Wear a supportive bra when you exercise.
Image Credit: Maridav/iStock/Getty Images Your waistline isn’t the only thing that shrinks when you lose weight. Because your breasts are made up primarily of fatty tissue, significant weight loss sometimes causes breast volume loss as well. Deflated breasts don’t pose any medical problems because there’s no standard shape for healthy breasts, according to MedlinePlus.
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While there's no sure-fire way to regain your pre-loss bustline, you can use a few diet and exercise tricks to help improve their appearance and fullness. If you're interested in significant results, however, you'll need to seek treatment from a plastic surgeon.
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Tip Your breasts are made up primarily of fatty tissue so, short of gaining back lost weight, there is no way to "fill them back up." However, there are a few healthy tricks you can use to help them look fuller, as well as some surgical options if you're interested in medical intervention.
Build Some Muscle
One approach is to build upper body strength and muscle volume, especially in your chest, to help fill out loose, sagging skin and tissue. While you cannot completely fill out deflated boobs with muscle, you may be able to replace a small amount of lost volume with lean muscle, which in turn will tighten your skin slightly.
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If you're new to strength training, effective chest exercises include pushups, chest flys, bench or dumbbell presses and cable crossovers. Start with a single set of eight to 12 repetitions, twice a week, and work up to two or three sets at a time. In order to build muscle you'll need to challenge yourself, so once it's relatively easy to do 12 repetitions with good form, it's time to gradually increase the amount of weight you're lifting.
Read more: Can You Tone Saggy Breasts With Exercise?
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Posture and Breast Volume Loss
Standing up straight won’t magically make your breasts fuller, but it might make them look a little fuller. Help improve your posture by strengthening the muscles in your back and shoulders with exercises like seated rows, lat pulldowns, alternating arm and leg raises, back extensions and even deadlifts. You might also be surprised by how tall, slim — and possibly perkier — you can look after taking a few Pilates or barre classes, which place quite a bit of focus on developing better posture.
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Eat for More Elastic Skin
Build skin elasticity by eating plenty of colorful fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants and selenium, which help prevent skin damage and loss of skin firmness. Ensure a balanced intake of nutrients by eating a variety of foods, or trying to consume the full spectrum of the rainbow.
Drink Plenty of Water
Staying hydrated will help keep your skin supple and firm. Dehydrated skin appears drawn and loose, while hydrated skin appears plump and vibrant — not just on your face but all over your body, including your breasts. Drink water in place of sugary colas and juices, and hydrate before, during and after each workout.
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Read more: Workouts to Build a Bigger Chest
Support Your Breasts
The excess movement of your breasts during high-impact exercise isn’t just painful — it can also stretch the connective tissue that helps support your breasts. A supportive bra helps keep the girls under control and can also make your breasts look as large and full as they did before your weight loss.
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Consider Surgical Alternatives
Talk to your doctor about breast reconstruction surgery if you lose a significant amount of breast volume. Your surgeon may recommend excess skin removal, a breast lift or breast implants to restore shape and fullness.
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references
WomenFitness.net: Top 10 Chest (Pectoral)-Developing Exercises
MedlinePlus: Breast Lift
The Huffington Post: Foods for Skin: 5 Best Foods for a Younger Complexion
Health.gov: Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2015-2020: Appendix 1. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans
references
WomenFitness.net: Top 10 Chest (Pectoral)-Developing Exercises
MedlinePlus: Breast Lift
The Huffington Post: Foods for Skin: 5 Best Foods for a Younger Complexion
Health.gov: Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2015-2020: Appendix 1. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans
Wear a supportive bra when you exercise.
Image Credit: Maridav/iStock/Getty Images
Image Credit: Maridav/iStock/Getty Images
Your breasts are made up primarily of fatty tissue so, short of gaining back lost weight, there is no way to “fill them back up.” However, there are a few healthy tricks you can use to help them look fuller, as well as some surgical options if you’re interested in medical intervention.
WomenFitness.net: Top 10 Chest (Pectoral)-Developing Exercises
MedlinePlus: Breast Lift
The Huffington Post: Foods for Skin: 5 Best Foods for a Younger Complexion
Health.gov: Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2015-2020: Appendix 1. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans
