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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to feel low about ageing changes and ask how others cope

101 replies

Glitterballofdreams · 01/05/2026 14:58

I’m 41, and my (large) breasts are noticeably sagging, and it’s getting me down. I have invested in a sleep bra to make things more comfortable at night.
Also noticing more and more fine lines and wrinkles on my face.

I know these aren’t serious concerns, and are 1st world problems in the grand scale of things. But I wondered if anyone else struggles with ageing and if so how they manage it? Any recommendations are highly appreciated! Would love breast surgery but can’t justify it really.

OP posts:
Forthesteps · 01/05/2026 15:58

To coin a well used phrase, consider the alternative.

You 40somethings are bright young things to us oldies.

CurdinHenry · 01/05/2026 15:59

Forthesteps · 01/05/2026 15:58

To coin a well used phrase, consider the alternative.

You 40somethings are bright young things to us oldies.

I don't really mind the idea of dying before I'm super old tbh so that's never been a helpful phrase. But for now I agree one must seize the day.

TheLargeOnes · 01/05/2026 16:01

Yeah fair enough @Glitterballofdreams I'm a 38K so I understand.

CaragianettE · 01/05/2026 16:02

Glitterballofdreams · 01/05/2026 15:27

With my breasts it’s not to look young it’s more the fact that they are so uncomfortable. Because they’re large, they’re just in the way and I find myself tucking my tshirt under them or constantly wearing a bra. Even more uncomfortable in summer.

Invest in some good bras, Rigby and Peller if you’ve got the budget, their PrimaDonna Deauville is good, or whatever works best for your body. Bravissimo do good sports bras and sleep bras for bigger boobs. Both of those places will also properly measure you and make sure you’re wearing the right size - a lot of women wear a bigger back size and a smaller cup size than they need, so you might be feeling more saggy than you need to and will feel more uplifted with a properly fitting back band and big enough cups. It can make a real difference!

I have two everyday bras and alternate them daily so they don’t get stretched out too fast, and I buy new ones every six months. It’s an expense that smaller-boobed women don’t have, but if you’re busty you’ve just got to invest in the hardware. You deserve to feel good in your body.

HereAndNo · 01/05/2026 16:07

I am 55. HH boobs in a decent bra. Yes I am ageing. My face isn’t what it once was. I do not want botox etc and never will. I actually like my wrinkles. Genuinely.

I love fashion and continue to look good via clothes and enjoy trying new styles.

I get my hair done every eight weeks.

I try and eat well. I stay slim. I do weight-bearing exercises. HRT did nothing for me so I stopped it. I try and appreciate what I have in life. Two young adult kids slowly launching and a great husband.

Most of all I am investing in stuff I enjoy. Going to the theatre every month. And seeing friends. My kids have their own lives. I spend more time than I ever have cultivating friendships, showing interest in others and not letting people down. Unlike the MN stereotype, I like people and and make sure I have a wide social circle. That is what will get me through the next decades, not my kids or any grandchildren that may ensue.

I’m a pretty strong confident woman now. I try and smile a lot and get joy from ordinary things. I don’t feel remotely invisible in life and don’t intend ever to be so. With age comes wisdom and experience. I wouldn’t turn back.

I look at my beautiful young adult daughter and son. They are wrinkle-free and ready to face the world. It is their time to be young now and I am excited for them. I have had my youth. I am now embracing the next stage.

Anyway, 41 is young to me. I never looked so
good as in my early 40s!

TheGreatDownandOut · 01/05/2026 16:12

I worked on my self esteem and invested in some good skin care. I may have some lines, but my skin glows still.

I notice women around me who are older but also in their happiest years yet and they look better than ever. Happiness and contentment really makes such a huge difference to your face! Posture, glow etc.

I also purposely changed my algorithm on social media so I see more content from older women who are doing amazing things so I am more used to seeing more mature looking faces and noticing the beauty in each and every one of them.

You can also go down the rabbit hole of how the patriarchy props up youthful ideals where women are concerned and realise how outrageous it is!

I also think, 20 years will go by fast. And in 20 years, I will probably give anything to be back to the age I am. Which makes me want to enjoy it more.

