Dr. Kate is an OB/GYN at one of the largest teaching hospitals in New York City and she answers your medical questions here once a week. To ask her your own question, click here.
Dr. Kate,
I am almost to the point of desperation with the small size of my breasts. For years I have been contemplating a breast augmentation, but I am scared of the pain/recovery time. However, I have found plastic surgeons that would definitely handle my case with care. I’ve found surgeries like https://www.drracanelli.com/breast-augmentation-in-nj, and the more I research the procedure, the more I want to get it done! Other than surgery, is there anything, ANYTHING AT ALL, such as herbal pills/supplements, estrogen pills/injections, whatever, proven to work and maintain, and/or to “restart” breast growth? I am on the Yasmin birth control pill, and one of the side effects of Yasmin is possible breast enlargement…didn’t work on me! Please don’t tell me to be happy with what I have; no offense but you don’t know how I look braless or without padded, underwire bras! I am very self-conscious in intimate situations. To look semi-proportionate in t-shirts I HAVE TO wear thickly padded underwire bras while out in public/away from home. I don’t wear tank tops, low-cut tops, bathing suits, or any top which focuses on the chest; I don’t naturally fill them out. I am: female, 33 yrs., large body frame and heavyset, 5′ 7″…with small B-cup breasts that make me feel deformed and disproportionate; I look like I have man-boobs!
— Boobless
Dear Boobless,
The simplest answer to your question is no. Many pills, creams, etc., claim to enlarge your breasts, without any evidence that they do. And any medication that actually works to make your breasts grow — generally herbs and hormones — put you at an increased risk of breast cancer. Birth control pills do (safely) cause breast enlargement for some women — and if one brand of pills doesn’t work, another might — but it’s impossible to predict.
Mechanical means (suction systems, etc.) don’t seem to last long-term, and are arduous at best. The Bravia system makes you wear a suction-cup-like bra for 10 hours a day for 10 weeks. I believe it to be safe, but who can really do that? Plus, once you stop the suction, your breasts will go back to their normal size.
It’s hard for me to not talk about breast acceptance — how any partner who sees you naked is simply happy to be there…how you always look thinner with smaller breasts…how there’s less to sag as you get older. And B-cups are not that small — check out the photos in this month’s Glamour magazine: It’s got a feature all about breasts, including celebrities looking fabulous at every cup size. (The web version of the article is text-only; you’ll have to stop by your nearest newsstand to see the pics.)
So what can you do? Try a different combination of birth control pills, buff up your pectoral muscles to maximize what you’ve got, and only consider surgery as the final alternative if you feel you don’t want to live any other way. Lots of people are now choosing to get cosmetic surgery (check out these victorian cosmetic institute statistics), so this might be a good option for you too. Especially if you’re really unhappy with your appearance. As long as you visit a reputable surgeon, breast augmentation surgery can be 100% safe, just make sure you do some research before booking an appointment. If you do opt for surgery then it has to be your choice fully, it is your body and how you perceive it, there is no shame in having surgery or not having surgery, you must do what is right for you. You could have a consultation with firms like Luxurgery NYC if you are looking in that region, or check out local doctors to have an in-depth talk about how you are feeling. Have a think and do what is best for your wellbeing. If you’re sure that you do want a breast augmentation, you’ll need to find an experienced surgeon who can perform this surgery for you. Perhaps it might be worth getting in contact with a surgeon like Dr. Paul Fortes (https://fortesmd.com/services/breast-enhancement/breast-augmentation) if you’re from the Houston area. If you’re not, there should a number of other surgeons available in your local area, just make sure they’re reputable and have experience with this surgery. This should give you some peace of mind before the surgery.
Have any of you tried things to increase the size of your breasts?
–Dr. Kate
Gyotalk
Dr. Kate is an OB/GYN at one of the largest teaching hospitals in New York City. She also lectures nationally on women’s health issues and conducts research on reproductive health. Check out more of her advice and ask her a question at Gynotalk.com.
I have always preferred smaller breasts. Big ones have a tendency to sag (especially as you get older) and that is not very attractive. I’ll take little perky “A’s” over big hanging “D’s” anytime. And if it were suddenly decided that I had to live out the rest of my life as a girl instead of a guy, I would be happy to have a “nipples only” chest. Bras seem like they are uncomfortable anyway.
