Realty check - body image

[annie]

Well, I hadn't read this thread yet. I'm posting to tell you, Annie, that I agree 100% with you. Sometimes the comments about boob jobs can be hurtful. A lot of people make judgements about breats implants without really knowing where a person comes from.

I, too, have breast implants. I was barely an AA cup before I lost weight and then when I lost 40 pounds, there was NOTHING. Worse than that, there was nothing and my nipples fell into themselves to make little inverted hammocks. Because I spend 98% my time in workout clothes/tri clothes, enhancing bras were not really an option. I have a boyish figure, slim hips, no rear, muscular waist. Honestly I looked like a 12 year old boy. I worked hard to get fit. I have 6 pack abs. But the more fit I got the worse my breasts looked.

I went to the PS and told him that I wanted to have some breasts. I told him my athletic activites. He agreed to give me implants that would give me some shape and fit my activity level. Mine are some of the smallest that he's used. I'm now a large B/Small C. In some bras I wear a 34B and in others a 34C. I don't think that they look as good as "REAL" breasts, because they are not "real" breasts. But I didn't get that choice.

I don't think that anything had been said here that was terribly offensive, but just wanted to add my support to Annie. Sometimes it seems that the negative extreme examples of breast implants overshadow the others.

Thanks, Silver, for sharing your story and viewpoint and reasoning. I agree that nothing said here was terribly offensive, I guess I was just ready to open up a dicussion from the POV of someone with implants, since it seemed that most comments came from those without.

Lisa SH, just gotta tell you - I do not have, nor want beachballs! LOL! Mine may not be quite as saggy as naturals would be at my age, but I'm ok with that. I've still got a ski slope, but it just doesn't scoop out as much as before. No big air for mini-skiers.

Brandi, Did you ever ask your Mom why she had a boob job? Maybe she didn't think they were as wonderful as you did? That's a good question. I know women worry about this and the effect it might have on their daughters. No easy answers. How to decide what is more important - your own self-esteem or the possible (yet unkown) effect on someone you love? You raise a very good and thought-provoking situation.

Annie

[Kitsune06]

Still, you can't stop people from voicing opinions. And we all have them.

A wiseazz once said "Opinions are like azzholes, we all have them, just some stink more than others". ... sometimes people need to be more careful about the way they choose to express themselves.

Well, just to clarify my own stance on the subject a bit, for whatever that's worth:
...
My only objection to implants is when women get gigantic implants that make them look deformed and bizarre- I feel the promotion of the huge deformed beachball look as an ideal sends a very unhealthy message to young men and young women...

My opinion, too. I like boobs. I do. Lots. but yeah, the cantalope-sized fake boobs you see on some chicks are very unappealing. Just enough for a hand or mouth, I think, is easily enough... and as a person into piercing/tats, body mod, etc.. people need to do what makes their appearance match their mental perceptions of themselves- in a positive and healthy way.
I was okay as a AA, and ok as an A. I'm happy as a B, and would still be ok if I lost weight again and went back to A or AA... *shrug*

[Zen]

A wiseazz once said "Opinions are like azzholes, we all have them, just some stink more than others". ... sometimes people need to be more careful about the way they choose to express themselves.

I don't think anyone directly criticized Annie. If they did, I missed it. As she herself put it-

Thanks, but don't worry! I am NOT offended. I think it was my problem that I was defensive for awhile and am now past that.


Annie

And in a situation like this you also have to consider that when you read something it may not sound the way the writer intended it. When we compose the written word we are transposing our thoughts as we "hear" them. Emphasis and inflection are lost and sometimes misunderstanding arise.