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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To hate having stupidly small breasts?

197 replies

RubyTuesday10 · 29/05/2024 23:40

I know at my age (45) I probably should have stopped caring but I have been so unhappy with my body my whole life. My breasts never developed properly- I’m an a cup and almost completely flat, I’m not even a slim build. My whole life I have never felt sexy or like a proper woman. I detest my body so much I want to hide it under baggy clothes.

My husband doesn’t criticise me but over the years he’s bought men’s magazines, looked at women on the internet- all with massive breasts, because that’s what men like- no man desires a flat chested woman. He’s now become besotted with a busty country singer and I feel the old feelings of worthlessness again. Feel so disgusted with my stupid body I scratch it sometimes.

It seems so unfair that every other woman gets to look nice, have a cleavage, be desirable but I’ll never get to have that. Have always been too broke and too scared to undergo surgery but sometimes I wish I’d been able to. I cry about how I look and have done all my life. Am I the only person on earth who feels this way? Please don’t flame me for being ungrateful for a healthy body, I am not intentionally being ungrateful and really can’t help how I feel.

OP posts:
chillichoclove · 30/05/2024 10:12

Also completely flat chested but 🤷‍♀️. It's my body. It's healthy. It grew two children.

I think you need to re frame your thinking and tell your oh to keep his secret desires secret.

I agree with those who said he chose to marry you and I am sure he loves you as you are. You need to love you as you are. We are so much more than a cleavage. My best friend has relapsed breast cancer. You only get one life to enjoy.

RobertaFirmino · 30/05/2024 10:11

And just what would Dolly say if she knew some man was comparing her to his wife? She would not stand for it. Channel your own inner Dolly.

RubyTuesday10 · 30/05/2024 10:02

EBearhug · 30/05/2024 10:00

All that beautiful lingerie is also not usually available in anything as small as an A-cup, either. (For which my bank manager is probably grateful.)

Yes when I was younger I used to go to Ann Summers with a friend and they had nothing in my size. Everything was larger. Message was loud and clear - if you’re small don’t bother trying to be sexy!

OP posts:
Isometimeswonder · 30/05/2024 10:01

Holluschickie · 30/05/2024 09:23

I find it particularly awful on a women's site, but it seems to be the thing these days to aspire to look like women in porn or TV.

I was teased and shamed throughout school and uni for having tiny breasts, as DD is shamed now. But, you know, bollocks to those who reduce women to appendages.

Also, I think encouraging surgery as a solution to a person who is self-harming is actually scary.
I'm sorry you and daughter are bullied for something totally out of your control. People are cruel sometimes x

RubyTuesday10 · 30/05/2024 10:01

Hateliars34 · 30/05/2024 09:49

Plenty of men do prefer small boobs. It's about what size is in fashion and personal preference.

I used to have very tiny breasts (barely an a cup) and then went up to a D cup while breastfeeding. My boobs didn't shrink back and after breastfeeding I was left with what to me feels like big boobs that are super saggy :( I'd absolutely love to be flat chested instead.

But there's more important things. Rock your flat chested look - I'm sure you can look fabulous! Look at Keira Knightley.

Thanks but I ain’t no Keira Knightley!

OP posts:
EBearhug · 30/05/2024 10:00

ouch321 · 30/05/2024 09:55

What?! You're extremely lucky.

All the beautiful lingerie is never available in anything bigger than an E cup. Even as a size 10 I had FF boobs.

The loud and clear message is that only tiny women are deserving of pretty things.

All that beautiful lingerie is also not usually available in anything as small as an A-cup, either. (For which my bank manager is probably grateful.)

CHIRIBAYA · 30/05/2024 09:56

OP, where is your self-love? You will never believe that your husband loves you for you, unless you do yourself. Are you really saying that a man who chooses a woman because of the size of her chest is someone that you would want to be with? Someone that shallow? It is normal for men to look at other women, it's your interpretation of this and reading all sorts of self-critical statements into it that is the problem. Toxic shame finds lots of dark nooks and crannies where it breeds and festers; this really has nothing to do with your bust and everything to do with your relationship with yourself; invest in that and I guarantee this issue will lose its power over you. I hope one day you find some peace.

