During a recent appearance on Red Table Talk, Salma Hayek reluctantly addressed reports that she had undergone a breast augmentation.
The 54-year-old actress explained: “There are some women that when you gain weight, your boobs grow, and other women that when you have children and you breastfeed your boobs grow and they don’t go back down, and then in some of the cases when you are in menopause, they grow again”.
“I just happen to be one of those women that it happened in every single step! When I gain weight, when I got pregnant and when I am in menopause.”
The frank conversation seemed to touch a nerve with a lot of women. One tweeted: “I don’t know her personal situation but we should talk more about how boobs shift and grow and change not only with weight fluctuations or kids but also just at different eras in your life! I feel like people don’t discuss that much”.
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It led to dozens of replies with people talking about their breast growth spurts later in life.
One Twitter user wrote: “I would say 27 was when mine decided it was time to go full diesel.”
“Yes! My bazoombas grew another size in my 30s”, declared someone else.
Another woman shared: “I think my left one has been growing whilst her sister is staying put doing nothing - both tiny though”.
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There were also others who recalled their personal experiences in more detail. One tweeter said: “Mine went from a C-cup to an A-cup almost overnight when I was maybe 27.
“Never went back even when I got fat and/or pregnant later on. No clue what that was all about but good job, DNA. Saved me from a lifetime of back problems, probably.”
Someone else also noted their breasts’ relationship with weight fluctuations: “I was a late bloomer, didn’t even have my period till I was 15. By high school graduation I was a D.
“When I started Zoloft and got sober at 21 I went to a triple D. Lose weight, gain weight, regardless of my body those things keep growing. 1st kid E, 2nd F, 3rd G.”
But why is this? Why can our breasts continue having growth spurts years after puberty – is this a second puberty?
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Pundrique Sharma, Consultant Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeon at The Harley Medical Group, addressed the idea of a second puberty with Tyla: “There’s no real medical evidence that there is such a thing as a second puberty, however some women don’t finish puberty, which includes breast development until their mid-20s, so breast growth can still take place during your early twenties.”
Mr Sharma attributes breast growth to hormones: “Breast growth is mainly down to hormones (oestrogen production) and fat levels as well as genetics.
“Oral contraception and pregnancy also effects hormones, including the level of oestrogen in the body and therefore increase breast size.”
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He also pointed out how other physical features can impact appearance: “Other factors such as the skin around the breast can have a big impact on the way breasts look, as we get older our skin loses elasticity, which can change the appearance of breasts, with women in their 20s to 30s.”
However, it can be difficult to tell when changes in breast appearance and size point to something more sinister.
Addie Mitchell, Clinical Nurse Specialist at Breast Cancer Now, told Tyla: “It’s important to get used to looking at and feeling your breasts regularly to understand what’s normal for you and help you to spot any new or unusual changes.
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“Checking your breasts only takes a few minutes, so start making it part of your routine – perhaps when you’re showering, putting on moisturiser or getting dressed. Just remember to check all parts of your breasts, your armpits and up to your collarbone for changes. There's no special technique, it’s as simple as TLC; Touch, Look, Check.”
“If you do notice any new or unusual changes, it’s important to get these checked by your GP. While most breast changes won’t be cancer, the sooner breast cancer is diagnosed, the more successful treatment is likely to be.”
Anyone who would like to know more can speak to an expert nurse at Breast Cancer Now by calling their free Helpline on 0808 800 6000 or visit https://breastcancernow.org/tlc.
Featured Image Credit: Unsplash