Itsnotallaboutyoulikeyouthink · 01/05/2026 16:12

Concentrate on health not how you look. This will have a knock on effect on how you look and feel. You’ve already done young been there done that. Now time to embrace the next stage of life.

TheGreatDownandOut · 01/05/2026 16:14

There is a woman in my work place who is in her early 60s and has a lined face but I think she is stunning. She is kind and friendly and has the sort of charisma that makes you notice when she walks in to a room. She dresses really well, has gorgeous hair and out-competes women younger than her in sport. I think she’s absolutely stunning.

PlumPuddingandGravy · 01/05/2026 16:18

I hate this “women in their 40s are invisible” trope.

Yeah, when we hit our 40s we’re less likely to be turning heads when we enter the room. However, I know plenty of confident, comfortable in their own skin women in their 40s, 50s and beyond who command a room and can’t be ignored.

ChaToilLeam · 01/05/2026 16:23

You'll never again be younger than you are today! Ageing is inevitable. Accept it. That doesn't mean making no effort to look after yourself but don't chase the impossible. I actually look better in my 50s, when I stopped dying my hair, my grey came though in a very striking way that I love. My lines are smiley ones, and although I've never been slim, I'm active and much fitter than I used to be. Lots of water, plenty sleep and fresh air and just enjoying life. I have friends in their 80s and 90s who are great to be around and I hope to be like them. Wonderful interesting women!

GlobalTravellerbutespeciallyBognor · 01/05/2026 16:33

Having been thin all my life (BMI around 18) I now simply cannot lose the 2.5 extra stones I’ve gained recently. Nothing I do changes it. Weight used to drop off me literally overnight. Now I feel that I could eat lettuce for months and still be the same weight.

Malasana · 01/05/2026 16:36

When I catch a glimpse in the mirror and think who the heck is that, rather than bemoan my greying hair (which I refuse to dye any more) and wrinkles, I think my myself really bloody lucky I’ve lived long enough to get grey and wrinkly because so many don’t.

In any case, constantly chasing a younger appearance is boring and pointless.

None of your friends will be thinking you’d be a much nicer person with fewer wrinkles.

Does that help?

Malasana · 01/05/2026 16:37

PlumPuddingandGravy · 01/05/2026 16:18

I hate this “women in their 40s are invisible” trope.

Yeah, when we hit our 40s we’re less likely to be turning heads when we enter the room. However, I know plenty of confident, comfortable in their own skin women in their 40s, 50s and beyond who command a room and can’t be ignored.

For myself I’m glad to be invisible. I just want to be left alone and not involved in anyone else’s shit 😂

Dillydollydingdong · 01/05/2026 16:43

I'm a lot older than you 41 year olds, but never really had a problem with the ageing process. The only thing I'm not keen on is the eyebags. I try to keep my weight down, not always too successfully, but the boobs aren't too big (so not too much problem with gravity)! Just smile! People love it, especially men!

Jk987 · 01/05/2026 16:49

@Glitterballofdreams
In your 40’s you start to become invisible? Speak for yourself!

What does being invisible actually mean in real life?

You can be slim, fit, wear make up and nice clothes, have a good laugh, go on holidays and still be older than 40!

Legssses · 01/05/2026 16:52

A poster on another thread said something like "your options are looking old or looking odd" and I largely agree.

I would rather look my age than invoke "wow she's had a lot of work done".

FrLarryDuff · 01/05/2026 16:58

Legssses · 01/05/2026 16:52

A poster on another thread said something like "your options are looking old or looking odd" and I largely agree.

I would rather look my age than invoke "wow she's had a lot of work done".

But there is a middle ground.

I have some good Botox every 9 months or so. I don’t look remotely odd. I also never go in the sun and use the best skin care I can afford.

CantSeeMyFeetNow · 01/05/2026 17:03

Hi OP I understand. I'm 53 now and whilst I was still looking pretty good at 41 (all natural, no botox), it was all about to change.

First my skin which has been perfect all my life went blotchy and spotty around 44 which I think was rosacea. A few years after that I got the red face and broken veins in my face which I thought was hot flushes but now I think was the rosacea too.
Then around 50 I started to notice dry hair, dry itchy skin and now at 53 yes I have a big tummy and large breasts which are sagging now.

