According to recent research, over 80% of women are wearing the wrong bra size. Women undergo several changes from puberty into various stages of adulthood and throughout those phases the breasts change. Weight gain, pregnancy and natural aging transform not only the breast size, but the shape of the breast. That is why it is important to reevaluate your breasts periodically to ensure that you are wearing your bra correctly and that it is the proper size.
Breast Implant Sizes by Dr. L. Scott Ennis
Signs That Your Bra Doesn’t Fit your Breast Size
While breast and bra size are not the same thing, learning more about your bra size will help you have a much better understanding of the true size of your <a href="/procedures/breast/">breast</a>. There are signs that you should look for when considering whether or not your bra actually fits you correctly.
Consider the following:
- Do your breasts spill out the sides of your bra?
- Are your breasts pushed together even when you aren’t wearing a push-up bra?
- Do the bra straps leave marks on your skin?
- Is there a gap between the top of the bra and the breast?
- Do you have to adjust your bra regularly?
- Do you feel comfortable?
If you determine that the answer is “yes” to one or more of the questions above, then most likely your bra does not fit you. Remember, your breasts change over time and women generally change sizes at least six times in their life. If you are still wearing the same bra you wore in high school, then chances are you have spent a considerable amount of time wearing a bra that simply does not suit your body any longer.
Measuring Your Breasts
If you are like most women and have discovered that you are wearing your bra incorrectly, know that you have options. You can determine the accurate size of your breast. Here’s how you do it:
- Step 1: Wear a comfortable bra.
Yes, you should begin by wearing a bra that fully covers the breast. Even if it’s the wrong size, you will soon learn that by measurements that you take. However, do your best to choose a bra that you believe fits you well. - Step 2: Measure your band size
Start by placing the measuring tape directly under the bust just above the ribcage. Because bra bands come in even sizes, you should round up to the next even number on the measuring tape. Do not round down. - Step 3: Determine the cup size
To determine your bra measurement, keep in mind your band size. Next, measure around your bust. Take that number and subtract it from your band size. The number of inches that remain correlate with the traditional cup size.
See the table below:
Bust Difference
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Cup Size
AA
A
B
C
D
DD
F or DDD
G or DDDD
H
I
J
(Ex. 37 cup size-34 band size=3. This means that you are a 34C in cup size.)
Make Sure Your Bra Fits your Breast Size
Once you determine your breast size, make sure that the bra is adjusted and fitting properly. You should be sure to do the following:
- Make sure the back and the front of the bra are level
- Tighten the bra so that only a single finger can fit between the band and your skin
- Tighten the band and then adjust the straps
- The bra should contour to the breast. If it puckers out too far creating a gap, then the bra is too big
- Remember to adjust the bra as needed over time
Contact Ennis Plastic Surgery
Based on what you learn about your breast size, you may be influenced about the decisions you make regarding breast augmentation, breast reduction or breast lift. If you would like to learn more about the services offered at Ennis Plastic Surgery, reach out to us today for a consultation.
Our board-certified surgeons are eager to meet with you and discuss the best solution for your lifestyle and preferences. Dr. L. Scott Ennis has a reputation of providing each client with thorough guidance and exceptional results. Contact them today to learn more about the best solutions for you.