Best bras for sagging breasts

Sagging breasts are a natural part of aging, but their appearance can impact women's confidence. If you'd like to minimize the appearance of sagging breasts, certain bra styles can help you achieve a perkier, more rounded look—while others won't provide many benefits. Read on to discover what causes breasts to sag and what the best bras for sagging breasts are.

Multiple different factors can contribute to sagging breasts. The majority of women's breasts will sag as they age because gravity pulls on them over time. As you age, the collagen in your skin and tissues breaks down and isn't replenished as easily, which can also contribute to sagging. Sagging is a completely normal part of aging, but many women do not like the appearance of sagging breasts and prefer to wear bras that minimize it, so we'll offer some recommendations in the next section.

You may have heard that not wearing a bra or wearing an ill-fitting bra will make the breasts sag. A bra with a band that is too loose can cause your breasts to look more saggy because the band drops further down on your chest because it is weighed down by the breast tissue. To minimize the appearance of sagging while wearing a bra, you need to choose a bra band size that is tight enough that the bra will stay up. Additionally, wearing a structured bra with wires, bands and wide loaders will give the bust the support it needs to reduce the sagging effect, especially for those who have heavier breasts.

You may also have heard that breastfeeding can cause your breasts to sag. This isn't completely true because this sagging can be caused by breast involution rather than breastfeeding itself. Breast involution occurs when you stop breastfeeding and the milk system in the breasts shrinks back to its original size. However, the surrounding tissues do not shrink alongside the milk system, which can result in sagging breasts. Having multiple pregnancies can exaggerate this effect because the milk ducts enlarge and then shrink in quick succession. Whether or not breast involution causes sagging is often due to genetics. Not every woman who becomes pregnant or breastfeeds will experience sagging breasts from it.

One thing that you can do to make your breasts less likely to sag is to stop smoking. Smoking contributes to faster aging by damaging elastin, which is a protein that keeps the skin supple. Smoking can lead to damage and sagging of various tissues, including the breasts. Other factors that may contribute to breast sagging are rapid weight loss or gain and going through menopause. Learn more about how to fix sagging breasts in our helpful blog post.

Looking for the best bras to minimize the appearance of sagging breasts? Here are seven styles you should definitely try:

Support Bras

One type of bra that you might see here a lot at Leonisa is a back support bra. These types of bras are designed to improve posture and help distribute the breast tissue in order to alleviate back pain. While they can and do provide support for your breasts, they are not specifically designed for sagging breasts. However, the support in the back will counterbalance the weight of the bust, making it feel lighter. If you have sagging breasts, you might find it beneficial to wear a support bra that provides support to the front or sides of your chests.

Padded Bras

Padded bras of all kinds are an excellent choice for sagging breasts. The thicker fabric and extra padding will help support the breasts and minimize the appearance of sagging, giving them a perkier and more rounded silhouette instead. If the cups of the bra are molded, then make sure that they are formed in the shape that will complement the natural shape of your breasts. If you try to squeeze your saggy breasts into a bra cup shape that doesn't match them, you can end up with unsightly bulges and other unflattering side effects. The thicker the padding, the more shaping effect the bra will have, so keep that in mind.

T-shirt Bras

T-shirt bras are an excellent choice for almost every size and shape of breast, and this is true for sagging breasts as well. T-shirt bras are designed to be comfortable for all-day wear and to be worn under a variety of clothes without showing through. For most women, T-shirt bras are the ones that they reach for on an everyday basis whenever they need a comfortable and dependable bra. You should definitely have a few T-shirt bras in your closet and go to neutral colors such as white, nude and black. Just like the classic T-shirt, the T-shirt bra is an essential part of your wardrobe, so shop our best T-shirt bras here.

Underwire Bras

Many women with sagging breasts enjoy wearing underwire bras because of the extra shaping and support that they provide. The curved underwire at the bottom of the cup anchors the shape, giving your breasts a more rounded shape and allowing the bra cups to exert more power. If you are looking for some extra lift, then an underwire bra with padded cups is the best way to achieve that. The underwire will ensure that the band lays flat against your sternum instead of being pushed out of position by your sagging breasts. If you sometimes find underwire uncomfortable, then make sure you are choosing a large enough cup size. If the cup size is too small, then the underwire can press into the sides of your breasts, which can cause discomfort. Make sure you determine your correct bra size before purchasing so all your bras will be comfortable and easy to wear.

