Why Does My Breast Tissue Spill Out Of The Bottom and Sides Of My Bra?

Real talk: No one, and we mean no one, likes spillage — it’s not only supremely uncomfortable to feel like your bra is cutting into your breast tissue, but it can also put a serious damper on your look. These unsightly bulges can pop up in a number of places, including the bottom or sides of the bra. Wherever they appear, though, one thing’s for sure: you want to get rid of them.

So, what causes spillage? And what can you do about it? Read on for the full skinny on the key culprits of this common issue, as well as some tried-and-true solutions.

The problem

Your breast tissue spills out of the bottom and sides of your bra for one of two reasons: you’re either wearing the wrong cup size, or you’re wearing the wrong bra style for your breast shape.

Very often, it’s simply a matter of the cups being too small. Since they are not capable of completely encompassing your breasts, you end up spilling out as a result. Your measurements may very well have changed since your last fitting (pregnancy, breastfeeding, and weight loss/gain are all factors that can affect this), and making sure you know your correct size is a sure way of preventing spillage.

It’s extremely helpful to know your breast shape to avoid a whole slew of unsightly issues — and that includes spillage. That’s because some bra styles may work better for certain shapes than others. If you’re spilling out of the sides or bottom of the cups, the problem likely has to do with coverage, especially if you have breasts that are particularly full (that includes the teardrop shape, which is mostly full on the bottom).

The solution

While it may seem like a simple fix to go up a cup size, it’s always advisable to get fitted by a professional — especially if it’s been six months or more since you’ve done so. Even if you buy a larger cup size, you may need to then reassess your band size to ensure you still get a flawless fit.

You also may need to switch up which bra styles you’re wearing. For example, if you have wide set breasts that are farther apart on your chest or outward facing breasts, you’ll want to look for bras that have some supportive features along the sides. Side boning and/or an inner sling can help to prevent the breast tissue from spilling out of the side of the cups.

A full-cup bra is less likely to cut into the top of the breast than say, a balconette bra (which has cups that only come up to just above the nipple line). So if you’re full-busted, you may want to consider this style of bra to ensure you are getting adequate coverage.

Did you know that the way you put a bra on can also affect how it fits? Try the scoop technique to ward off pesky spillage: All you have to do is scoop the breast tissue into the cups with your hands, and shift a tad as needed until your breasts are centered.

To recap: The first step to solving your spillage woes is to get fitted and determine your correct bra size. The second step is to assess which bra styles will work best for you, adequately covering and supporting your breasts while also securing them in place so that they don’t fall out of the bottom or sides of the cups.