Throughout the human life cycle, female breasts are many things to many people. To a baby, they are often a vital source of nutrition and comfort. To a toddler, they may be "those things on Mommy's chest that she feeds the baby with." To an adolescent girl, they can gleefully represent the long-anticipated proof of her budding womanhood. To most warm-blooded males, they "stand for" the most alluring pair of appendages Mother Nature ever invented.

To the majority of women, the presence - and appearance of - their breasts strongly tie-in with their own self-esteem, sensuality and confidence.

To plastic surgeons and other medical and health professionals, breasts are often the key reason that female patients seek them out. Whether they've been "underdeveloped" since puberty, or have had post-pregnancy, weight fluctuation, aging, or other body changes, these females want better-looking breasts - and they often elect breast augmentation surgery to achieve that result.

Technically known as augmentation mammoplasty, this is a surgical procedure done to enhance the size and shape of a woman's breasts.

Valencia-based plastic surgeon Dr. Edward Pechter, who has performed thousands of breast augmentation surgeries, reports that in 2006, there were 383,886 breast augmentation procedures, up 5 percent from 2005. Of those surgeries, some 19 percent used the newest silicone implants, which are known for being very naturally looking and feeling.

"According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2006 was the first year in which breast augmentation was the top surgical procedure for women, overtaking lipoplasty, which continues to remain the top overall surgical procedure," said Pechter, who has practiced locally for more than 20 years and was trained in the prestigious Division of Plastic Surgery at UCLA., where he maintains a teaching affiliation.

While breast augmentation surgery isn't for every woman, those who do have it done often feel a tremendous emotional gain, Pechter said.

"I recently took care of a nurse in her 40s whose breasts were so embarrassing to her that they had limited her social interactions her entire adult life. In fact, she had never had a mammogram because of self-consciousness about revealing her breasts," the plastic surgeon said, adding, "She tells me that her breast lift and augmentation have completely changed her attitude about herself."

The outcome of breast augmentation can be very satisfying as women learn to appreciate their fuller appearance, acknowledges Dr. Kevin Hayavi, medical director/owner of Beverly Hills Physicians Institute, a medical group providing cosmetic and plastic surgery services throughout Southern California, including Valencia.

"For the woman whose body has undergone changes after childbirth, it could be a life-changing experience," Hayavi said. "With the Baby Boomer population explosion in recent years, many women feel they need a breast enhancement procedure such as a breast augmentation or a breast lift. Other professional women feel that a cosmetic breast procedure will increase their chance of staying competitive with the younger work force."

Over the years, several different types and styles of breast implants have been used, Hayavi explained. "Most physicians today perform breast augmentation using saline-filled implants as well as the new FDA approved 'memory gel' silicone implants," said Hayavi, who attended Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, Michigan.

He adds that there are currently several different methods for inserting and positioning the implants. "The incisions can be made either in the crease where the breast meets the chest, beneath the areola, in the armpit or in the belly button," Hayavi stated.

Like Pechter, Hayavi has also performed thousands of breast augmentations, and utilizes the safest, most modern techniques known. "All methods can be performed safely with equally good results," Hayavi assures readers, adding, "The method you choose will depend on where you want the incision, as well as which procedure your surgeon feels will give you the best result."

The decision on which breast augmentation method to choose and who will perform that surgery should also be carefully considered. "These choices can be difficult, but being well informed will help you make the appropriate ones," he said.

Hayavi assures patients that there is "no evidence that implants would increase the risk of any disease or pre-expose one to any medical condition." In addition, he emphasizes that mammograms can be safely performed in women with breast implants.

"In addition to producing an undesirable appearance, WEARING THE WRONG-SIZED BRA can cause physical problems such as back, breast or arm pain, rashes and headaches."

Whether you're talking buildings or bosoms, every great structure must start with a great foundation. To create a sound building, of course, one needs a reliable contractor, quality materials and skilled workers. For an attractive bosom - no matter how large or small a woman's breasts are - she needs a properly fitted bra.

Unfortunately, many women do not wear the appropriate size bra, and that can lead to problems. Per a national fit study, eight out of 10 women over the age of 18 in the United States are wearing a wrong size, poorly-fitted bra. That error can cause breasts to appear "saggy, pointy or to bulge out of bra; for the bra band to ride up in the back or the underwire to stick out, wrinkling or squishing of the cup, and numerous other malfunctions."

The study also revealed that the most common error made by women is wearing a bra in which the band is too big and the cups too small, with an estimated 35 million women making this mistake alone.

In addition to producing an undesirable appearance, wearing the wrong-sized bra can cause physical problems such as back, breast or arm pain, rashes and headaches.

So how is it that so many women are going around in the wrong-size bras?

"The fault lies not with the women who wear them, but with the traditional method of bra measurement, which is highly inaccurate," said Pechter, who has invented the Size ME Up! bra measuring system.

Pechter, also a writer and inventor, developed the method to help women determine their exact bra size - and ultimately look their "breast-best." His technique for bra size calculation is different from the traditional method of measurement as it takes into account the relationship between ribcage measurement (underbust circumference) breast width and bra size.

According to Pechter, the formula reveals the correct bra size for more than 90 percent of women. The remedy for "Bad Bra Syndrome" is easy, the plastic surgeon said. "Get sized-up correctly! Moreover, it is very important to measure yourself at least once a year," he stated.

A woman will know when she is properly sized when her bra fits well in every aspect, Pechter said, adding, "And she will know it when her breasts look amazing in all the clothes she wears, no matter what size she is."


For further information on breast implant surgery, visit www.breastimplantsafety.org. Note: As with any surgical procedure or body treatment, it is important that clients/patients are informed of all risks and benefits involved, and are knowledgeable of their practitioner's skill/knowledge level, including trusted recommendations, facility experience and successes in those procedures, and other pertinent information.


Breast Harmony in Lush Bust?

Want fuller, better-looking breasts without undergoing an operating room experience? Rosemary Murphy, owner of Beyond Harmony Med Spa, says that Lush Bust, a new topical treatment, can help achieve that desire.

"It combines the most effective technologies to help improve the size and appearance of breast contours, without surgery," said Murphy, also a KHTS AM-1220 radio talk show host. Murphy notes that Lush Bust contains "a combination of peptides to enhance natural collagen production, to help tighten and firm the skin, plus sustained release microspheres which deliver a potent plant-based estrogen. That, plus an exclusive blend of vitamins, penetrate deep into the dermis to achieve maximum enhancement and rejuvenation."

"The results are a more full, youthful, healthy bustline within weeks," said Murphy, whose Soledad Canyon Road spa offers a wide variety of services and products.

Breast Implant History

In the 1960s the first silicone breast implants were developed by two plastic surgeons from Texas, Drs. Frank Gerow and Thomas Cronin - with Dow Corning Corporation providing the silicone. These implants were developed for use by mastectomy patients to replace ones made of a sponge material, which tended to harden and look less natural with time.