You can purchase something in pretty much every lingerie department that will enhance the size of your breast and give you the appearance of cleavage, usually for under $100. If you can wander into almost any department or apparel store and walk out a cup or two sizes larger, you might wonder why anyone would decide to surgically enhance the size of their breasts.
Push-up bras have a number of benefits, but they really can’t replace implants if you’re going for a permanent, long lasting look. If you’re not quite ready for breast augmentation, a push-up bra can give you an idea of what you’ll look like, without the commitment.
Push-Up Benefit: Instant Results
One of the big benefits of wearing a push-up bra is that you get to see your results right away. If you have a special event one evening and want to fill out your dress or gown a bit better, you can go shopping for a bra in the afternoon and be all set.
The type of results you get can also vary based on the style of bra you choose. Some bras can add a full cup size, using a combination of padding and wires to provide support and lift. Others might make your breasts look slightly perkier, temporarily imitating the results of a breast lift.
Push-Up Benefit: No Recovery or Commitment
Another advantage of a push-up bra over implants is that there’s no commitment or recovery time needed. You can wear the bra for the evening, then return to your regular bra style the next day. You don’t have to take time off from your regular life to get the best advantages of the bra.
Although it can take some time and a lot of try-ons to find the push-up bra that gives you the results you want, in the long run, the amount of time you invest in shopping for and wearing the bra will be a lot shorter than the time you invest in consulting with a surgeon about breast augmentation, choosing the right implant size and shape, undergoing surgery, and the recovery process.
Push-Up Drawback: Might Not Give You the Best Results
Obviously, push-up bras aren’t the perfect solution, or else no one would consider implants or breast lifts. There are some limitations to what the bras can. For one thing, most push-up bras only add about a cup size, if that, to the breasts. If you want more dramatic changes or larger size, you won’t get that from a bra alone.
For another thing, the effectiveness of push-up bras can wear off as you get older and your breasts change in size or shape. If you have lost some fat or breast tissue, and you have excess skin in the breast tissue, as a result of pregnancy or breastfeeding, you might not get quite the look you were going for from a bra alone.
Finally, push-up bras don’t provide the long-lasting results that implants do. Even if you’ve found the world’s most comfortable push-up bra, you’re going to have to take it off at some point.
Breast Implants Benefit: Customizable
Sure, you can choose the black lace push-up bra or the red satin one, but if you want really customizable results and breasts that really feel like your own, you’re going to want to go the implant route. Breasts are about more than just size. It’s the shape of the implant and the material it’s made out of that determine the overall look in the long run. For example, silicone implants tend to feel more natural than ones made out of saline. But, saline implants can be inflated after being placed in the breast, so the surgeon is able to make a smaller incision.
Breast Implants Benefit: Long-Lasting
For the most part, implants have a shelf-life of at least 10 years. Many women find that their implants last much longer than 10 years, and they are able to keep going with the same pair for many years.
Breast Implants Drawback: Long Recovery Time and Higher Cost
There is one major potential drawback when it comes to implants and breast augmentation. Surgery requires a bit of a recovery period, usually between one and two weeks for the initial recovery. It can take a few more months before you’re able to the final results. Additionally, breast augmentation costs a lot more than your average push-up bra, unless you’re buying a diamond encrusted, $1 million bra.
But, for women who are unhappy with the size of their breasts, surgical augmentation’s benefits often outweighs the drawbacks and is a considerable improvement over the old push-up bra. If you’re considering breast implants, speak with a plastic surgeon who specializes in the procedure. In the Houston area, Dr. Paul Vitenas performs more than 400 breast augmentation surgeries every year. He’s happy to answer your questions and help you weigh the pros and cons of surgery. Call 281-484-0088 to schedule your consultation today.