RubyTuesday10 · 30/05/2024 09:56

MsLuxLisbon · 30/05/2024 09:36

The OP has explained that she isn't slim. Small breasts are one thing on a slender frame, but on an average frame it's a different story, so the 'lovely clothes' won't necessarily look better on her than on a larger breasted woman.

Thank you I look awful in most clothes. Just wear loose fitting plain stuff to hide my body.

OP posts:
ouch321 · 30/05/2024 09:55

What?! You're extremely lucky.

All the beautiful lingerie is never available in anything bigger than an E cup. Even as a size 10 I had FF boobs.

The loud and clear message is that only tiny women are deserving of pretty things.

crackofdoom · 30/05/2024 09:54

As you get older small breasts come into their own I think. Larger ones start going down, and down...😬

RubyTuesday10 · 30/05/2024 09:54

Georgie743 · 30/05/2024 09:08

Two quick things:

  1. do adults seriously 'obsess' over celebrities?! That seems so odd to me.

  2. as a lesbian, just chipping in that tiny boobs are very sexy to lots of people. Hottest sex I had before meeting my wife was a with a woman many heads ago with tiny, almost flat, boobs. I remember thinking they were the single sexiest sight I'd ever seen. She wasn't super slim or athletic, and definitely an A cup at most. I found her boobs incredibly horny. 20 years later and the memory still gives me a flutter 😂

Yes they do unfortunately! I love your post though thank you! Never realised they could be that sexy to anyone!

OP posts:
PrincessHoneysuckle · 30/05/2024 09:52

johnson39 · 30/05/2024 05:56

I'm exactly the same never had any boobs at all, complete lack of confidence and will never be naked completely because I feel ashamed, I've now decided I'm going to speak to my gp, I'm happy with the rest of my body, am quite slim and very petite, but I do sometimes wonder if they just didn't really develop and I should have done something sooner , so I'm going to speak to my gp and see what they say, not saying I want surgery because I don't think I would but every summer it gets me down so finally I'm going to see what if anything I can do. I'll keep you posted after my appointment next week.

Gp won't be able to help at all.You need ro research a reputable breast surgeon then get a consultation.

TwattusTwattus · 30/05/2024 09:52

I was feeling insecure at one point. I have B cups now after breastfeeding, with stretch marks and loss of elasticity.

I searched on Reddit to see if anyone else felt them same. Half the results for saggy boobs and small boobs were NSFW results.

Now of course, you shouldn't base your self worth on explicit content. But the point is, there's a thing for everyone.

There is someone who would kill to be with a woman with your body. There are men who love A-cups and prefer them to larger boobs.

In relationships we're not all perfectly distributed. So, maybe you've been with men who prefer medium-larger boobs and were told that that is the only way by to be desirable. It's not true.

People have mentioned celebs already, and models.

RubyTuesday10 · 30/05/2024 09:51

Alittlefrustrated · 30/05/2024 09:00

I think the most important thing here is to address your self harming and mood OP. PLEASE speak to your GP,about this, rather than your bra size.

Thank you, I’ve always done it, just helps me release the self loathing. Never cause serious harm so never bothered seeking help.

OP posts:
FeckOffNowLads · 30/05/2024 09:51

Small boobs are super chic. I bet you look great in polo necks and all sorts of stuff that most women can’t wear.

I have small boobs and love them.

Hateliars34 · 30/05/2024 09:49

Plenty of men do prefer small boobs. It's about what size is in fashion and personal preference.

I used to have very tiny breasts (barely an a cup) and then went up to a D cup while breastfeeding. My boobs didn't shrink back and after breastfeeding I was left with what to me feels like big boobs that are super saggy :( I'd absolutely love to be flat chested instead.

But there's more important things. Rock your flat chested look - I'm sure you can look fabulous! Look at Keira Knightley.

PrincessHoneysuckle · 30/05/2024 09:49

If you get a breast augmentation do it for you noone else.
I had one and never looked back.

