Letters to the Editor
-
Surgery was my solution
I started developing breasts at the age of 8 (one side before the other side). My mom thought I had a tumor and took me to the doctor who took one look at me, burst into laughter and said: "She just developing boobs!" My mom was embarrassed. So was I. And we never discussed it.
By the time I was 16 years old I was a 36DD. I was not overweight. My mom was always very small, and had very small breasts. I happen to look like my father's side of the family. His mother was always a bit stocky and had large breasts, as do all three of my dad's sisters.
My breasts kept growing. I felt as if they entered the room before me. When I slid into a booth at a restaurant with my friends, my breasts moved all the cutlery along with me, and they dusted the table. I would joke about it, but it bothered me. They would actually sit on the table. They seemed to have a life of their own.
I became very sick and tired of every man I met (and some women) looking at my cleavage instead of into my eyes.
In my early thirties, after thinking about it for a long time, I finally decided to have breast reduction surgery.
At that time I was a 44FF. After the surgery, I was a 36BB. The doctor was worried I might think my breasts too small. I was thrilled. I told him that they looked like they had when I was 13! The doctor's shocked response was: "You were that big at 13?"
I went without a bra for almost a year! It was exhilarating.
Over the years, I gained some weight and so did my breasts. I am now a 38DD. I like to walk and wear a very tight fitting bra (which was recently discontinued!! Curses!!). But at the end of the day, when I take off my bra, my breasts ache.
If ANYone out there thinks that more supportive bras would not sell... well, they haven't done any market research. Ask most women (not all; we can disagree amongst ourselves) and most will say that we'd rather NOT have breast pain at the end of the day, rather than just learn to live with it... or (as one poster suggested) accept that we can never do any kind of exercises because we happen to have large boobs! Phu-lease!
Build a better mouse trap and the world will beat a path to your door.
Same things goes for a better bra.
-
P.S.
I have never regreted having breast reduction surgery... never!
-
Reductions as a solution
Most of the people I know who have had reductions are very happy with their decision. However, it is major surgery, there is permanent scarring, and if you don't maintain your weight, they grow back (breasts are made up of fat, connective tissue and glands). The other phenomenon I've noticed is that reduced and lifted breasts are shaped to look like breasts with implants. A natural breast is teardrop shaped, courtesy of gravity. I wish plastic surgeons would recognize this. As much as I would love to wear the latest trendy backless dress, I will continue to opt for a strong back and a supportive bra.
-
Big job
Don't sound so surprised that the British military would be involved. Some years ago, an engineer I knew told me about an international design contest that asked structural engineers from around the world to work on bra design. Apparently it's a very trying endeavor, as the variables can make the job a headache. (Seems one of the major problems is how to support the weight with so few usable anchor points. Or something.) It was considered quite a challenge by the people that worked on it. Unfortunately I never did find out what the outcome was.
So I'd say it's probably military engineers that are pitching on the design aspects. It'll be interesting to see what they come up with.
-
Easy
just keep adding non flexible materials among the flexible material in the bra cup. Machines can sew amazing hybrid materials now. Criss cross the materials across the nipple area to minimize sideways movement. I studied industrial design and have an interest in breasts. Give me $100k, I'll come up with he perfect bra design. I'll even make it look purty.
-
re: my favorite anonymous
Now I'm expected to FOUND A COMPANY to make my own clothes or just shut up about it? Do you, perchance, make all of your own clothing, sir? Or do you maybe acknowledge that in a civilized world, there's something called division of labor?
-
"Cooper", eh? Surely not Dr. Ken??
HeleneCR observes "and once [the Cooper's ligament is] stretched, your breasts, no matter what size, are literally running...down your chest to your belly button."
I have actually seen this. The affected individuals must scoop up each breast and lift it about a foot into each bra cup. Then, shirt on, they appear normal.
Protect those ligaments, ladies!!! Whatever it takes!
-
Hey Brightstar...
Actually, there IS a woman-run lingerie company; maybe you've just never read magazines with ads featuring the tag-line "Behind every Olga (bra) there really is an Olga (designer.)" Dunno whether or how she designs sports lingerie; her prices are a bit beyond my budget.
-
Re: Now I'm expected to FOUND A COMPANY ...
Now I'm expected to FOUND A COMPANY to make my own clothes or just shut up about it? Do you, perchance, make all of your own clothing, sir? Or do you maybe acknowledge that in a civilized world, there's something called division of labor?
No, of course not.
You're just expected not to whine and blame it on men. There are plenty of women bankers and women ceos and women marketeers and women engineers.
If there is a market failure, and no one is filling this need, or sees this opportunity, then logic says this is not because of some evil patriarchy. There are plenty of women that could be doing this but they are not. You may want to ask them why.
It's like the male birth control pill. That there is none is not because there is a male conspiracy to oppress women, but because it is harder to kill a brazillion sperm than one egg. It is not because all scientists are male, because there are just as many amazingly smart women scientists as there are male scientists. But we hear from the Broadsheet Feminists(tm) that it is a male conspiracy.
And on the other hand, I would have thought you might thank me for pointing out where there truly is some awesome free resources these days: the local university that is chock full of students, engineers, mbas, lawyers, that need projects and are looking for startups.
P.S. When you called me your fav, I started blushing. Ah, gee, thanks!