A Bought Set

That's what my friend Abby calls breast implants. Cracks me up.

Yesterday, Vixen's CQW was regarding a growing trend towards women getting plastic surgery to improve the look of their labia and/or vagina. The question at hand was whether or not women (or men, if there were an equivalent surgery...and I'm sure there is) would consider surgery like that. The responses were, for the most part, some form of "no."

The subject of other plastic surgeries came up, with many people weighing in on that subject, as well. To quote *me* (and who better to quote?) :

"While I wouldn’t consider surgery THERE for cosmetic reasons alone, it’s hard for me, having had plastic surgery myself, to knock someone else for doing it.

I was *really* unhappy with the way my breasts looked after two kids, and I didn’t think there was any reason why I should have to be unhappy with them for the rest of my life. So, if one’s girly bits cause them to be self-conscious for some reason, go for it."

Yeh...shocker, I know. C'mon, if you've seen me naked, you know you wondered. I don't advertise, but I've always answered honestly when asked. And let me tell you, if you've wondered about other post-baby boobies, the answer is most likely *yes*. Perky post-baby boobies - particularly post-breastfeeding boobies - are an anomaly. Nature just isn't that kind.

So, why? Why do we do this? One word used was vanity, which to most people, and definitely in the context of the statement, is equivalent to conceit. Yes, there are a lot of women and men out there who are trying to be perfect, but most of us just want a body that we feel comfortable in. That we will be happy to see in the mirror every day for the rest of our (hopefully long) lives.

Here's where the sad part comes in, though. I think most of us *would* be happy if society and the media weren't telling us that we *shouldn't* be. I'm not saying that I regret my surgery, but what made me feel uncomfortable? Part of it was that I didn't look like "me" anymore. That body belonged to someone else. But, a large part of it was also that message we all receive that a real, average body isn't good enough. It almost starts to feel like a character flaw rather than a physical one, and it shouldn't feel like a flaw at all!

I can only speak from a woman's point of view. How can you not feel intimidated when your man (speaking in general terms here) spends time drooling over perfectly made up and airbrushed women in magazines and on tv? How about those tabloids that publish pictures of celebrity women sans makeup and SCREAM on the cover how ugly those women are? While you're standing there in the check-out line sans makeup, in a ponytail, with baby drool on you. And under your baggy t-shirt is a pair of breasts that have seen better days.

If you subscribe to Playboy, or anxiously await the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition, or express your desire to bone some pretty young thing on tv, you can't very well knock a woman for trying to achieve the impossible standards that you are encouraging through your actions.