CHANGING OUR LIVES WITH BREAST AUGMENTATION

Some consider it petty, some fake, some a must, others blame it on the pressures of society, and yet others believe that “extraordinary” women should be recognized for what they do, not what they look like.  But is it really all about looks?  Is it just a matter of changing a woman’s anatomy for attention?  Did Timmie Jean Lindsey, a mother of six and the first woman to ever get silicone implants, in 1962, get them to become someone different?  All these questions made me curious about why women opt to go under the surgical knife to get a “boob job”.

Well, as each and every woman on planet earth is different, so are the reasons for surgery.  But it seems that the reasons that compel women to have breast augmentation, or enlargement surgery, range from cosmetic to medical and it really all depends on the underlying needs that are being addressed.  However, I believe that I can put all the reasons in four broad categories.

Reasons for seeking a “boob Job”:

1)   The first and most obvious it seems, is the need to have bigger breasts.   Breast augmentation is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic surgery procedures, and it is found via numerous studies, that breast implants help boost self-esteem, body image and increase sexual satisfaction.  When a woman is flat chested, she may feel “less of a woman”, as one of the aspects that distinguishes men from women, the breasts, are underdeveloped (micromastia) and undefined.  It is true that breasts help a woman look more feminine and they add to the body image, as perceived by both women and men.  Bigger breasts help a woman feel more confident, happier at shopping sprees, and in a bikini at the beach, and more contented with their body proportions.  This procedure contributes to “I am more of a woman” feeling, which adds tremendous power, strength and security to women.  It is my opinion, that this is a much healthier attitude towards life.

2)   I believe that there are two stages in a woman’s life, in regards to her body: pre-pregnancy and post-pregnancy!  Oh, yes!  During pregnancy, everything is pulled, enlarged, stretched, distended, increased, inflated, bloated … you get my drift, beyond recognition!  And after this beautiful and incomparable period in a woman’s life, she suddenly looks at her body and … screams from fright! It’s like watching a horror movie.  Of course we have our kids to show for, and point that the changes were due to the gazillion of pounds gained while giving life to our kids, but the truth remains: we want to restore our pre-pregnancy body and feel like ourselves again.  Thus we look for mastopexy!  This is the procedure where the sagging breasts are raised.  In other words it means the correcting and modifying of the size, contour and elevation of the breasts.

3)   A third and fairly common reason that may drive us to have breast surgery is the unevenness of our breasts – having one breast larger than the other. Breast augmentation, in this case, has the ability to give balance to the breasts, making them more symmetrical in appearance: a process that helps boost self-esteem and body image. It makes life so much easier, as does clothes shopping of course!  We rid our selves of the buggy or oversized tops and feel more confident in all clothes.  We don’t need to hide anything anymore.

4)   Mastectomy is the last reason that gets us to have a boob job, this time not for breast augmentation but for breast reconstruction.  This is not so much for cosmetic reasons, but it is mostly part of the recovery and healing process for victims of breast cancer.  It helps them regain part of their lives, a part that was lost in the cancer treatment.

No matter what compels us to get breast surgery however, it is important for any woman to make the choice herself, not to be bullied by societal trends or media images, and the final verdict has to be given by the plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons whose experience and knowledge can guide us correctly.