According to
the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS),
there were approximately 365,000
breast augmentation procedures performed during 2005.
During the same period, however, over 160,000 women chose
to reduce
their breast size through cosmetic surgery. While many
women
choose breast reduction procedures for cosmetic
reasons, others do so when recommended by their doctor
(though there is a
battle
going on between American consumers and health insurance
companies over who should pay for these procedures).
These are not very big numbers in a country of over 300
million people and I am confident that getting a proper
bra fitting will sharply reduce
breast reduction surgeries for women who love what
they have but are forced to undergo surgery because of
making poor choices or for being poorly informed
(disclaimer: please consult your doctor before making any
decisions - this is not meant to be a substitute for
medical advice). (Related:
Passion bra and thong)
Myths about women with large breasts
There are many
wrong ideas about women like me and I want to take the
opportunity to dispel them:
- There are many thin women (petite
or tall) that are naturally
large breasted.
- If a slim woman has a
large chest, it does not mean you can conclude that
she has
breast implants. And of course, not all women that
have implants are thin either.
- While some large-breasted women don't
like their breasts and want a reduction, it does not
mean that all large breasted women are that way. Well
there are many of us large breasted women - thin or
thick - that love who we are and what we have.
- The idea that if a woman is
petite and slender she is automatically
small breasted is so untrue. Slender doesn't mean
small breasted anymore than thick means big breasted.
So if you
are a woman like me who has a chest to be proud of, here
are some tips on common problems faced by us.
I feel pain. My breasts are
sagging
Many
women experience pain from large breasts because they are
wearing the wrong size bra. Many women don't even know
that not all A's, B's, C's, D's. etc. are the same. For
example, a 34C is not the same size as a 36C but they will
buy any bra that says C cup because that's what they think
they are, and then wonder why it doesn't fit right and why
it's so uncomfortable. Plus, a 36C bra from one brand is
not exactly the same as from another brand. (Related:
Vida Guerra) Another
thing; bra straps are not the support of the bra - the
sling part with the cups and hooks (foundation) is the
support. The straps are there to raise the breasts.
Many women use the straps as support which causes
back
pain and grooves in their shoulders.
So what
is the solution. You need to get a
professional bra fitting. If the bra band rides up in
the back, the bra band is too big and you need to go down
one size. If your breasts are bulging out of the sides and
on top, you need to go up one size. These a two examples
of a bra that doesn't fit correctly. Most department
stores and
lingerie shops will have someone who can tell you your
correct size. Here is a tip. To get your correct bra
measurement, if you can, it is better to go to store like
Neiman Marcus or
Nordstrom (if available) - it does not cost you
anything. They have well-trained staff and excellent
customer service. While they also carry a huge selection
of bras, you do not have to shop there. I also don't
recommend
Victoria's Secret at all; they are poor at bra
fittings and more interested in making a sale than making
sure the bra actually fits. It is extremely important to
measure your correct bra size and if you are not happy
the first time, try another fitting. Smaller framed women
many times are mismeasured. I was once measured at a 34C
when really I was a 32D.
I
get unwanted attention from men
We
have to accept the fact that
men are visual creatures. If you are wearing a
form-fitting top, men are going to notice. You can't
pick and choose which guy should notice and which
shouldn't. I personally don't care; I dress in the
tops I like, I don't care who notices. But if you do
not enjoy the attention, then dress accordingly -
loose tops and even dark colors (dark colors are
concealing), wear a jacket,
use a scarf, etc. I know that some bosoms simply
can't be hidden because of their size, and I am not
knocking out form fitting at all - I wear
form-fitting too. However I don't have a problem
with men looking. I'm a woman and I have
breasts; they are going to look.
I can't find good clothes for myself
Indeed,
sometimes that can be a problem, especially if the band
size is small but the breasts are very large, as is the
case for Tyra Banks (She has even complained, "I would
love for them to be a size and a half smaller."). Some sizes
for which it is difficult to find good-fitting clothes
are: 28 (D, DD, and E), 30 (D, DD, E, and F), and 32 (D,
DD, E, and F). These women are going to have difficulty
because their chest circumference is very tiny but their
cup size is very large. Many a times, if it fits on the
shoulders, it won't go down over the breasts, and if it is
big in the chest area - it may be too large in the
shoulders.
(Related:
Simone Perele Argentina lingerie) Also bras
for these women are impossible to find in the stores in
the US. Believe it or not, but stores that carry many of
these sizes are not only based overseas they are also
expensive. We clearly need more local stores for the well
endowed women with small band sizes. So if you are
having difficulty finding your correct bra, check out the
websites that I like (Fig
Leaves,
Bravissimo, and
Under Cover Experience). These cater to women that
have a small band size and large breasts. I love
Bravissimo in particular, because they have
bra size swim tops and bra size tank and halter tops,
where an unlined bra is built in, no straps needed. I just
wish there were stores like this based in the US or
shipping from overseas were not so expensive. One of these
days I will be buying my bras off the rack, because bra
companies will be including us in their marketing.
(Related:
Fayreform lingerie collection)
Recommended articles:
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care of your breasts?
How to
have perky breasts?
Teenagers with big
breasts
Insurance coverage
for breast reduction
Breast augmentation revision surgery
Plus size
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Induced lactation
Growing breasts after 21
Breast size in England
Can wearing bras
make breasts smaller?
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Clothes for big
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Hilary Duff breasts |