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What are the different breast shapes?

When it comes to breasts they come in a whole range of shapes and sizes. The truth is that every women’s breasts are as unique as they are and there is perhaps no way of answering what a normal breast shape is.

Tagged: Body & Breast

What are the different breast shapes?

When it comes to breasts they come in a whole range of shapes and sizes. The truth is that every women’s breasts are as unique as they are and there is perhaps no way of answering what a normal breast shape is. 

Different breast shapes mean that women do at times pose that exact question though: they want to know if how their breasts appear is normal or if there is any cause for concern. This is often not helped by how women’s bodies are portrayed in the media where it appears that there is only one breast shape.

Although every women’s breasts are unique to her, there are breast shape types that they often fall into. This doesn’t do away with the uniqueness but it is a way that makes it easier to describe breasts and this can be important when it comes to ever considering any form of breast surgery. Being able to identify a breast shape type can aid a surgeon when it comes to planning any procedure. As well as this, knowing your breast shape type can actually help you make more of an informed choice when it comes to buying bras. In this article, we are going to have a look at the different breast shapes and consider why they can vary so much. 

What are the different breast shapes?

As we have seen already, although breasts may all be unique there are breast shape types that help us to describe them. These shape types include:

An archetype breast is round and full. It also has a small point at the nipple. This is often described as a standard breast shape and one that bras are usually designed for.

In this case, the breasts are of different sizes. It is common for the size to vary by up to a cup size. The majority of women have a degree of variation in the size of their breast.

This is the term used to describe breasts that appear wider with more muscle and less breast tissue.

Bell-shaped breasts, perhaps unsurprisingly, have the appearance of a bell. They are rounder at the bottom and narrower at the top.

This describes breasts that are either not separated or only have a small gap between them. They are closer to the centre of your chest.

The conical breast shape is where the breasts are shaped more like cones and are not round.

This term is used to describe breasts that have nipples that point outwards.

There are also other breast shape types such as relaxed, round, side set, slender, and teardrop.

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Why do breast shape types differ?

The biggest factor that determines your breast shape is genetics. Your genes play an important role in their size, shape, and pretty much everything else. Aside from this though, there are also factors that cause changes so you may end up with a different breast shape:

Fat plays an important role when it comes to breast tissue and shape. You may notice that the size and shape of your breasts will vary when you gain or lose weight.

It has been said that exercise can lead to a different breast shape. Building the muscle behind the breast tissue can result in firmer breasts.

It is very common for ageing to lead to breasts sagging and pointing downwards.

The hormones released during pregnancy and breastfeeding can lead to breasts swelling. This can then alter how fat and breast tissue are distributed and lead to a change in their shape. 

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Is there a normal breast shape type?

Given that breasts are as unique as we all are, it may be difficult to imagine that there is one breast shape that is classed as normal. In truth though, given that there are so many different breast shapes, there is no such thing as normal. We have already considered the archetype breast and this is the one that manufacturers usually base their bra designs on. How this decision was made is perhaps a little confusing when you consider that over half of women have asymmetrical breasts. That does little to support the idea that the archetype breast is anywhere close to being normal.

The conical breast shape is hardly rare either. This tends to be more common in women who have smaller breasts, but this is hardly a rarity in itself. The fact that your breast shape can actually change suggests that there is no normal. All that really exists when it comes to normal, is what each individual actually wants from their breasts. Some women are able to embrace the size and shape of their breasts whereas for others it can be a source of significant unhappiness.

How can breast surgery restore a more balanced breast shape?

For women who are unhappy with the shape of their breasts, a consultation with a specialist can explore the surgical options that available to alter these. Knowing that asymmetrical breasts affect over half of the population, for some women breast augmentation may be a solution. Where breasts only vary slightly in size then there is unlikely to be a need, or even a desire, for surgery. However, for some women, the variation can be as much as a cup size. Not only does this make finding suitable bras difficult, but it can also make women feel extremely self-conscious. The use of implants can help to balance the breasts so that they are equal in size.

Women who have breasts that are sagging and pointing downwards may also opt for surgery to try and correct this. In these cases, a breast lift, or mastopexy, may be a suitable solution. This procedure, as the name suggests, lifts the breasts and can give them a more youthful shape and appearance. Breast surgery can assist in a number of ways where women are unhappy with the size or shape of their breasts. The best way to find out exactly how any surgery could assist you to achieve the look that you desire is by arranging a consultation with one of our experts. 


Treatments mentioned in this article

Female breast size is determined by several factors, including genetics, body weight and hormonal influences.

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Breast enlargement surgery, or breast implants or augmentation, is one of our most regularly performed procedures at the Cadogan Clinic and our surgeons are leading experts in this field.

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