Let’s get the gasps, shrugs, eye rolls, and sounds of exasperation that come with the mere thought of a boob job out of the way right from the start. In today’s world, boob jobs—otherwise called ‘perking up the goods’—are a commonplace occurrence among women of all ages, sizes, and social status. The line that divides the women who get boob jobs and those who are aghast that such a thing even exists is often laden with jealousy and a fuzzy sense of morality. Whether to get a boob job or not, or whether it is right or wrong, has nothing to do with a person’s morals; it is rather a matter of a person’s sense of self. The bottom line is simple: it is a completely personal and private decision.
Obviously, cost is a factor. For many years, the only people eligible for plastic surgery had fat wallets. In the United States, a breast augmentation costs between $3,500 and $7,000, depending on the type of surgery and option package a woman chooses. In Canada, where prices are higher, the same surgery can set you back $7,500. This makes it clear that getting a boob job is more of a financial consideration than an emotional one for many. However, many plastic surgeons offer payment plans, and there are ample credit opportunities available for those determined to finance the surgery. For some, spending this much money on something they perceive as “superficial”—especially when there are so many other things to buy—is mind-boggling. For others, the dissatisfaction with their breasts causes so much emotional strain and insecurity that it is absolutely worth the investment.
Why Women Consider a Boob Job
Aging, having children, nursing babies, gaining and losing weight, and a lifetime of changes can take their toll on femininity—most specifically the breasts. Ten years ago, you may have had small breasts that were at least perky and equal. Today, those same small breasts might look more like shrunken and stretched skin than anything else. Sure, a good bra can go a long way in making them look better, but this doesn’t necessarily alter how a woman feels. Boobs are such a huge part of being a woman. Think back to the 6th grade, when some girls were already wearing B cups while others hadn’t blossomed at all. By the time this group got to 8th grade, there were snickers, comparisons, and plenty of girls left stuffing their bras. As you get older, the social inclination to check out a woman’s breasts first can make women who don’t like their bust line feel hopelessly uncomfortable. They may have the perfect body, lacking only the Pamela Anderson-style boobs that would make them feel like an instant celebrity. Is it somehow wrong for these women to chase their dreams of perking up the goods out of fear of being scorned by other women? Absolutely not.
Another group of women in this world feel disgusted by women who get boob jobs. You know who you are—sitting at the coffee shop with your friends when she walks in. The other mother you know who, within one week, seemed to grow four bra sizes. Suddenly, she is wearing revealing clothes and sporting cleavage that makes you cringe. The problem is, what you’re cringing at is envy. This envy doesn’t mean that you want a boob job, just that suddenly, you feel this woman has something over you! She may be walking with a brand-new confidence, and comments like “those are DEFINITELY fake” as you turn your head seem to speak volumes about how you feel about your own breasts. Sure, they’re fake, and most people who get boob jobs aren’t in denial. In fact, they’re proud. If getting a boob job can empower one woman just as much as taking Pilates, yoga, or buying nice clothes, then the decision to do so should be a private matter.
The female body is a beautiful thing. With all its curves, there is nothing sexier or more beautiful than a woman who looks great and is confident in herself. While this confidence shouldn’t—and can’t—come from boobs alone, it can be heightened by improving the look of the breasts. It seems like a double standard for millions of women to work out regularly, watch what they eat, and diet to look great, only to then scorn other women for trying to look great in their own way. More than likely, if the surgery was a success, she does look great, and she will be turning lots of heads—even your husband’s. If he pretends not to notice, he’s simply trying to spare you some idle pain. It’s extremely immature and spiteful to suddenly feel angered, distaste, or aloof because a woman has had breast augmentation. If her nose was too big and she took care of that, would you feel the same? If she had a scar removed from her face, would you still be a hater? No, you would not!
Perking up the goods often carries with it an aura of being a stripper or tramp. Big-breasted women are considered “easy,” and those who spend money on a part of their anatomy with sexual implications come under deep scrutiny by others. Yet, breast augmentations are becoming a rite of passage for millions of women who have had children and are left unhappy with the state of their bodies. Are they suddenly bad mothers? They are accused of sending the wrong message to young girls when, in reality, we have no idea what they tell their children about the surgery. In a world where we can often easily fix things that bother us with a little bit of cash, there is no reason to be left longing for a better or different life if we can make a deliberate change. In fact, ancient wisdom tells us that our own dissatisfaction in any area of our lives is simply a cue about where we should direct our energies. Longing for something—wishing for a boob job or settling—doesn’t make one a more noble or moral person; it just makes them unhappy.
The next big question, of course, is whether a boob job can really make someone happy. A recent study showed that women with augmented breasts have a higher risk of committing suicide in the decade following their breast implants. This gives pause to consider what other psychological issues may be lingering in some women who are overly concerned with appearances. Many of these women also had predetermined body image issues, such as eating disorders. However, there is no indication that the average woman who perks up her goods—a mother in her late 30s to early 40s who gets a little extra help from a plastic surgeon—is in any way part of a high-risk group. Perhaps she just feels that this little something-something is a well-deserved repayment for all the things her body has been through. Or, perhaps she feels that it might be nice to have better-looking breasts for once in her life. At any rate, the choice is hers. If we had to be honest, most women (at least those in their right mind) would consider and probably have a boob job if it were offered to them. They might not leave looking like Dolly Parton, but they would leave the surgery with at least an equal set of breasts that don’t stretch or point downward to their waistline.