My tips for the breasts are spend alot on a bra and get the right size. I buy fantasie or freya from John Lewis and they are both expensive but sometimes you can get them in the sale if you are lucky. Currently wearing a 36H. I'm normally a 34FF at the right BMI but being overweight everything has got bigger. The best exercise is lifting hand weights above your head, in front of your body, to the side, to the back. This works the muscles under the breasts and helps with uplift. I used to do alot of this and to be honest it's only quite recently that I've noticed the sagging becoming quite bad. Probably a result of giving up this exercise about 10 years ago, combined with losing weight and then of course age. Stretchmarks are no doubt worse than they used to be but I stopped counting years ago. In the last 6 months (still having a period each month) breast tenderness and fullness has become an issue (you know like you get just before your period) and so I am guessing this is perimenopause and fluctuating hormones (not on HRT). The freya/fantasie bras do a pretty good job of making them look upright in clothes so they are worth the money. Try a few to get the one you find most comfortable. It's not usual for me to spend £40 on a bra, £5 on pants, £25 on trousers, £30 on a good quality cotton top because I can't bear anything except cotton or linen now. Shoes vary currently wearing £20 argos mules but I do usually try and get comfy shoes. The point being my bra is often the most expensive thing I am wearing. It does seem a bit weird that something so small relatively is so expensive but I guess it is engineering. I know some woman do go for a reduction and uplift in their fifties but honestly I have better things to spend my money on.

My face is not doing too bad but that is probably due to the fact I am still having periods so not gone through menopause yet plus being overweight pads everything out. I do have huge hollows under my eyes now and 'malar bags' at the top of my cheeks which are quite ageing. I have been using eye drops for about 15 years due to dry eyes and the optician told me to pull my eye down to put drops in. I think in terms of ageing this has been a disaster and I realised this and stopped about a year ago. Should have realised sooner but you don't do you.

I went through a spell of buying more expensive face creams (like £90 a bottle). This lasted about 6-8 months and perhaps there was a small difference but honestly not enough to justify the price tag. So I'm back on my Olay with sunfactor and that's good enough for me.

I still home dye my hair. Used to get it done at the hairdressers up to about early forties then just though sod it life is too short for this. The home dyes are pretty good to be honest. I will let it go grey at some point but I think perhaps 60 will be the age to do that.

Yes i am now invisible to men (although one did hold the door open for me the other day although I think my breasts in their new expensive bra were doing the talking to be honest and he sort of was just motivated by them despite my age). Anyway I said thank you. Honestly though yes you will become invisible to men in so far as you will lose your sex appeal. I'm not sure what age it happens - gradually I suppose. I was still turning heads in my late thirties for sure and early forties. Probably starting to go gradually from that point. Honestly you won't care really. I always hated being ogled anyway (made me feel vunerable) so I quite like being invisible now.

I'm getting aches and pains as well and I do take a menopause multivitamin now but still not on HRT. The one thing I do spend money on is food (Oh my god the bills for food). No ready meals which lets be honest are pure junk anyway. Proteins, fish, cottage cheese, greek yogurts, goods with probiotics - all of which helps the old joints and helps retain muscle too it seems. Sometimes I think it's weird that my food bill is hundreds of pounds per month just for me and I am wearing £20 argos mules on my feet and home dying my hair but I suppose it's about priorites. You will definately be more affected by eating junk as you get older and alcohol too I'm told.

What I will say is how your mind is at 41 will change as you age as well. I remember being 35 and thinking being 50 would be terrible. It's really not. Your whole mind changes. Things that were important just seem silly and pointless now. Adverts for expensive make up, perfume with the silly prancing about young, thin models just makes me realise how much we are all brainwashed into thinking we need that stuff.
Instead I developed an interest in things which I had no interest in before - art, growing things, keeping pets, current affairs, politics, DIY. All these things would have bored me stupid in my thirties. Heck I've even got a jigsaw on the go just now.

