Breast Enhancement - Is Enhancement Vanity or Essential?
By RedElf
Women are constantly bombarded about their appearance. On any given day, we can be exposed to a plethora of print media advertisements, radio and TV commercials, and on-line ads, all geared to provoke a sale of some essential product or service that will enhance our outer beauty and somehow improve our lives. The implication is always that if we will only use this or that we will be better, brighter, sexier, and by extension, more lovable.
Whatever Mother Nature didn't give us, we can fix through the miracles of modern science - whiter teeth, a clear complexion, beautiful hair, slimmer thighs, and perky perfect breasts. One size too large? No problem - the miracle slimmer can smooth your silhouette. One size too small? No worries! We have the perfect implant to boost your cup size to premium.
When I was a little girl, it never occurred to me to ask God for a certain kind of bosom. I asked him for a whole pile of other things, like curly hair so Mom would stop giving me perms, and to be tall and slim like my sister, but never that.
Maybe I should have asked, because when I hit my teens my chest suddenly blossomed into a pair of Marilyn Monroe sized "blanc manges" that woggled when I walked.
No matter what underpinnings I tried, and believe me, we had some pretty fair armor plate back then, nothing held them unmoving in place. In the era of Twiggy, Peggy Lipton, and Carnaby Street duds, having a pair of womanly bosoms was not cool.
Vanity?
Stylish bosoms were high, perky little love-apples. Mine looked like they belonged on someone who should be painted on the side of some WWII bomber, not to some frustrated teeny bopper who was trying to stuff them into a dart-less flat-front skimmer dress.
Many years down the road from that embarrassed girl, I have pretty much stopped comparing my chest to every other woman I see. They are what they are, though I did seriously consider cosmetic surgery for a little "lift and trim", after my son finished nursing.
Was that vanity? Yes!
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a guide to breast enlargement / augmentation and breast implants in canada including plastic surgeon listings, before and after photos, saline and cohesive gel implant info, message boards and financing - Breast Augmentation
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...or Necessity?
Consider the case though, of one of my sisters who did have a "boob job", as she calls it. She went to her doctor because of recurring pain.
Her
doctor packed her off to a specialist who examined her thoroughly and
informed her that the muscles of her chest wall were separating or
tearing probably from some kind of repetitive movement, and could no
longer support the breast tissue. The muscles needed to be repaired
before further tearing occurred,which could make the surgical results
far less aesthetically pleasing.
The specialist immediately referred her to a cosmetic surgeon for the repairs, who then, in passing, remarked that it would be no trouble to do a minor cosmetic improvement at the same time, as he would be in the area already, so to speak.
Well, it was a done deal. My sister had never complained about feeling under-endowed, but this was too good an opportunity to miss, she told me afterward. More about her later, though.
One of
my in-laws, an extremely well-endowed lady, suffered back pain for
years. She used to dread going up and down stairs. With her breast
reduction she lost several cup sizes, but her back pain has cleared up
and she enjoys walking again.
A dear friend who had a radical mastectomy suffered for years with the indignity of "falsies" as she called them. Being fitted for a swimsuit was a nightmare. She was so worried the breast form would somehow slide out of the pocket in her suit, she finally sewed the pocket shut over the form.
"Natural breast forms, my butt!" she exclaimed in disgust one afternoon. "If I'd have known what it would be like afterward, I would have had them remove the other one, too!"
As there were concerns for her remaining
breast, my friend's doctor did not consider her a good candidate for
implant surgery. Eventually she did lose the second breast but at this
writing is a ten year survivor. She has since thrown out her forms and
her padded bras, and is quite comfortable with what she calls her
"balanced look".
The option is available to have
reconstructive surgery after a mastectomy, but it must be set up and
planned for with your doctor before the breast is removed. Nowadays it
can be done much more quickly, but still requires careful preparation
and your surgeon's agreement.
Is that vanity? Perhaps. Arguably, you are merely replacing what has been removed.
