i just returned from a trip to the breast augmentation website before and
after photos page. very educational. here are some highlights. the ages of
most of the women are very young. most of them do not have children.
occasionally a doctor will mention that the woman plans to breastfeed future
children and that certain procedures are used to make it more possible. the
first few sets of photos shown (the newest ones chronologically) include
before pictures of what are termed "tuberous" breasts, what we refer to a
tubular (funny, i think of tuberous as being a word applied to potatoes and
used before the word "begonia") and are a good example of why we need to know
the "reason" for implants when we see a mother with them who is planning to
breastfeed or having problems.

of particular note are subjects #28 and #146 (read the reason given for
wanting implants on this one). other things to note are that one of the
apparent side effects of getting breast augmentation seems to be the
overwhelming desire to run out, buy a bikini, and go straight to the nearest
tanning salon. there appears to be a serious need for skin cancer education.

which brings me to another point, which is that the subjects i saw (okay, i
didn't look at them all, it got very tiring) were all white. there are some
photos of marked differences in breast size. the word ptosis is used quite
commonly as part of the justification for the implants. is that a diagnosis
of a problem? i thought it was a description of a natural condition.

also, the differences in size are described in . . . cup sizes. there is a
little disclaimer about "please note - "cup" sizes are approximate." now,
that sure sounds scientific and medical and all. as in, "leg bone
reconstruction in this patient resulted in the woman now being "a good height
for a woman." cup sizes?!!?!?!?! and who taught all the women to assume the
"baywatch" stance for the after photos? (the baywatch stance is, arms back,
chest thrush forward, chin up, hips back).

having only heard aout TUBA (trans umbilical breast augmentation) the other
day from kathy auerbach, it took me a while to realize that the reason many
of the after photos feature women with their jeans unzipped or bikini bottoms
only is not to enhance their sex appeal, but to show the lack of scarring at
the umbilicus.

wow. cultural breasts indeed.

carol brussel IBCLC
laura nevada lactation
denver co

many of the after photos show what i always think of as the "tragic billiard
ball accident during surgery" aspects of this augmentation.

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