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Breast prolapse, also called breast ptosis, is a change in the condition of the female breast due to tissue stretching, loss of firmness and elasticity of the skin. Ptosis is characterized by the loss of the beautiful shape and contour of the breast.
This unpleasant type of change can develop due to sudden metamorphosis that occurs with the breast, for example, during pregnancy, when the breast increases significantly in size, and later, when the feeding of the child ends, it decreases. After these processes, some tissues can no longer contract to the level that was originally, and ptosis develops.
Также одной из причин опущения груди часто является возраст, который негативно действует на состояние тканей молочных желез, приближая процесс атрофирования тканей и, как следствие, уменьшение их объёма, хотя размер кожного кармана при этом остается прежним.
Often such a physiological change in a woman’s body is accompanied by the development of problems in the psychological sphere against the background of the fact that the woman begins to face problems that were previously less disturbing to her. For example, difficulties begin with the selection of clothes, embarrassment appears, if necessary, to demonstrate your body in public and complexes in intimate life.
The main method of solving this problem at the moment is mammoplasty. It is called a surgical breast lift. However, this method of solving the problem is not recommended for everyone. If a woman at the moment when she wanted to solve this problem still has plans for pregnancy, which, moreover, will be accompanied by breastfeeding a child in the future, it is worth refraining from the operation for a while. After all, after all this, there is a chance of re-deformation of the shape of the breast and, as a result, the need for a second operation.
Causes of breast prolapse
Like any other type of medical problem, ptosis is accompanied by the formation of many myths. Many of those who are poorly versed in the matter are sure that the breasts are lowered due to the fact that the woman was feeding the child or wearing a bra. But these conclusions are wrong. Since the female breast is made up of tissues, fat and ligaments, under which there are muscles, it is quite obvious that the shape and elasticity depend on the state in which the above components are.
At the same time, it is very important to emphasize and remember once and for all that the chest itself does not have muscles, this should automatically lead us to the conclusion that it cannot be tightened and brought closer to the desired result in appearance due to physical exertion and all kinds of exercises. But do not despair. Physically developed pectoral muscles have a positive effect on the shape and size of the breast, especially if it is initially small.
So, among the reasons for lowering the chest, we can distinguish the following:
- Heredity: it is this factor that determines the trends that breasts tend to over time. Some women can boast of constant high elasticity, while others complain of flabbiness. The same applies to links. Genes also have effects on metabolism that affect the state of elasticity.
- Breast size: no matter how sad, but the owners of large sizes automatically go into the risk group for the process of ptosis. Due to the loads, the ligaments and skin are stretched and a gradual process of omission occurs.
- Age-related changes: due to the fact that over time the skin loses its former properties and abilities, which previously allowed the breast to easily restore its natural state and shape after a short-term increase during the periods of the menstrual cycle and pregnancy.
- Резкое изменение веса: особенно для женщин, в груди которых больше жировой составляющей, чем тканей собственно железы.
- Smoking: The nicotine in cigarettes blunts the production of estrogen and elastin, which leads to unpleasant skin changes such as thinning, dullness, and dryness.
- Feeding the child: each of the subsequent pregnancies contributes to this negative process. However, it is not the mother’s duty to saturate the child that should be blamed here, but hormones, coupled with sudden changes in weight, which together increase the chance of breast deformity.
- Jogging: while running, the chest constantly describes eights, stretches, which ultimately leads to ptosis. You should either refrain from running, or purchase a bra specially designed for this.
- Age and age-related changes: with age, the production of female hormones decreases, which negatively affects the production of fibers that create a dense tissue structure. In addition, doctors confirm age-related involution (shrinkage).
- The benefit of wearing a bra to maintain the shape of the breasts is a myth. Experiments by American, French and Japanese experts even confirm the opposite effect. Naturally, if at the same time you are not running. When running, a bra is essential.
- Posture of a woman: If she is constantly hunched over or leaning over due to some kind of work, this leads to a faster deformity of the chest. Be careful when leaning over a computer keyboard.
