Breast surgery (breast lift, breast augmentation, breast reduction, and inverted nipple correction) is one of the most popular aspects of my New York City practice. I spend a great deal of time getting the technical details of surgery precisely right, to ensure that my patients are pleased with the way they look when they take off their surgical bras. When it comes time to buy a new bra (whether or not you have had surgery), here is some advice from my office to get a bra that fits you properly, feels comfortable, and flatters your appearance. If you want your breasts to look the way the do when your bra is on (even when you take off your bra!), you may be a candidate for breast implants or mastopexy/ breast lift surgery. -Dr. Devgan
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How a bra should fit
by Erica, Dr. Devgan's Patient Coordinator
Getting a new bra can be an exhilarating feeling that almost all women can relate to. But, how many of us go into our favorite lingerie store, find our size, and buy a bra without trying it on? When we go to wear the bra for the first time we find ourselves tightening the straps as tight as they can go or as loose as they can hang and cinching the back to its tightest eyehooks. After speaking with a sales associate at a local high-end lingerie store, I was astonished to find that this is not how a bra should fit, nor do any two bras fit the same.
What are breasts made out of?
Breast tissue is composed of glandular tissue (which is responsible for milk production), fatty tissue (which can fluctuate depending on your body fat percentage), and ligaments (which hold the breast up in a perky position). Cooper's ligament, the main structural supporting ligament for perky breasts, is easily stretched due to regular movement as well as gravity, leading to drooping of breast tissue over time.
Not wearing an appropriate bra can eventually lead to more than just unattractive physical appearance. It can also lead to bad posture, neck, back, and/or shoulder pain. Please take this into consideration the next time you are going to purchase a bra. Make sure you are getting properly measured and making the appropriate adjustments as your bra wears out overtime.
It’s time to take the right steps to finding a good bra.
First, know the important, yet basic, components of the bra:
- The back strap (a.k.a. the wing/backbend measurements)
- The shoulder straps
- The cups
Next, know how each of these components plays a part in a well-fitted bra.
The wings, or backbend, are where most of your bra support comes from. Once the bra is on, the back should be hooked on the last eyehooks. The last eyehooks are the ones that leave the bra fitting the loosest. This way as the bra stretches over time, you can tighten as necessary.
Then there are the straps.
The straps also play a large roll in overall support.
Straps should only be tightened to lay snuggly on the shoulders. If the straps are digging into the skin on the shoulders or the backbend of the bra appears to be lifted, or higher then the cups of the bra, then the straps are too tight. A brand new bra should never have the straps at their tightest point. Eventually, a bra begins to stretch and the rings and sliders on bra straps are made primarily for tightening overtime.
Lastly, consider the bra cups.
When determining what cup size you are, there are a lot of factors that can weigh in: padded vs. unpadded, pushup vs. full coverage, underwire vs. unwired lining, and even lace vs. cloth. The most important thing is to remember your entire breast should be able to fit inside the cup, with the nipple at the center, and the apex, or top of the cup, should lay flat against your skin. If it is indenting into your skin, or the side of your breast, near the armpit is hanging out, you need a bigger cup. If there is room between your skin and the bra at the top of the cup, then you need a smaller cup.
For inquiries about breast surgery or other medical issues related to your breasts, please call 212-452-2400 or email office@LaraDevganMD.com.