Studies by Dr. Katie Elizabeth Weichman from New York University indicate that bra sizes might decrease after breast lifting surgery takes place. This is not to say that the breast sizes have changed at all, but that the lifted breasts are being fitted more appropriately to the correct size of bra. The study was a survey that took information from 20 women that underwent a procedure called mastopexy to lift up sagging breasts and give them a more youthful appearance. These women were an average age of 47 years.
Follow-ups were performed on the 20 women that had breast lift surgery. These patients did not have any other form of breast augmentation or reduction. The follow-ups on the patients took place five years after the mastopexy. The women were asked about the differences in their bra sizes compared to before the surgery. The average result was a decrease in bra sizes of approximately one cup size. They did not indicate any change in clothing manufacturers when this reduction was discussed, and they had no real significant weight loss.
There are several theories regarding the reasons behind the cup size. One school of thought is that since there was no reduction in the actual size of the breast through surgery, that the patients were not wearing the correct bra size in the first place. This was likely due to the discomfort of the loose skin and the sagging of the breast. The wrong size of bra initially could have been corrected once the breasts were lifted to their appropriate location. This could have dramatically changed the size of bra that the patient started wearing after the surgical procedure had taken place.
Many women might also have begun to wear the appropriate bra size simply due to comfort with their bodies. They might have found comfort in the new body look and feel and shopped for clothing, including a bra that fit well for them after the surgery. This could account for the decrease in bra size and the new fit even if there were no reduction in the actual size of the breasts. Patients expressed satisfaction with the results of their mastopexy and did not find the reduced cup size to be a problem or of concern. They found that the results were worth the effort.
The findings of this study are important to the way that patients are counseled before the surgical procedure. Surgeons will want to inform patients about to undergo mastopexy that there is a chance that they will have a reduced cup size. They should also know that the reason for the cup size is not a loss of breast tissue or fill, but a shifting of the location of the breasts. These things are important for the patient to understand before going through with the surgery and to make an informed decision about their choices. The surgeon will be able to discuss the changes that the patient could be facing in complete honesty.