Classification of breast prolapse
Researchers have defined breast ptosis as downward drooping of the breast, skin, and areola. Over time, a system was developed that allowed the process to be classified based on the position of the nipple relative to the submammary fold. This crease is where the chest meets the chest. The lower the position occupied by the nipple in relation to this crease, the higher the degree that can be assigned to the prolapse.
The normal state of the mammary gland is characterized by the fact that the nipple is located 5-7 cm above the submammary fold.
This characteristic is used by surgeons when determining the category of ptosis. The severity of the process is emphasized by calculating the ratio of the nipple and SMS (submammary fold), and the lower the nipple, the higher the degree of breast prolapse.
There are such stages:
- ptosis of the first degree – the nipple is on the same level with the submammary fold;
- ptosis of the second degree – slight sagging (the nipple is only slightly below the level of the submammary fold);
- ptosis of the third degree – a noticeable and significant sagging below the level of the submammary fold;
- pseudoptosis (does not belong to ptosis due to the fact that the nipple lies above or at the level of the SMS, but at the same time part of the parenchyma is below the level of the fold).
Self-determination of the presence of ptosis
If you have any suspicions that your breasts are sagging, the first step is the process of determining the presence or absence of ptosis. The pencil test will help you with this. First you need to remove the bra and find the submammary fold. A positive result is confirmed if, when standing, the pencil, which will be located in the crease, is held in place by the weight of the chest.
The degree of ptosis can also be determined independently with just a ruler, which must be placed directly at the junction of the mammary glands and chest. The chest should hang over the ruler. After that, you need to look at yourself in the mirror.
The first degree will be characterized by the presence of the nipple slightly above the upper edge of the ruler or up to 1 cm below the submammary fold.
The second degree is confirmed when the center point of the nipple is 1-3 cm lower from the top of the inframammary fold.
The third degree is confirmed by an even lower position of the nipple by more than 3 cm from the SMS.
Bras and mastoptosis
It is a well-known fact that the chest contains no muscles. As mentioned above, it is impossible to improve and correct its shape with the help of physical activity. Most women are subject to the stereotype that the constant wearing of a bra saves them from sagging breasts. To all those who still think so, it will be useful to know one fact. Among researchers, medical workers and even among manufacturers, there was no one who would confirm this theory. Manufacturers themselves are careful to use the vague statement that bras only affect the shape of the chest when worn.
Some scientists are trying to refute the myth about the beneficial properties of wearing this accessory with statements that at a young age the breasts themselves are maintained in perfect condition, and with age, regardless of whether the woman wore a bra, sagging occurs by itself, and the reasons are here may be different. The main one is the own weight of the breast, which constantly and over time affects the process of ptosis.
Одна из авторов статей по медицине в журнале “Health” сравнила миф о полезных свойствах бюстгальтера с аналогичным верованием в корсет.
You can also see the amazing results obtained by French scientists during three years of research, which confirmed that ptosis in women who exercise without a bra is no more pronounced than in those who choose to wear this type of underwear.
Одно из годичных исследований, проведенных в 2003 году, при котором женщин, принимавших в нем участвовали, попросили год не надевать бюстгальтер при занятии физическими упражнениями, показало не только улучшение комфорта и самочувствия у участников исследования, но и в конечном итоге усиление грудных мышц с общим улучшением положения соска. Что наиболее удивительно – в итоге грудь не только не обвисла, но и получила большую упругость.
This study was confirmed in 2007, when the result of a three-year experiment with 250 French women was published. In general, all indicators improved after this experiment, and the researchers concluded that bras do not improve the shape of the breast, and perhaps even interfere with improvements in its performance during physical activity.
В 2013 году предыдущие результаты французских исследователей еще раз подтвердились после обнародования результатов 15-летнего исследования 320 женщин возрастом до 35 лет. Вывод гласил о том, что физиологически и анатомически бюстгальтер не имеет никакой пользы, а многим женщинам и вовсе не нужен. “Ложная необходимость” – так назвали этот женский предмет гардероба ученые.