Ladies….just be happy with what you have…from experience with my ladies friends, that those with small breasts are more sensitive when they are played with or sucked then those with large breasts..not always the case but more than none. Personally even guys that love larger breasts will tell you anything that you cant get into your mouth is wasted.
Why would anyone want bigger boobs? If you were in my position than you would be very happy with what you got and stop complaining. I’ve always had a large chest, and after having my 1st kid they got ridiculously big. I had a reduction and thanked the Lord for the surgery. After gaining weight and having another kid this year, they are bigger than before. I will be having another surgery next year because they are painful and the repercussions are detrimental to your health. Back pain, shoulder pain, sweatiness…etc. It’s not cute wearing comfort straps with a tank top. Be happy with what you have. I can’t wait to be a size B instead of a 40DDD.
While I hated growing up with small breasts (I couldn’t even fill an A cup until I was nursing triplets, and they’ve gone almost back down to that now), I learned to love them. I can wear almost any clothes and look like a model, I never have to wear a bra, and now that I’m in my mid-40s, I certainly don’t have to worry about sagging. While my friends are all worried because their breasts are now starting to head south in a big way, I’m still as perky as a 13 year old. There are advantages 🙂
As a young woman with < A sized breasts AND a below average looking butt, I know exactly what you are talking about.
However, I have found that as long as I don’t mention it guys will not either.
After all, I have been with guys who have less than average penis sizes as well and I was not at all concerned with that. Why should they be concerned with my below average body parts?
Well you can always gain weight. That’s when my boobs got bigger.
That’s sad! I don’t even have a b cup and love my boobs – small and perky! Embrace it, you can wear shirts without a bra! And remember, if you get surgery, you might hate them more than your old ones. Just look at all the bad hack jobs out there.
I was on Yasmin for a while and switched to another brand. Why? Yasmin made my boobs bigger, at least 1/2 a cup size, but they HURT when they were bigger. They were sore and painful to workout and sometimes even to walk in. I’d rather have comfortable, smaller boobs than my painfully, hormonally swollen ones.
As a guy who loves small breasts this letter made me quite sad. I hope ‘Boobless’ gets what she needs after all is said and done, but I also hope that turns out to be nothing at all.
I was on the birth control seasonale (sp?) and it made my boobs a lot bigger. I was naturally almost a b and after being on the pill for about six months I was almost a c. It made me gain weight all over though. I’ve always struggled with being underweight so I didn’t mind but other women might. Also, only get your period every three months!
Good luck girl and try to love those ta-tas just as they are!
Huge boobs aren’t everything. Some guys (and chicks) are in to small boobs, some are into big boobs. Some are into athletic women, some are into overweight women. Some are into short women, tall women, pretty women, ugly women, young women, old women. Some are into dudes.
I find chicks with large boobs to be awkward looking, and would just get confused as to what to do with them during sex. I dont like big boobs at all. And plenty of people don’t. Just dont worry what the current stereotype is.
Easy — get pregnant, have a baby and then breastfeed for as long as possible. Most women I talk to say their breasts stay at least a cup size bigger even after their baby is weaned. Sometimes 2, 3 or 4 cups while you’re breast feeding.
Develop your upper body strength; also. a smaller waist line can also help your breasts appear larger. If, after trying those methods you’re still unsatisfied with your appearance, bite the bullet and get implants.
Positive self-image begins with a positive attitude about yourself. I too have small breasts (medium A-cup, 5′ 8″) and I’ve seen other females fret and frown over their physical appearance (“My boobs are too big”; I hate the way my ass looks).
People waste their lives comparing themselves to Western society’s standard of perfection. Life is way too short to achieve that goal; few seldom do anyway.
Only go out with men who have small hands!
Seriously, I think B is a great size and any man who bases his opinion of you on your breast size is an idiot and you don’t want to be around him anyway.
One of my long ago lady friends was a small A and I still think she was one of the best girlfriends I ever had. Too bad I was not ready to be serious at that time, I probably missed out on a great lady.
Another of my long ago lady friends had C’s or D’s courtesy of cosmetic surgery. If you want to know what that feels like to a man put a couple of oranges in your bra and see how they feel. I never felt like I could really hug her since her boobs kept me at a distance. Nice lady but turn-off boobs.
Be proud of your B size. 30 years from now you will be grateful you didn’t have large breasts.
I know how just how you feel. I just wear padded bras and try to focus on my awesome bum.
In an intimate situation, have you tried quarter or demi bras? Not perfect, but better than nothing.