ParfumGigi@aol.com

Saturday May 5, 2007

While at a Valencia eatery last week, a young man dining with my group laughingly stated, "That 60-year-old woman two tables over has a set of 16-year-old ... breasts."

OK, I'm human. I looked. And to be exact, they were more like 16 - on growth hormone.

Indeed, she appeared to be around 60. And yes, behind her low-cut, snug-fitting top were two solid-looking, beach ball-like objects.

She was proud of them.

"More power to her," I announced. "You never know, maybe she was 'flat' all her life but when she got older, decided to treat herself to what she'd always wanted. Or maybe she'd had breast cancer and then opted to get a little extra padding included with the reconstruction. If she's happy, that's what matters, right?"

Following a brief pause, the fellow agreed, and we all went back to our dinners.

As I resumed eating, I couldn't help but notice several other similarly shaped chests come in and out of the restaurant.

Alas, breast implants are "big" in our town.

By having breast augmentation, each woman becomes a large part of the nearly 2 million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures performed annually in our country. Perhaps it's no surprise: Southern California is the No. 1 consumer of such "products."

I hope that the positive outcome these females seek by going under the knife turns out to be what they wanted. I'd bet that for the "mature" women who "do it for themselves," that's more likely to be the case.

But for the very young girls, those who chase popularity and self-esteem by having a popping pair of "party favors" sewn into their thoracic walls, I have my doubts - and concerns.

Increasingly, high school girls are getting breast implants - some receiving them as graduation gifts - done in the impassioned quest for male (and even female) attention and to "feel really good" about themselves.

All too easily, girls are willing to face the surgery's potential physical and psychological risks (and, for their growing bodies, possible future side effects), just to look like the millions of "jumbo-jetted" Janies out there today.

Poor misguided girls - so young and impressionable.

Particularly with their technology-saturated generation, girls have been raised amid a titillating bombardment of hypersexualized audiovisual messages. They are told: To be "in" and "desirable," look (and act) like the outrageous, faux-cleavaged tarts that dominate the media.

Girls today have been brought up in an age of "Extreme Makeovers" being seen as genuine conduits for (artificially) discovering one's own personal nirvana - and "repairing" anything that's not perfect.

Add to that, some of our toy store's top-selling dolls now resemble glitzy hookers. (Even more pitiful, many little girls want to dress like them.)

All of this can lead down a negative path: The American Psychiatric Association warns that girls who start getting sexualized at an early age are more inclined to have plastic surgery, and are also more prone to eating disorders, low self esteem and depression.

Just last week, I read about a Florida radio station that's recruiting "party girls" for a bizarre new contest. Like "bowling for boobs," the winning contestant's grand prize is free breast augmentation - awarded to gals who can party hard for 30 hours straight, while live on the Internet. And guess what? In their mission to be "hot, hot, hot!" young females are signing up in droves.

I suspect that many girls pursuing such attention through "enhancement" may also be longing for something far different: more loving and interactive relationships with their parents (particularly their fathers). They may also yearn for better self-confidence, and to be a part of more productive and empowering activities (healthy things like gymnastics, art, identifying career interests, outside worthy causes, etc.).

But being young, many do not know how to go about acquiring such intrinsic happiness and goals. And sadly, not everyone has the kind of support or validation at home that helps in this journey.

Dear young females of the Santa Clarita Valley: Please take note. Feeling good about the person you are inside has nothing to do with what's on your chest. It's not about humongous breasts. It's about what's in your head and your heart.

Resist that commercial tidal wave that has swept so many into believing that with some nips, tucks and added gel-like substances, "You, too, can be cool and attractive."

You are cool and attractive, just the way you are.

You may not hear it enough so I'll tell you now: You are also unique, worthy and wonderful - "imperfections" included.

Place your life, health, and individuality in the driver's seat here. If way down the line you prudently decide on implants, and your reasons for getting them are for yourself and no one else, fine. But don't rush into it now, not when there's much more important work to focus on within you.

Educate your mind, strengthen your body and soul, forge a real connection with the world, and build your best tomorrow.

There are many great guys around who would treasure you as you are, and never place their own egos or sexual fantasies above your feelings or well-being.

Remember that a partner with real character and integrity does not require big bosomy accessories to remain interested or proud.

Also remember that someone who loves you unconditionally will romantically regard you as his exclusive cup of tea - whether you're a hefty, nature-made 40-EE or barely enough to fill a demitasse.

Diana Sevanian lives in Stevenson Ranch. Her column reflects her own views, and not necessarily those of The Signal.

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I, agree with the woman; who wrote this article. Young high school girls should not be getting breast implants as graduation gifts or done for the quest of a male because; of the known side effects. The PS's, don't tell their implant patiences about- that lead to serious diseases; an other illness from these toxic devices.

It isn't what's Up Front That Counts in the End- Its a woman's, health and her un born children's. Breast Implants, have been the first step in the making of a critical tragedy, that has lead to extremely serious illness in the lives of trusting women;( and their innocent children) that believed the bologna & lies there PS's told them (while leaving out the information about the devesting side effects the BI manufactures were all aware of from, the time these highly toxic devices were created) because of greed over the Oath they took to do no Harm..The PS's ass. is who help fund getting these toxic

devices approved to implant more women to feather their own bank accounts IMHO

before placing the safety and health of women and young girls first. Silicone was deemed toxic- cancer causing among other serious health problems after the Japanese women, were injected with silicone during WW2. Wrapping a permeable bag around silicone- which is not inert and leaks throughout a woman's body to every organ was a hoax thought up by Dow! then the other BI manufactures used it

This is a crime & cover up of the worst type in history- women, men, and children have died from, silicone poisoning or are so deathly ill they can't function. Would you like to end up with parts of your body removed because; of a silicone device your physician's said was safe?