Does Size Really Matter?

Last night I sat around my tiny apartment with seven of my girlfriends drinking wine, eating chocolate and talking about boobs. It was the epitome of girls night conversation, and I was thankful that the discussions never dove into complaining about work, because that seems to be on most of our minds lately.

Our particular group that night didn't have anyone who had undergone augmentation, but several of the ladies were discussing wanting to fly to Thailand to get these inexpensive but amazingly spectacular fake tits. Apparently we work with a Aussie guy who has sent several girl friends to get them done with "one of the best plastic surgeons in the world." I just sat around looking at all the ladies that were lounging around my living room/dining room/patio/kitchen thinking how gorgeous they all were in completely different ways. We really had a cross section of all different body types, but each girl is so beautiful I can't imagine that any of them want to change things.

Of course, yes, we mutilate ourselves in other ways for beauty. (We did have a rousing waxing conversation.) But taking it to "going under the knife," seems so much more extreme to me!

Let me first say that I do not take the stance of, "No one should get breast implants!" I think it's your body, do what you want. Who am I to say what's right, wrong, best for anyone, etc. Trust me, I could hand you the list of the things I find wrong with my exterior! I constantly have the thoughts of, "I'd be beautiful if only . . . my nose weren't crooked, my teeth were straight, my ears didn't stick out, my arms weren't so long and lanky, my thighs had space between them, my eyes weren't so huge," and the list goes on and on. But when I'm really faced with changing any of those things, I always chicken out. Ultimately, I think I like looking like me even if it's not some universal idea of what is aesthetically beautiful.

As a daughter of a breast cancer survivor, and having had a scare recently myself, I can tell you the only way I'm going under the knife for my boobs is if it's to get everything taken out and REPLACED by the fakies. That's a whole other story, but my only concern with "my girls" is that they are healthy! So, today out of curiosity, I did some research and I was floored. The Internet can be a very scary thing.

According to research from the NRC for women and families, approximately 55% of breast tumors are hidden in mammograms by implants in the women who have them. Not only that but you have a chance of your implant rupturing during a mammogram so many women forgo getting it done! The National Cancer Institute found a 21% increase in breast cancer in women with implants over 7 years. And in 2008 more then 300,000 women and teenagers underwent breast augmentations (not including the 80,000 which were reconstructions for cancer patients,) while over 40,000 patients got implants removed that same year. These just a few of the jaw dropping facts I found. I don't want to get preachy or plead with anyone, but I just thought I'd share some of it with you.

I know all the reasons women want to get them. They want to feel more feminine, look better in a bathing suit, attract the opposite sex, look more in proportion, etc. But, honestly, when it puts you at such a high risk for disease and complications I'd rather have my beautiful "disproportionate" friends any day!

I am so thankful that we have the kind of knowledge, technology and brilliant doctors to be able to reconstruct ourselves when disease or accidents alter our appearance but I just wish we (me included!) could get to a place where we are happy with what was given to us!

Girls, get your hair done, wax those legs, and get yourself a Victoria Secret Very Sexy Plunge Push-up Bra (no, seriously, they work miracles.) The rest of your beauty is shining out from the inside and that's what really counts!