If you’re small chested, your confidence can take a knocking.
It’s hard not to compare the size of your assets with the big boobs and plunging cleavages that smirk at you from the billboards, glossy magazines or the endless stream of TV ads.
- If only you had a more generous cleavage, you could feel better about yourself
- If only you had a bigger cup size, you wouldn’t have to wear bras designed for teenagers
- If only your boobs were bigger, you’d finally feel sexier, more confident and more feminine.
And at first glance, it seems breast augmentation is the answer. I’m small chested too, and I considered surgery myself in the past. My A cup made me feel “inadequate” – because no matter how much you try to convince yourself otherwise, it’s hard when tops don’t fit and a visit to the lingerie department turns you red with embarrassment. So I did what you’re doing now, and I explored the idea of breast augmentation in full. And to help with your research, I’ve created a five-minute, easy-to-read overview of the essential facts you need to know.
Let’s go…
Why have breast augmentation surgery?
The main reason for having a boob job is to get the bigger breasts you want – pretty much guaranteed. Once implants are inserted into your chest area, your boobs will be bigger. Simple.
I’m sure you’re aware there are other solutions on the market, but they don’t offer the same results you get with a boob job. For sure, breast-enhancing creams are available – but their results are not guaranteed. And whilst you can wear specialized lingerie, once you take your clothes off, your bigger boobs are gone. So if you want a “semi-permanent” solution that works when you’re naked and fully clothed, a boob job seems like a good idea.
But is it really?
Let’s take a deeper look at breast augmentation by exploring what implants are available…
Silicone v saline
Here in the UK, you can choose between two different types of breast implant. These are: silicone and saline. Here’s a quick explanation of the main differences.
1. Silicone implants are anatomically shaped, and so create a natural look. They come in a liquid, a gel or a solid form and because they are soft and pliable, they move and feel quite natural to touch.
2. In comparison, saline implants tend to be round in shape. They are also more prone to causing the overlying skin to wrinkle and fold. But the big advantage with these implants is the saline is similar to fluid naturally found inside your body. Therefore, if your implant were to rupture, the saline would be naturally absorbed or excreted. Of course silicone does not naturally occur inside the body, so a rupture is more problematic. In addition, ruptured silicone can spread inside your breast and form “siliconomas” – or small lumps inside the breast tissue.
I mention rupturing here, because whilst this problem is not as common as it was in the past, it’s still a possible side effect of breast implant surgery that you need to be aware of.
In fact, you may be surprised to discover it’s highly likely you’ll need further implant surgery sometime in the future.
Check out this shocking statistic from the NHS:
“After having breast implant surgery, about one in three women will require further surgery within 10 years of their initial operation.” (Source: NHS Choices)
Why will I need more than one boob job?
The surprising fact is that breast-enhancement surgery is rarely a one-time operation. That’s because the lifespan of an implant is only between 10-15 years. Therefore, in time, your implants will need changing. Here are the three most common reasons why:
1. The implants may rupture or split
2. Natural changes to the shape and elasticity of your breast tissue as you age mean a new implant will be required to achieve the look you want
3. Once your implants are inserted, a capsule of fibrous tissue will form around the implant. This is a natural, unavoidable side effect of surgery and part of the healing process. Over time “capsular contraction” will happen as the capsule shrinks. This may cause pain, and eventually will result in the implant requiring removal.
As you can see, it’s really important you consider this aspect as you make your decision. Remember you will need breast-enhancement surgery more than once and you need to get comfortable with the idea of putting your body through that. What’s more, you could also experience complications as a result of surgery. Here are five of the most common factors to consider.
Common issues/risks women experience with breast augmentation surgery
1. Loss of sensation
According to NHS statistics, around one in seven women will lose sensation in their nipples or their breast. This is clearly not a desirable side effect considering your breasts are an erogenous zone.
2. Scarring
Then there’s the issue of scarring. Breast implant surgery usually takes place under general anaesthetic and involves an incision being made in an appropriate point on your torso. Commonly, the implants are inserted via an incision under each breast. But this does vary from person to person. Other insertion points include under the armpits and even via the naval. But as with any operation involving incisions, scarring is a risk. And according to NHS Choices, in approximately 1 in 20 women, scarring will be more severe.
3. Pain
You also need to be aware of the pain and discomfort you’ll feel after surgery. Painful breasts and/or nipples are not uncommon – although this pain tends to ease in time as your body heals and your skin stretches and adjusts to the foreign body that’s been implanted.
4. Risk of creasing and folds
On occasions, the implant may change the appearance of the overlying skin on your breast and make it appear wrinkly or folded. This issue tends to be more common in women who have very small breasts.
5. Cost
OK, so not a physical complication, but one that could hurt your pocket. In the UK, breast implants can cost anywhere between £4,000 and £5,000 – which means it’s a significant financial decision to make.
Still considering implants? Here’s what to do next…
If after reading this you still feel that breast augmentation is the right choice for you, the next step is to choose your surgeon. Again, this is a decision you need to give significant thought to. You want to find someone with excellent credentials – someone who you feel comfortable with and whose opinion you trust. After all, they are going to influence your choice of treatment as well as how your breasts look after you’ve gone under the knife.
A good place to start is with your GP. That’s because your GP will know who’s available in your local area. In addition, they can talk with you about your specific situation and help you identify if there are any underlying health issues that may influence your decision to have surgery.
Next, make a shortlist of clinics as well as a list of questions you want to ask prospective surgeons. Find out about the surgeon’s experience and qualifications as well as the cost, the operation itself and the level of aftercare you can expect to receive.
Is there an alternative, Emma?
After I completed my research into breast augmentation surgery, I decided it wasn’t for me. I didn’t fancy the pain and discomfort, and I was concerned it would be more difficult to monitor my breast health once implants were in place.
But I still wanted a cleavage that made me feel confident in public – which left me with two main alternatives.
1. Cleavage-enhancing creams
2. Cleavage-enhancing lingerie
Let’s explore these options in more detail…
Can a cream really increase my bust size?
Interestingly, there are a number of cleavage enhancing creams currently available on the market that promise to increase your cup size in a matter of weeks. Such creams are applied to the skin and some work by increasing the production of fat in the underlying adipose tissue. In turn, this enhances your breast size – without the need for surgery.
These creams vary in price and as you’d expect, they have their critics and their supporters –the only way you can know for sure is to try them for yourself and see if they do indeed enhance your breasts.
What about push-up and gel bras?
Another alternative for achieving the cleavage you want without the surgery is cleavage-enhancing bras- such as those available at Maxcleavage.Com (the online underwear store I founded.)
The key advantage of using underwear to enhance your cleavage is you can achieve the appearance of fuller breasts, without the need for painful surgery or investing in expensive creams.
The range of cleavage-enhancing lingerie has come a long way since the early days of push-up bras. These early bras were often associated with painful dig-in and didn’t always create natural curves.
In comparison, you can now find a wide and varied selection of gorgeous underwear that’s sexy, comfortable and creates curves so natural, no one will know your secret.
To discover our full range of beautiful bras, swimwear and lingerie (without a teenage training bra in sight!) head over to www.MaxCleavage.Com.
It’s time to feel good about your body
Every woman has the right to feel beautiful, sexy and confident. So if your chest size is getting you down, know that there are measures you can take today to feel more body confident and boost your self-esteem. I found my cleavage confidence when I started wearing gel bras.
But what about you? I’d love to know your thoughts, so please let me know what you think about the various cleavage-enhancing options x
