience saggy breasts earlier. If you're lucky enough to escape the droop in your 30s and 40s, you'll most likely notice changes in elasticity and fullness as menopause approaches.
The thickness of the breast plate can be estimated with the “pinch test.” The “pinch test” is done by pinching the breast above the nipple-areolar complex and measuring the thickness with a Boley gauge or other measuring device.
"If you don't wear a bra, your breasts will sag," says Dr. Ross. "If there's a lack of proper, long-term support, breast tissue will stretch and become saggy, regardless of breast size." Still, both experts agree that multiple factors play into if and when sagging (technical term: "ptosis") occurs, bra-wearing aside.
Stimulating, caressing or simply holding breasts sends nerve signals to the brain, which trigger the release of the 'cuddle hormone' called oxytocin, a neurochemical secreted by the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland in the brain.
The breasts can enlarge after menopause due to the hormone oestrogen levels going down. When the breasts go through an " involution " process, the milk glands shut down, and the tissue is replaced with fat.
A tumor may feel more like a rock than a grape. A cancerous lump is usually hard, not soft or squishy. And it often has angular, irregular, asymmetrical edges, as opposed to being smooth, Dr. Comander says.
Sagging breasts are a natural, normal part of life. Over time, the effects of gravity decreased estrogen, and the stretching of ligaments can cause your breasts to sag. If you want to change the look of your breasts, you may consider undergoing surgery.
According to Dr. Patrick Malucci, scientifically perfect breasts have a 45:55 ratio, which means that 45 percent of the breast lies above the nipple and 55 percent lies below the nipple. As a result, the ideal nipple appears to point upward at roughly 20 degrees, which Dr. Malucci defines as a “beckoning” breast.
If your band and underwire are the right size, then the center gore should lay flat against your sternum. You should not be able to move it easily, but it also shouldn't press too hard on your chest. If the center gore of your underwire bra does not lay correctly, then the cups are too small or the band is too loose.
Can Sagging Breasts Be Firm Again? Sagging breast tissue cannot regain its youthful firmness without plastic surgery. Unfortunately, measures such as exercising your chest muscles, eating healthy, and applying topical creams are not enough to correct pronounced sagging and drooping.
The good news: The rate at which you lose weight doesn't effect the elasticity (or saggy-ness) of your skin, including your breasts.
As females get older, their bodies start to produce less of the reproductive hormone estrogen than before. Estrogen stimulates the growth of breast tissue, while low levels of this hormone cause the mammary glands to shrink.
With age, a woman's breasts lose fat, tissue, and mammary glands. Many of these changes are due to the decrease in the body's production of estrogen that occurs at menopause. Without estrogen, the gland tissue shrinks, making the breasts smaller and less full.
As you reach the age of 40 years and approach perimenopause, hormonal changes will cause changes to your breasts. Besides noting changes in your breasts' size, shape, and elasticity, you might also notice more bumps and lumps. Aging comes with an increased risk of breast cancer.
Just like with breasts, there's no one way that nipples are supposed to look. Both nipples and areolas (the circular skin around your nipple) come in different sizes and colors, from light pink to brownish black. The color of your nipples usually relates to your skin color.
We found that the skin of the superior quadrant was the most sensitive part of the breast, the areola was less sensitive, and the nipple was the least sensitive part.