LessOfMe99 · 30/05/2024 09:48

I would swap my 32F middle aged saggy, droopy boobs with armpit boob overspill in a heartbeat with you op. I hate them. They mean that I often have to buy clothes bigger than I really need to accommodate them. I have to buy expensive bras to fit them and still be comfortable. The grass is not always greener.

RubyTuesday10 · 30/05/2024 09:47

Bobbotgegrinch · 30/05/2024 08:34

Hey, I'm male and not sure if I'll be welcome here so feel free to tell me to bugger off.

Most men like all boobs. It's not the size and shape that's most important, it's the fact that you're letting us see something hidden, letting us touch a part of you that noone else is allowed to. It's the fact that they're an erogenous zone, that you sigh and squirm when we touch them.

Yes there are men out there with preferences on size, but most men don't care. And your husband obviously doesn't. He could presumably tell that you had small breasts when he met you, and he was attracted to you then, why do you think that's changed?

Male perspectives are very useful and thank you for taking the time to post some reassurance. I was teased a lot by boys at school over it, as soon as they realised I wasn’t developing normally they had to point it out every day. Yes husband went for me despite them but the fact he had to continually look at images of women the opposite of me destroyed my self esteem. He hasn’t done it (openly at least) for a few years but now he’s so into this singer, the insecurities have intensified. I appreciate all the women who say big breasts can be problematic too, I can imagine it is very true but all I’ve ever wanted really is have a ‘normal’ size, to feel like a proper woman and just to feel sexy just once.

OP posts:
forgivingfiggy · 30/05/2024 09:43

As people have said, sometimes self-acceptance is so out of reach that fixing 'the thing' is easier. I could list all the merits of small boobs, analyse whether large breasts are more attractive, and why we are obsessed with being viewed as sexually attractive, but if you are at the point of scratching your body I think proper therapy is probably needed. Your husband isn't helping this - does he know how sensitive you are about your breast size?

SpringboksSocks · 30/05/2024 09:41

I feel exactly the same way as you OP.

Babbahabba · 30/05/2024 09:40

Unless they've had implants, by your mid 40s (especially after kids) most women's big boobs don't look like the ones in porn/the media. I'm a 34E- sounds great? But they're riddled with stretch marks, very droopy, my nipples hang to my stomach and they're a weird shape- I have underarm boob fat but the top of the them are all thin and crepey 😂

LucindaLucinda · 30/05/2024 09:37

I'm so sorry to read that you have been so low about this. I'm usually a proponent of self-acceptance but in your case (with the depth of distress this is causing), I wonder if surgery might be the best option. Only you will know. I would suggest going to an empathetic GP and explaining what you've said here. It may be possible to get a referral for surgery. Alternatively, why not have a consultation with a surgeon and just get information. Many private hospitals offer payment plans so that may be doable IF you decide the benefit outweighs the risk. You deserve to feel beautiful and sexy (not that I'm saying big boobs are in any way required for this).

I was self-conscious about my small boobs for years but ageing and a bit of weight gain has made them grow and I do love them now. However, despite my efforts at body-acceptance, I find myself considering labiaplasty! I don't know if I'll do it yet but I'm dating and I know the asymmetry I have there makes me self-conscious. Life is short and I sort of feel like if there's something I can do to make me feel confident enough to live more fully, I should go for it. It's a complex thing and very much depends on the individual. Good luck x

MsLuxLisbon · 30/05/2024 09:36

newfriend05 · 30/05/2024 00:59

This ... my boobs have got bigger ( always been big for my frame ) as I've got older .. they make me look so much bigger than I am ... enjoy you small boobs and all the lovely clothes you can wear that I can only dream about

The OP has explained that she isn't slim. Small breasts are one thing on a slender frame, but on an average frame it's a different story, so the 'lovely clothes' won't necessarily look better on her than on a larger breasted woman.

feelingalittlehorse · 30/05/2024 09:33

Tbf, you do have one massive tit. Your bloody husband.

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