I consider myself to be a liberal, thinking woman. After losing 170 pounds over a three-year period, my once large/firm breasts were flat pancakes that could be rolled like toothpaste tubes. Going from a size 32 to a size eight will do that.
On Jan. 4, I celebrated the last year of this millennium with a mastopexy (to put them back where they belonged) and bilateral implants (to fill up what was left).
I am the proud owner of a pair of 36D boobs. I paid $6,000 for them. It was worth every penny.
I feel better about myself. I like the way my clothes fit. I like the way my husband looks at me. He's the same husband who saw me from 309 to 135. He loves me fat, he loves me thin. He loves me with boobs and without boobs.
I feel sexy. I feel pretty. Having a boob job was a great way to celebrate being a woman.
-- Marilyn Sackheim
I thoroughly enjoyed Carolyn Magner's amusing vacillations between the issue of "to boob or not to boob." Full disclosure: I have rather substantial (and natural, since I have a butt to match) breasts and have gotten both wanted and unwanted attention since they sprouted rather spontaneously the summer I graduated from high school. But in high school, where cruelty and self image are inseparable, I was barely an A cup, and suffered a certain amount of torment.
I've seen both sides of the issue personally, and I have to agree having nice boobs makes it much easier to hail taxis, obtain police assistance and reduce charges from car mechanics. However, one thing that you might not be aware of: They FEEL fake. They don't bounce, and feel like Frisbees when caressed. Bottom line, they are decorative, but not very functional. Be glad you said no.
-- Stacy Selmants
By all means, embracing feminism should also include the essential hypocrisy that comes with enjoying femininity to its fullest and realizing its limitations. Logic and reason are irreplaceable in life, as are unreasonable emotional, reactionary choices. The confusing part is, why is this such a problem? Is it really that men can't understand this dichotomy, or is it that women hold it like our "skeleton in the closet" and refuse to acknowledge we all have weaknesses? I for one, would love to see the average "liberated woman" show a little more grace in life as this author does. Changing her mind on the fake boob issue did nothing to diminish the fact that she is obviously a thinking, caring mom. Kudos!
-- D. Demmons
Thank you, Carolyn, for your article. I think it's important to hear the other side of the coin -- why it's NOT such a great idea to get breast implants. Every day we are surrounded by images telling us why it IS a good idea.
You've done right by your daughters and, most importantly, yourself.
Incidentally, I did the same thing with a Wonderbra years ago and had the same reaction. Also, I have a friend who was my size (34B) before giving birth to her daughter. Now, breastfeeding, she is a 40D and aggravated by her breasts. Small breasts are wonderful and should be appreciated. Besides, I would hate being stared at all the time -- especially for THAT.
-- Wendy Hall
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