So here I am 53, no botox or fillers or hrt. I don't even wear make up anymore. My hair is home dyed and my clothes are 'good value'. What I do have is time and peace (retired at 51). Long lies in the morning, afternoons in the conservatory, time with precious pets. I would be too tired to be young now anyway. You will also start to see the 'bigger picture' of life. You will realise that death is coming for you one day and you will stop feeling invinsible. You will start to worry about the state of the NHS and getting dementia. You will spend more time looking at your pensions and admiring trees, plants and nature things. In other words you will change alot and what you look like while still being a 'niggle' it will become way down your priority list.

I stopped dating/doing relationships at 41 (am divorced) and it has not bothered me really. Sometimes I think a partner would be nice but I enjoy living on my own with my pets. So you see I am alone and losing my looks and I'm still standing. Heck I might even be happier now than I ever have been.

I promise you once you accept that your 'young time' is over you will move onto the next stage of life and find new purpose. There are lots of advantages to being this age I promise.

Grabity · 01/05/2026 17:04

I’ve accepted it. At first it was hard, but when it keeps getting worse, it feels a bit comical that I was in a flap about fine lines or a grey eyebrow hair.

I’m needle phobic and the idea of letting anything near my face makes me break out in a sweat. So at 50 I look about ten years older than most of my friends, bar one.

She still looks like herself though. When we talk I can see glimpses of the 7 year old and 12 year old and 16 year old I once knew. Other people look subtly different from themselves. They look great. But different.

I’ve taken to smiling at myself in the mirror, and I find I like that version of myself more than the narrow eyed, pursed lipped one who always had something mean to tell me about myself.

CantSeeMyFeetNow · 01/05/2026 17:08

P.S. Did anyone tell you about the 'sex surge' before menopause. Your hormones will go nuts and make you become a teenage boy with a huge sex drive. You have a husband luckily but I have spend lots on batteries. Nobody warns you about this. I am looking forward to this being over (the sex surge) and I have new found sympathy now for teenage boys with their overpowering sex drive. Never in my whole life have I had such strong sexual urges. I guess it is mother natures way of saying 'breed now, you're running out of time'. Thankfully it is only just before and after my period or I wouldn't be getting anything else done. Warn your husband now!!! I am assuming they will go away once I go through menopause. In the meantime may as well enjoy it I suppose. See you will never look at middle aged woman the same again!

Legssses · 01/05/2026 17:09

FrLarryDuff · 01/05/2026 16:58

But there is a middle ground.

I have some good Botox every 9 months or so. I don’t look remotely odd. I also never go in the sun and use the best skin care I can afford.

I get what you're saying, but I think after a certain age we know that people aren't wrinkle/jowl/line free naturally. So it stops looking like "aging well" and looks like "had work done".

I also think botox often looks good when our faces are still (how we tend to look at ourselves in the mirror) but when we move our faces to talk or express ourselves it looks unnatural.

That's just my opinion, I know plenty will disagree.

Onlythesaneones · 01/05/2026 17:12

I'm 10 years older than you OP and I don't worry or care about the aesthetic side of things at all.
I have had several health issues creep up in the last couple of years and have had non stop womb issues which have seriously affected my life and work.
ALL I care about at this point is my health. My saggy boobs don't even register anymore.

WestwardHo1 · 01/05/2026 17:23

FrLarryDuff · 01/05/2026 16:58

But there is a middle ground.

I have some good Botox every 9 months or so. I don’t look remotely odd. I also never go in the sun and use the best skin care I can afford.

I can't imagine "never going in the sun" just to prevent a bit of aging. Where's the fun in that?

Mulledjuice · 01/05/2026 17:25

Gratitude. I know people that didnt make it to 41, and other who won't make it to 51.

I think about how much more I could have done when I was younger if I had cared a bit less about what I and others looked like.

If you make it to 81 you'll yearf for the body you have now.

Glitterballofdreams · 01/05/2026 17:26

Jk987 · 01/05/2026 16:49

@Glitterballofdreams
In your 40’s you start to become invisible? Speak for yourself!

What does being invisible actually mean in real life?

You can be slim, fit, wear make up and nice clothes, have a good laugh, go on holidays and still be older than 40!

I never mentioned invisibility!

OP posts:
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