“does wearing a bra affect development”
I don't wear bras and i've never did. but my dad keeps pushing me to wear one and saying "if you don't then the ligaments will go weak without the support and they will look deformed!!!" i looked it up and im getting mixed responses. is what he said true? or if i go braless will the development be indifferent in contrast to wearing one?
Female | 14 years old
Medications: none
Conditions: none
2 Answers
You're fine.
Hello and good day. Thanks for sharing your question with the FATD community. Your dad is a smart man and is only trying to offer his thoughts regarding your mammary glands. After all, breasts are not made of bone, but rather fat, ligaments (the cord/rope like structures that support breasts and also connect bones to each other), and ducts to allow breast milk to flow when the hormonal balance is right.
Whether or not you choose to wear a bra will not affect the function of the breasts. However, I like to think about the ever-pulling effect gravity has on structures (not only dropped or thrown objects, but including breasts). Couple the force of gravity with the impacts you have when walking, stair climbing, running, jumping, hopping or landing from a fall, and then some physiologic changes of the breasts can occur (I mean, how they look without support). This does not mean that wearing no bra for a day here and there will make a change, but think about not wearing one for years or decades.
The ligaments support the breasts and hold them up. They are not muscles and have no ability to contract (become shorter) or to get stronger (by working out). They are like rubber bands. And, if a rubber band gets over stretched or is held in an elongated shape for a ‘long’ period of time, then they can become permanently stretched, or can even break. This is what causes sagging in breasts over time (there are other variables, too, but without the support of bras, these changes can happen sooner in life or to a more-severe degree). Over time, these relatively small and delicate ligaments can stretch out and make it so the breasts sag more than you like.
I have young daughters in my life, and a wife. I hear from them about how uncomfortable and constrictive bras can be. However, unfortunately, society and social media has made it more difficult for an aging person to enjoy natural aging and their (still beautiful) aging bodies. Perhaps your dad is trying to give you advice that will help you mature and age in line with society’s unrealistic standards.
Whether or not you choose to wear a bra will not affect the function of the breasts. However, I like to think about the ever-pulling effect gravity has on structures (not only dropped or thrown objects, but including breasts). Couple the force of gravity with the impacts you have when walking, stair climbing, running, jumping, hopping or landing from a fall, and then some physiologic changes of the breasts can occur (I mean, how they look without support). This does not mean that wearing no bra for a day here and there will make a change, but think about not wearing one for years or decades.
The ligaments support the breasts and hold them up. They are not muscles and have no ability to contract (become shorter) or to get stronger (by working out). They are like rubber bands. And, if a rubber band gets over stretched or is held in an elongated shape for a ‘long’ period of time, then they can become permanently stretched, or can even break. This is what causes sagging in breasts over time (there are other variables, too, but without the support of bras, these changes can happen sooner in life or to a more-severe degree). Over time, these relatively small and delicate ligaments can stretch out and make it so the breasts sag more than you like.
I have young daughters in my life, and a wife. I hear from them about how uncomfortable and constrictive bras can be. However, unfortunately, society and social media has made it more difficult for an aging person to enjoy natural aging and their (still beautiful) aging bodies. Perhaps your dad is trying to give you advice that will help you mature and age in line with society’s unrealistic standards.
