Get a Lift: How to Firm up Sagging Breasts

icandoit

Get a Lift: How to Firm up Sagging Breasts.

My breasts seem to be sagging. How can I firm them up? By Kathy Stevens


Oct. 2, 2000 -- Yes, there is.

"We must . . . we must . . . we must develop our bust . . . " I can still hear that joking girlhood chant -- but it's not so funny when gravity and childbearing take their toll on your bustline. Luckily, you can combat the droop with a few basic exercises.

Some of the best moves lift the shoulders and sternum, to prevent you from hunching your shoulders forward. These exercises focus on the midback muscles rather than the chest, targeting those that hold your shoulder blades back and down. They also work to stretch the muscles in the front of the shoulders and chest, which are often chronically shortened in people who spend a lot of time working at a computer.

Start by being more aware of your upper body posture. Lift your chest and imagine you are trying to hold a tennis ball between your shoulder blades (scapulae). Hold this position for five deep breaths and repeat it several times a day. When you're in the gym, you can do the same scapular squeeze on a seated rowing machine or with hand weights from a bent-over row position.

But you don't want to neglect your front, either. A set of dumbbells will help you work the front of the chest. A great exercise to start with is called a "fly": grab a 5- to 8-pound weight in each hand, lie flat on your back (on a bench) with your arms out (palms up) and slightly bent. Bring the weights together over your head without farther bending your arms. Do eight to 12 repetitions.

And don't forget that do-anywhere standby, the push-up. Push-ups work your entire chest and back, as well as your arms and abdominal muscles. If you can't do a set with your legs fully extended behind you, begin on your knees and work up to it.

While there is some muscle beneath the breast tissue, its contribution to actual breast size or firmness (in women) is minimal. If you're looking for drastic improvement, keep in mind that radically lifting the bust is unlikely to happen from exercise alone. The female breast is made up of adipose (fat) tissue, milk ducts, and other connective tissues. When you lose weight, you may lose breast size, and the natural effects of gravity, aging, and childbearing can make the supporting tissues less firm.

Still, if you combine these exercises with an effort to improve your posture, you can achieve a better appearance and the illusion of a firmer bust line. Just keep your expectations reasonable -- and your bra supportive.

icandoit

Get a Lift: How to Firm up Sagging Breasts.

My breasts seem to be sagging. How can I firm them up? By Kathy Stevens


Oct. 2, 2000 -- Yes, there is.

"We must . . . we must . . . we must develop our bust . . . " I can still hear that joking girlhood chant -- but it's not so funny when gravity and childbearing take their toll on your bustline. Luckily, you can combat the droop with a few basic exercises.

Some of the best moves lift the shoulders and sternum, to prevent you from hunching your shoulders forward. These exercises focus on the midback muscles rather than the chest, targeting those that hold your shoulder blades back and down. They also work to stretch the muscles in the front of the shoulders and chest, which are often chronically shortened in people who spend a lot of time working at a computer.

Start by being more aware of your upper body posture. Lift your chest and imagine you are trying to hold a tennis ball between your shoulder blades (scapulae). Hold this position for five deep breaths and repeat it several times a day. When you're in the gym, you can do the same scapular squeeze on a seated rowing machine or with hand weights from a bent-over row position.

But you don't want to neglect your front, either. A set of dumbbells will help you work the front of the chest. A great exercise to start with is called a "fly": grab a 5- to 8-pound weight in each hand, lie flat on your back (on a bench) with your arms out (palms up) and slightly bent. Bring the weights together over your head without farther bending your arms. Do eight to 12 repetitions.

And don't forget that do-anywhere standby, the push-up. Push-ups work your entire chest and back, as well as your arms and abdominal muscles. If you can't do a set with your legs fully extended behind you, begin on your knees and work up to it.

While there is some muscle beneath the breast tissue, its contribution to actual breast size or firmness (in women) is minimal. If you're looking for drastic improvement, keep in mind that radically lifting the bust is unlikely to happen from exercise alone. The female breast is made up of adipose (fat) tissue, milk ducts, and other connective tissues. When you lose weight, you may lose breast size, and the natural effects of gravity, aging, and childbearing can make the supporting tissues less firm.

Still, if you combine these exercises with an effort to improve your posture, you can achieve a better appearance and the illusion of a firmer bust line. Just keep your expectations reasonable -- and your bra supportive.