Silicone Implants
Some of you may remember when silicone implants first became available. They seemed to be too good to be true - a more comparable weight and density, a wonderfully life-like feel... I also remember the horror stories some years later when we added new words to our vocabularies: encapsulation, leaking implant, and capsular contracture.
Some Complications from Breast Augmentation
Encapsulation can happen with either type of implant. The natural breast tissue forms a hard capsule around the implant. This is not necessarily dangerous, but can be quite uncomfortable and unnatural-feeling
Leaking implant can happen with either type of implant. Silicone from the leaking implant can migrate throughout the body causing a variety of symptoms such as decreased breast size, uneven size of breasts, pain or tenderness, tingling, swelling, numbness, burning, changes in sensation, and lumps. Saline leaks cause symptoms such as chest pain, breast rash, and change in size of the breast.
Capsular contracture can happen with either type of implant. Almost every woman with implants has scar tissue surrounding them. This scar capsule is her body’s natural way of protecting her from a foreign object. Sometimes, however, that capsule is too tight and feels like it is squeezing the implant. Symptoms can include pain in the breast, asymmetrical dimpling, breasts looking different from each other, breast feeling too firm or very hard, breasts looking like round balls.
Some women with leaking silicone breast implants must have all their own breast tissue removed because the silicone moved throughout their breast. The resulting mastectomy is not because of cancer but because of silicone.
Most insurance companies will not pay to have a ruptured implant removed, especially if the implants were for non-medical reasons. Patients who received an implant as part of reconstructive surgery have an easier time obtaining insurance coverage for removal of the implants, but they are required to prove the implant is ruptured with an MRI or other test.
Is Breast Enhancement Vanity or Necessity?
Looking at all the expense and possible complications, why would anyone consider having a anything done to her breasts other than a necessary reconstructive procedure?
In a society where we are so valued by our outer appearance, a woman's breasts are a visible symbol not just of her womanhood and nurturing capabilities, but of her desirability as a mate. Anthropology and instinctual, survival-based attractions aside, we are encouraged by media and the example of celebrity to revere physical beauty.
It has been postulated that we select our leaders using far more primal criteria than we might suspect - anthropologically speaking, a tall leader can see over the crowds and the tall grasses, and spot the antelope herds in the distance,
When it comes to standards of physical beauty, however, we have, as a society, set the bar ridiculously high. So few can achieve that artificial level of physical perfection, and it is artificial. If you have ever visited a film or television set and observed how carefully the actors are curried and combed for each shot, or been privy to the meticulous preparation for a single photograph for an advertisement, you have some idea of the extreme unreality of it all.
...and yet we base our expectations of what our appearance should be on this completely ephemeral, artificial construct.
My sister, always an attractive woman, said she finally felt beautiful after her reconstructive surgery. She told me that the boost to her self esteem was amazing, and that she never would have believed it would make such a difference.
That may not be essential, but is it vanity? Really?
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great hub Red Elf. I'd better save this just in case some of my friends decide to get a "boob job".
Thanks so much, soni2006. Right you are - he before and after shot is a killer.
Thanks for stopping by, emi. Kinda makes you think, don't it?!
I had a friend who tried implants after breast problems. The surgery was a failure and left her feeling worse. I guess it is up to the individual to make an informed choice but to be aware that all procedures carry risks.
Absolutely, ethel, it certainly is up to each one of us to be informed. I am sad for your friend's failed surgery.
When I was young and athletic I thought my boobs were a handicap. They're not huge but they are there. I think I've grown into them and like them the way they are now. It takes awhile before women get comfortable with their body I think.
Well said, flightkeeper. you could be right about that. It would be nice to nurture our girls more to help offset all the media hype.
Nice hub, with all aspects explained so well.
Maybe I am an old fashioned male who likes the natural shape and look. There is that old one about anything more than a handful being a waste.
To know that a woman is 'unaltered' and perfectly natural is highly appealing. And to learn of someone having had some enhancements turns one off. Unless, of course, medical reasons have dictated a surgery or mastectomy.
