Study Debunks Breast Myth: Sagging not linked to nursing

Kentucky.com

November 04, 2007

Pediatricians preach that 'breast is best' for babies' health.

Now a University of Kentucky plastic surgeon has research suggesting that, despite widely held opinions to the contrary, breast-feeding isn't bad for a mom's figure.

Dr. Brian Rinker's study showing that breast-feeding doesn't increase breast sag was presented last week at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons' annual meeting in Baltimore. Although his previous research had been noticed only by plastic surgeons, this study has drawn international media attention.

It has been noted on Web sites and blogs connected with The Wall Street Journal, the Chicago Tribune and CBS News. It also has appeared on an Indian Web site, and Rinker said he's seen a Spanish-language version.

'I do a lot of research and this is the first study that has been picked up by the lay press,' said Rinker, 37.

His study is based on interviews with 132 women who had come to UK HealthCare Cosmetic Surgery Associates. They were interviewed by female medical students who are Rinker's colleagues.

The study also looked at whether the women had been pregnant, their medical history, body mass index, pre-pregnancy bra cup size and whether they smoked.

Rinker said he had heard a number of times from women who wanted a breast lift or augmentation 'to fix what breast-feeding did to my breasts.' He said he had expected the study to find a correlation between the two.

But no. Ninety-three percent of the women in the study had been pregnant at least once, and 58 percent had breast-fed at least one child. But the study showed no correlation between the degree of sagging between women who had breast-fed and those who had not.

Instead, it found links between sagging and age, the number of pregnancies and cigarette smoking. The latter is not surprising, Rinker said, because it was already known that smoking breaks down a protein that gives skin its youthful, elastic appearance.

Although pediatrics isn't his field, Rinker said he is pleased with the prospect that his work could lead to more breast-fed babies.

'I've seen comments from women who were on the fence ... and this has given them extra courage to do it,' he said.

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