Full Coverage Bras

If you have relatively full breasts that are just beginning to sag at the bottom, then you might enjoy wearing a full coverage bra. These bras have the widest cups to ensure comfortable coverage and fit. Many women with sagging breasts enjoy full coverage bras because of the larger more structured cups which give their breasts extra support. These bras are also ideal to wear in more formal situations such as at an office, where you want to keep your look professional and minimize bra lines underneath clothes. If you tend to spill out of other cup styles, then try a full coverage cup style to see how it fits. Additionally, the more coverage the sides and back of the bra have, the more support it will provide, helping to lift the bust.

Demi Bra or Balconette Bra

On the other hand, some women with sagging breasts have most of their tissue concentrated at the bottom of the breast. These women often enjoy wearing demi bras or balconette bras. Demi bras have a shallower cut than the full coverage bras—so the cup shape is the same, it's just smaller. Balconette bras are cut more straight across and the straps are more widely spaced. As a result, both of these bra styles have less coverage at the top of the cups and more at the bottom, which is the design often well-suited to sagging breasts. If your breasts are bottom-heavy, you may like wearing either or both of these bra styles.

Strapless Bras

The vast majority of the lift in your bra should come from your band. The straps are just there to keep the cups in place. This is great to keep in mind when you want toThat being said, you might want to reconsider wearing a strapless bra for sagging breasts because of all the pressure that tissue puts in the bra. You will likely find your strapless bra migrating downwards over the course of a day, which will not help minimize the appearance of sagging at all. Instead, opt for a bra with straps to reduce the appearance of sagging as much as possible. When you need to wear a strapless bra, because there's bound to be a dress or special occasion you'll need to wear one for, look for one that has non-slip elastic and a wider base, sides and back to ensure its secure on your body, preventing any slipping due to the weight of the bust.

You can wear whatever type of bra you want no matter what your breasts look like, but certain styles of bra aren't the most flattering on sagging breasts. Here are some styles to reconsider if you're looking to minimize the appearance of sagging breasts:

Unlined Bras

For many women with sagging breasts, unlined bras don't provide the level of support they are looking for. Unlined bras have very flexible cups, which gives breasts less lift and shape than a more padded cup. As a result, unlined cups don't do much to minimize sagging. Some women may still enjoy wearing an unlined bra for lounging at home or wearing underneath large sweaters, but they often prefer bras with padded cups for leaving the house or wearing more tightly fitted clothes.

Push-up Bras

Most women with sagging breasts also have large breasts and, as a result, they are less likely to be looking for the lift and volume added by a push-up bra. This isn't to say that you can't wear a push-up bra with sagging breasts, only that it might not quite give you the effect that you're looking for. Keep in mind that most push-up bras come in a plunge style, which don't always hold sagging breasts in place as well as a more full coverage cup style. If you still want to wear a push-up bra, look for one that doesn't have plunge cups.

Bralettes

Many bralettes don't include padded cups and underwire. Bralettes are generally wire-free and have unpadded cups made of thin material such as stretch lace. This makes them super comfortable to wear around the house, but they rarely offer enough support to help lift sagging breasts. Save bralettes for lazy days around the house and try a T-shirt bra for days when you want to go out.

Wireless Bras

For similar reasons to bralettes, wireless bras also rarely provide the support that sagging breasts need. Even if the cups are padded, the lack of underwire means the bra may struggle to hold breasts in a more rounded shape. This effect can actually be more pronounced with a thicker padded cup than with a thinner unlined one. Wireless bras can also be uncomfortable to wear because the band is more likely to shift around without underwire to hold it in place. Once again, wireless bras are a better choice for lounging around the house instead of going out.

If you still need help choosing the perfect bra for sagging breasts, feel free to schedule an appointment with our Personal Shoppers. They will be happy to help you figure out your options and choose the right bra for your needs. Remember that when you order from Leonisa, you'll get free shipping on all continental U.S. orders over $25, so treat yourself to a new bra today to hit that free shipping minimum.