Thanks, Jaspal. I certainly understand your feelings. My sister told me that after her surgery, which looks great and totally natural, btw, that guys hit on her who had never given her a second glance before - in part because of her new attitude about herself, though. It's an interesting question, isn't it?
My sister in law got implants some years ago. She has been rather vain about it ever since, saying to me .."you don't look bad, for having had 3 children..." I couldnt help but wish I could have soemthing to boost my self confidence, she certainkly wasnt helping. Untill about a year ago, her daughter kicked her sqaurely in the right breast, and it popped...
OOOOOWWWWW! OW! OW! Funny how that comes around, hey? Both my sisters seemed to think that because I was bigger than either of them that I should feel good about mine - not so. Interesting...
Yes, Women are constantly bombarded about their appearance.
Thanks
Thanks sumon6. I appreciate your comments
Great hub Redelf, but I believe one should be comfortable with whatever one has rather than bothering so much. I guess its different for women, who have to look good any which ways. Breasts are symbol of womanhood and hence that importance.
Very interesting and well written hub! I didn't know about a couple of those risks with implants - yikes!
I enjoy being on the smaller side of things, though, and like your friend, if I ever have to have one removed due to cancer or something, I'll probably just get rid of both. I love my "girls," but it seems to me like it would be better not to have them than to be worrying constantly about leaks and other complications from implants.
Thanks jayb23. I am just glad I don't have a web cam or everyone could see how badly I let women down some days, LOL.
I'm with you, kerryg - take 'em both and then I'll be balanced. I would love to think about getting a tuck and lift someday, but that would be pure vanity. Oh, well.
Very good hub with relevant and interesting information but also with plenty of personal experience on the issue. I enjoyed reading it!
Thanks so much, Princessa. So pleased you enjoyed it.
Thanks so much for your comments, one2get2know, which I have included without your link. Always nice to meet someone new.
"one2get2no says:
3 hours ago
I good hub on a difficult subject. Thanks"
very well done - love your honesty and real life examples - I think sometimes it makes sense to have surgery such as reconstructive or reduction - but just to get implants to have larger breasts makes no sense to me, and it is risky!
Thanks so much for commenting, kartika. I must admit, I'm pretty much with you on that one.
Thanks so much for your comments, shah. I have posted them without your link.
shah says:
4 hours ago
this hub is nice and good information.
What do you make of those pills which are showing in the ads on this hub? I can't believe these work??
Greetings, johnmce. No idea about those ;) one way or the other. Some people swear by them.
You are most welcome - nice to meet you.
Great Hub - thanks for the thorough information. I am a proponent of breast augmentation if it means that the procedure will boost the woman's ability to be out in the world with full confidence. After having children or losing weight (even just getting older), things don't stay put where they belong - or worse, they wither. Nothing wrong with enhancing what God gave you to bring it back to what it should be. Thanks again for the great Hub!
Nice to meet you, kvirrueta! I'm with you 100%. Thanks for your comments.
I think people tend to focus too much on breast size. Perhaps I'm a little bit jaded, as I'm on the small side. However, it is hurtful when I've heard comments about flat-chested women looking like teenage boys, ironing boards, etc. Does having a flat chest make a woman any less of a woman? Sadly, some people think so. While breast implants may boost a woman's self confidence, I think true confidence comes from being able to look in the mirror and be content with what fate handed out. But an interesting hub overall.:)
As I have tried to show in the hub, we come in all sizes, and we all have our own stories. People make cruel jokes and assumptions about young girls with large breasts, too. I agree we all need to make peace with what we've been given, but some need that boost, I guess.
I agree with you Skyfae. Big boobs only looks good when you're young. Breast size is not everything.
I think a natural approach is much safer, especially considering the dangers of surgical implants can have.
Hi, Autumn Lockwood. Nice of you to stop by and comment.
wip, I am sure there are many methods from which to choose, but the surgical method saves a person from wasting money on questionable pills and potions.
soni2006 2 years ago
This hub is really nice and expressive. The pics are really amazing.