Increasing Your Bust Size

When I was growing up, one of my Aunties lived with us. She was always self conscious about the size her breasts. She was concerned that her body was not in proper proportion. She had a slim athletic body without many curves. She often commented that she felt boyish in appearance. Much to my surprise, in her 40s she opted for a breast augmentation. It was amazing how much her self confidence grew by changing her body shape.

There are some parts of our bodies that we can modify with diet and exercise; however, there is little we can do to affect the size of our bust line without the assistance of plastic surgery. For those of us that are seeking to improve the appearance of our bust without drastic changes, using weights to work the underlying pectoral muscles can give the breasts a perkier more youthful appearance; however size will not be affected.

If a true augmentation is what you are seeking, start by scheduling a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss available options. There are two basic types of implants used to increase breast size:

• Saline Implants. Saline implants are silicone shells filled with a sterile saline solution. Most often, they are filled during the surgical procedure. If they rupture, the saline solution will be safely reabsorbed into the body. If there is a rupture, it will be easily discovered as the breast will deflate as the fluid leaks.
• Silicone Implants. Silicone shells are pre-filled with a silicone solution prior to the implant's insertion. Silicone implants are said to feel more like a natural breast, however, they also come with a higher risk of leaking. There may not be any symptoms if a silicone implant ruptures the breast may hold its shape, therefore, having routine MRIs to scan for changes in the implant will be recommended.

Breast augmentation surgeries can be performed as an outpatient procedure or with an overnight stay. Most surgeries last about two hours under general anesthesia. There are several options for inserting the implants, discuss which is best for you during your consultations.

As with any surgical procedure, it is important to be educated about possible risks. These risks include: changes in sensitivity to the nipple area, breast pain, and formation of scar tissue and hardening around the implant, bleeding, infection and dissatisfaction with size and shape of implants. Reduce risk by selecting a plastic surgeon that has at least five years of plastic surgery experience.

Implants are not intended to last a lifetime. MRIs should be scheduled regularly to monitor breast health. Mammograms may not be enough to screen for breast cancer as the implants can obstruct the imaged created by a mammography.