Ask The Expert
Is Bigger Better?
It's quite clear that Debbie Rix is no fan of breast enlargement! Read her words of wisdom for 18-year-old Merrell who's thinking of having a boob job...
Dear Debbie,
I'm 18 years old and unhappy with the way I look. I would really love to have a boob job and have looked into it. It's pretty expensive, but a couple of the places which offer surgery are able to offer credit. My main worry is how to speak to my mum about this. She's against cosmetic surgery, but I need to explain to her how much this means to me. Any help you can give me would be really appreciated.
Thank you
Merell
UKTV Style's Agony Aunt replies:
Hello there,
Oh dear Merell, I fear that I'm going to disappoint you! I'm afraid to say I'm with your mum on this one. The main reason is that you are still only 18 and your body hasn't finished growing. Most women carry on growing until they are about 20, so you don't even really know what you will ultimately 'look like'. And as everybody grows at different rates, try not to compare your body with those of your friends right now.
I'd be interested to know your reasons behind wanting a breast enlargement - and I'm guessing that you want them made bigger, not smaller? It's a definite fallacy that 'bigger is better'. It's a fact that big boobs tend to go south a lot quicker. And I know that false ones tend to stay unnaturally perky, but if you have a boob job then you're signing up to an op every 10 years to replace the implants. If you don't do this, then the breasts have a tendency to feel lumpy, or worse still can start leaking into your body.
Maybe you feel that your small breasts don't show off clothes well? Well, have you ever seen a fashion model with anything larger than a 32A cupsize?! Why? Because breasts get in the way of clothes and make them hang badly. Larger breasts also have a tendency to make you look top-heavy, increasing the perception that you are heavier than your actual weight.
Many women of your age are unsure of their bodies. The transition from girl to woman can take some getting used to, and I fear that you haven't given yourself time to adjust. If you feel that there are lumps and bumps in places that you hadn't expected then the best course of action really is a healthy diet and moderate exercise. This will give your natural body shape a chance to shine through and I can bet you that in a few months time you'll like what you see. My other piece of advice is to get a decent fitting bra - the majority of women in this country are walking around in ill-fitting undies, and wearing the correct lingerie can make all the difference to how you look and feel about your body.
Merell, I really urge you to think long and hard about your desire for a boob job. It's certainly not something to be undertaken lightly. We're not talking about a quick leg wax or even a ghastly botox session in your lunch hour! We are talking about a major operation, with associated risks - not least, the issue of long-term safety.
If you are still dead set on the idea then try waiting a couple of years. Your body will have stopped growing, and you will know that you have definitely made the right decision. This will also give you time to save for the operation, so you're not paying exorbitant interest on a credit agreement for years to come. There's nothing like having to put your hard-earned money away every month to make you think whether something is really worthwhile.
It may sound trite, but my main advice for you is to learn to love your body. As I've said before, a bit of exercise and a good fitting bra can make all the difference to how you feel about yourself. And I know that mums can seem to put a downer on a lot of things when you're a teenager, but as you get older you might just realise that they were talking sense all along!
Good luck
Debbie
Take a look at our Style Fashion Guide Underwear Flair for tips on flattering undies.
I'm 18 years old and unhappy with the way I look. I would really love to have a boob job and have looked into it. It's pretty expensive, but a couple of the places which offer surgery are able to offer credit. My main worry is how to speak to my mum about this. She's against cosmetic surgery, but I need to explain to her how much this means to me. Any help you can give me would be really appreciated.
Thank you
Merell
UKTV Style's Agony Aunt replies:
Hello there,
Oh dear Merell, I fear that I'm going to disappoint you! I'm afraid to say I'm with your mum on this one. The main reason is that you are still only 18 and your body hasn't finished growing. Most women carry on growing until they are about 20, so you don't even really know what you will ultimately 'look like'. And as everybody grows at different rates, try not to compare your body with those of your friends right now.
I'd be interested to know your reasons behind wanting a breast enlargement - and I'm guessing that you want them made bigger, not smaller? It's a definite fallacy that 'bigger is better'. It's a fact that big boobs tend to go south a lot quicker. And I know that false ones tend to stay unnaturally perky, but if you have a boob job then you're signing up to an op every 10 years to replace the implants. If you don't do this, then the breasts have a tendency to feel lumpy, or worse still can start leaking into your body.
Maybe you feel that your small breasts don't show off clothes well? Well, have you ever seen a fashion model with anything larger than a 32A cupsize?! Why? Because breasts get in the way of clothes and make them hang badly. Larger breasts also have a tendency to make you look top-heavy, increasing the perception that you are heavier than your actual weight.
Many women of your age are unsure of their bodies. The transition from girl to woman can take some getting used to, and I fear that you haven't given yourself time to adjust. If you feel that there are lumps and bumps in places that you hadn't expected then the best course of action really is a healthy diet and moderate exercise. This will give your natural body shape a chance to shine through and I can bet you that in a few months time you'll like what you see. My other piece of advice is to get a decent fitting bra - the majority of women in this country are walking around in ill-fitting undies, and wearing the correct lingerie can make all the difference to how you look and feel about your body.
Merell, I really urge you to think long and hard about your desire for a boob job. It's certainly not something to be undertaken lightly. We're not talking about a quick leg wax or even a ghastly botox session in your lunch hour! We are talking about a major operation, with associated risks - not least, the issue of long-term safety.
If you are still dead set on the idea then try waiting a couple of years. Your body will have stopped growing, and you will know that you have definitely made the right decision. This will also give you time to save for the operation, so you're not paying exorbitant interest on a credit agreement for years to come. There's nothing like having to put your hard-earned money away every month to make you think whether something is really worthwhile.
It may sound trite, but my main advice for you is to learn to love your body. As I've said before, a bit of exercise and a good fitting bra can make all the difference to how you feel about yourself. And I know that mums can seem to put a downer on a lot of things when you're a teenager, but as you get older you might just realise that they were talking sense all along!
Good luck
Debbie
Take a look at our Style Fashion Guide Underwear Flair for tips on flattering undies.
