Just as our vaginas and vulvas change as we age, so do our breasts. These changes range from how breasts look to how they feel, due to a myriad of reasons, including age, hormones, pregnancy, and breast cancer and reconstructive surgery.
We’re not typically briefed on the health and development of our breasts, except for maybe the typical health class spiel we receive in high school – like how they’ll grow and develop milk for babies to breastfeed – but that’s pretty much it. That’s why it’s important to know how our chest and breast tissue changes throughout the decades. We spoke with medical experts about how your boobs change as you age and why.
In Your 20s
According to Dr. Alexander Zuriarrain, a board-certified plastic surgeon, the architecture of your breast changes and so often over time. “This is a slow process that is happening between the ages of 20 and 50 where women have a change from fibrous breasts to breasts that are composed mainly of fat,” he explains. “[Over time] the breast is not as firm. The older the female, the less dense the breasts tend to be.”
Then, of course, there are the obvious changes including weight gain and loss (which might explain why your bra size fluctuates with any changes in your weight throughout this decade) and pregnancy, which may or may not happen in your 20’s. (The average age of pregnancy in the U.S. is 29, according to the CDC’s latest report on maternal age).
Regardless, your breasts will likely feel firmer in your 20s, and softer as time goes on. “Every decade causes the breast to soften,” Zuriarrain says. “This leads to less firmness that is normally seen during the 20s.” That’s one of the reasons why it’s important to give yourself a self breast exam — you should get well acquainted with your breast tissue as early as your 20s and understand how it changes over time, so you can be aware of any abnormalities that could signify a health issue.
In Your 30s
If you’re a mother, which you are likely to be in your 30s given CDC data on the increase of births in this category, you’re well aware that your breasts are not what they used to be.
“During pregnancy, your breasts are engorged with milk during pregnancy, and then involute after breastfeeding ends,” Dr. Constance M. Chen, board-certified plastic surgeon and breast reconstruction specialist, tells SheKnows. “Throughout this process, the breast skin stretches, and breast skin usually does not snap back completely. For this reason, older women will usually have more fatty breasts, and the breasts may also be more droopy, especially if they have had pregnancies and breastfed children.”
Plus, your breast skin gradually experiences a decline in elasticity as you age, explains Dr. Sapna Palep, dermatologist and co-CEO of lingerie brand Journelle, due to a natural decline in collagen production. In your 30s, she says, this change in elasticity might be subtle or even overshadowed by things like pregnancies, breastfeeding, weight changes, and hormonal changes. “More fatty tissue is gained in our 30s, which can also affect breast shape and firmness,” she says. “It’s in your mid to late 30s that you might start to think, ‘hmm – my breasts are starting to look different and they don’t feel as firm.’”
You might also notice the darkening of your areolas during pregnancy, and afterwards don’t be surprised to see some stretch marks.
In Your 40s
There’s a strong chance you could be still having children and breastfeeding into your 40s. But toward the middle and end of your 40s, you’re likely to enter the period called perimenopause, the precursor to menopause, that often lasts around four to five years. Because your periods are tapering off and may be irregular during this time period, you can often experience breast tenderness as you approach menopause due to that shift in hormones, per the National Cancer Institute.
“It’s in our 40s where estrogen levels start to decline more rapidly, leading to a variety of changes throughout the body, including the breasts,” Dr. Palep explains. You might notice that the skin on your breasts is drier or has a change in texture or pigmentation, like age spots or uneven tone.
In addition, new guidelines state that you should now begin to schedule regular mammograms at age 40. You should also continue to do frequent breast self-exams once a month, feeling for irregular lumps and observing any nipple discharge, skin changes to the nipple or the surrounding skin. According to Dr. Zuriarrain, any evidence of crusting or scabbing with redness is an alarming sign that should be brought to your physician’s attention. While breast pain in general is not associated with malignancy, Dr. Zuriarrain advises seeing your physician if you’re experiencing any.
In Your 50’s
Once you hit 50, The changes in your breast skin might also start to become more noticeable, as the skin “becomes thinner and more fragile, which makes veins more visible,” Dr. Palep says. This can also lead to the skin getting “crepe-y” over time. Your breasts will also decrease in volume and fullness, “potentially leading to a more flattened shape,” Dr. Palep says
In your 50s, you’re also probably well into menopause. You might be on menopause hormone therapy to treat symptoms of menopause like hot flashes or vaginal dryness, which could cause your breast tissue to become denser due to the increase in estrogen. The density could pose more challenges when a technician tries to read your mammogram results, but you should continue to go for an annual mammogram.
Changes in breast skin can be quite noticeable in your 50s, especially if you are in perimenopause or menopause. The skin becomes thinner and more fragile, which makes veins more visible. Drier skin and thinner skin can lead to crepy skin. Breasts will continue to lose volume and fullness, potentially leading to a more flattened shape.
Typically, ultrasounds are also done at 50 years old and above for breast cancer screening purposes, says Zuriarrain. A full breast exam by a health professional is also encouraged to check lumps or other irregularities.
Breast cancer risk increases with age, and most diagnoses are after age 50, according to the CDC. With a diagnosis, breasts may or may not change depending on the treatment, says Chen. “If a breast cancer patient undergoes lumpectomy, then the breast will be smaller or may have indentations or irregularities after surgery,” she explains. “Lumpectomy is usually followed by radiation, which permanently changes the quality of the breast skin that has been radiated so it is no longer soft and supple and it will be permanently stiffer and smaller than the non-radiated breast. The radiated breast will usually be higher than the non-radiated breast for the same reason.” If a breast cancer patient undergoes mastectomy, then you will either be flat-chested or will undergo breast reconstruction to reshape the breast tissue afterward.
However, breast cancer risk is 2.40% in women over 50, so this is not to say that every woman will experience this process. While it’s important to be aware of your risk and any family history or potential breast cancer-related genes, it’s equally important to be aware of your normal —knowing how your breasts should change over time, so that you understand your body better than anyone else.
In Your 60s and Beyond
As you continue to age, your breasts will reflect “the cumulative changes from the decades prior,” Dr. Palep says. That means they might feel more flattened as your estrogen levels drop. Dry skin also becomes more consistent in your 60s, Dr. Palep notes, which can lead to irritated skin. It’s also important to stay up to date on your breast cancer screenings during this time.
Your Breasts Change — And That’s OK
From health issues to natural hormonal shifts, your breasts go through tons of natural changes throughout your life. You might notice those changes impacting the way your clothes and bras fit, too, says Dr. Palep, who’s a lingerie expert in addition to a dermatologist. “Some of the most commons shifts are gaps in bra cups, which can be related to a reduction in bra firmness and volume,” she says.
Balconette or demi-style bras might start to feel less supportive, while underwire bras or tight bands may feel more uncomfortable due to increased skin sensitivity or weight gain. “If your breast size changes, or your individual breast sizes change, leading to asymmetry, you may need a different cup size or a more adaptive design that can help adjust for asymmetry like stretch lace,” Dr. Palep adds. In general, she recommends having regular bra fittings with an expert to address these changes. “So many women are fitted for a bra in their teens or 20s and still wear the same size as they age,” she points out. :Your body and breasts change as we age — and a proper bra fitting by a professional will ensure that any bras you wear will support your breasts at any life stage.”
And no matter how much your breasts change over time, due to age, health, surgeries, or what have you — know that they’ll always be beautiful and still uniquely yours.
Before you go, check out these practical products for breast cancer survivors:
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