I Hate My Breasts: What Can Be Done?

Most women have breasts of some description, but the difference in shape, size, and position can vary hugely. No two breasts are perfectly identical, and it is this fact that can leave women feeling unhappy and self-conscious when their breasts look different from what is considered ‘normal’.

Research has found that as many as 71% of women are dissatisfied with the size of their breasts and while some develop these issues over the years, many women suffer from confidence issues regarding their breasts for their whole life.

We have put together the following article to explore some of the most common reasons that women may have negative feelings towards their breasts and what can be done to resolve each of these issues. If you take anything away from reading this article, it would be that you are not alone in having these feelings – in fact, most women have a love/hate relationship with their breasts.

Common Reasons Women Hate Their Breasts

We have collected some of the most common issues women have with their breasts below. The list is by no means exhaustive and the reasons women hate their breasts are personal to them.

1. Size

In recent years, the average bra size in the UK has risen from 34B to 36DD, but there are hundreds of sizing combinations available. In most high street shops, back sizing ranges from 28 to 54 and cup sizes from AA to K. People have different ideas and are often influenced by what you see around you and what is shown in the press, meaning the majority of women are not satisfied and are left thinking their breasts are too small or too big.

2. Shape

Breasts come in a huge range of different shapes and every woman has a unique pair. Even though your breasts will typically fall into one of the 12 main types, you will have slight differences that set you apart from other women in that category.

Archetypal breasts are considered the ‘normal’ shape and it is thought that bra and clothing manufacturers create their garments with this shape in mind use these women to model their designs. A number of factors influence the shape of your breasts including genes, weight, age, pregnancy, and chest muscle.

Naturally, some women feel that they have drawn the short straw and been left with one of the less desirable breast shapes. Despite this, it is important to take the time to identify the natural shape of your breasts, learn more about your body, and how to cater for your boobs.

3. Natural Aging

Whether you like it or not, the breasts will naturally sag with age. This is because your breasts are exposed to gravity for long periods of time – a powerful force which gives weight to everything and keeps us on the surface of the Earth. While this happens to every woman at some stage in life, the extent of this changes from person to person and can be very extreme for some women.

4. Weight Loss

Significant fluctuations in weight can massively affect the elasticity of the skin, including the skin on the breasts. If you gain and then lose large amounts of weight, you can be left behind with excess skin that has been stretched past the point of return.

While slimming down and adopting a healthier lifestyle can come with numerous benefits and do wonders for your self-confidence, many women also face the unwanted side effect of sagged breasts.

5. Over Sexualised

Many women with larger breasts are body shamed for wearing certain types of tops but if the same top were worn by a woman with a smaller bust, she would not experience the same type of comments.

Women are not able to control the size of their natural breasts so to assume that those with a larger chest are being sexual is ridiculous and just unfair. For women with smaller breasts, it can work the opposite way and they can be viewed as less feminine which is simply not the case.

6. Bra Shopping

Bras are a vital part of the wardrobe and are worn by millions every single day. Bra shopping can be difficult at the best of times but for those with uncommon sizing requirements, it is a dreaded task. Often those with both smaller and larger than average breasts struggle to find suitable underwear in standard shops which can be frustrating and to top it all off, bras come with a hefty price tag!

7. Uneven

No one has a perfectly symmetrical pair but the differences between breasts are usually so slight that it is unnoticeable. In some cases, however, variation between the boobs can be more extreme and visible to the naked eye.

8. Nipples & Areolae

It is not just the size and shape of the breast itself which differs, but the areolae and nipples too. The areola is the darker skin surrounding the nipple and while the average diameter is around 4cm, no two pairs are exactly the same. The shape of your areolae is commonly uneven and is rarely perfectly circular.

The colour differs too, from pink and red to brown and black, although the typical trend is that women with darker skin tend to have darker areolae. As well as this, the nipple itself is also unique and the type, colour, size, shape, position, and direction varies.

Despite it being normal to have differences, a large proportion of women are unhappy with the shape, size, or colour of their nipples and areolae which can lead to self-esteem issues.

9. Breast Cancer

While men can get breast cancer too, it is far more frequent in women and the aftereffects can be life-changing. As women we recognise that the physical health benefits of a mastectomy far outweigh anything else but following this traumatic surgery, women can be left feeling low, unattractive, and like their femininity has been stolen.

What Can I Do?

• Choose flattering clothing: If you are particularly self-conscious about a certain aspect of your breasts then try to opt for clothing which doesn’t highlight this. For example, if you are worried that your boobs are an unusual shape then opt for looser fitting tops as opposed to figure-hugging one.

• Select the right bra: It is a well-known fact that women are guilty of not being measured correctly and wearing ill-fitting bras – as many as up to 80%! In order to give your breasts the correct support and coverage, you should aim to get measured every 6 months.

For those with asymmetrical boobs, it is much easier to fit the larger breast first and fill out the other cup. Padded, moulded, and push-up bras can also help to correct any shape or sagginess you are unhappy with by creating a fuller, rounder look.

• Ignore comments from others: As hard as it might be, one of the best ways to increase your happiness is to ignore what others say and learn to embrace the body you have. If you are feeling down about your breasts, try not to compare yourself to celebrities and people on social media who have professionals working behind the scenes to get the perfect snap.

• Breast surgery: Lots of women turn to cosmetic surgery for more of a permanent solution to their personal breast issues. Breast surgery can be used to correct a whole range of issues that you are unhappy with and significantly improve your self-esteem and quality of life.

Common procedures include breast implants to increase the size of your bust or to correct asymmetry, breast lifts to create a perkier appearance, breast reductions, areola reductions, and breast reconstructions following a mastectomy.

While surgery is a great option for those seeking a long-term answer, it is important to do your research prior to undergoing any treatment and make sure your surgeon has the appropriate levels of training, skill, and experience to complete the surgery you have in mind.

Although many women hate their breasts, this does not mean you should feel low or unhappy with your appearance. Beauty is subjective so your appearance may be appreciated by others. Please use this article as advice before making any drastic decisions. If you do decide on a cosmetic option, be sure to use a professional provider that you can trust!