There’s nothing you can do to speed up or slow down breast development.
Creams and pills
Adverts for creams and pills often claim they can make breasts bigger or smaller. These creams and pills don’t usually make any difference to breast size. Even if there’s a slight change in size, it’s unlikely to last.
Massage
Massaging your breasts won’t affect their size. Massaging too hard might even hurt your breasts or irritate the skin and nipples.
Exercise
Breasts are mainly made up of fatty tissue rather than muscle, so exercise won’t affect breast development.
However, exercise in general will help keep the pectoral muscles behind your breast in shape, as well as help tone the body.
It’s important to wear a sports bra that fits you well and supports your breasts during exercise.
Gaining or losing weight
Losing or gaining weight may affect breast size, but it doesn’t always.
Sometimes girls put on weight during puberty. This is normal and it’s essential to have some body fat. Because breasts contain fatty tissue, gaining weight may increase the size of your breasts and losing weight may make your breasts a bit smaller.
Sleeping on your front
Sleeping on your front won’t affect how your breasts develop or make them smaller. You might find it more comfortable to sleep on your back or side if your breasts are feeling sore.
Wearing a bra to sleep in
Whether you sleep with or without a bra is a personal choice, but neither will affect breast development. If you do sleep in a bra, make sure it’s comfortable and not too tight.
Surgery
Cosmetic breast surgery is the only way to alter breast size. This is through either a breast enlargement with implants or breast reduction.
Breast enlargement or reduction surgery is available to people over the age of 18. It may not be funded by the NHS.
Surgery has potential risks and side effects, such as:
- Scar tissue
- Infection
- Reduced sensitivity
- Not being able to breastfeed
