By JEWEL KATS and DAVE SILVERBERG
Young People's Press
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Dear Jewel,
I've heard there are exercises I can do to increase the size of my breasts. I'm 18 and they haven't grown in two years. I've also heard about pills you can take.
Is this for real or should I get used to being a small-breasted woman?
-- A Cup
Dear A.C.,
I faced a similar agony while growing up. Only my breasts sprouted in the opposite manner, and it was primarily my mother who started to worry.
You see, I was only 10 years old by the time I started sporting a C cup bra. Mom feared the boys in school would tease me, and instructed that I stop eating eggs and start performing these "breast exercises" she'd heard about from a lady friend. Needless to say, young me did as told.
In time, we learned that sunny-side-up meals and breast-workout regimes had little to do with puberty. My body developed the way it intended to, and I had to learn to embrace these changes, not question my growth.
I can wholeheartedly relate to your anxieties about breast development. However, in your case, according to medical staff at kidshealth.org, there isn't a magic formula for getting the large breasts you want.
"Although many products -- from special creams to exercise techniques -- claim to boost breast size, you should save your money: They don't work. The truth is that the only way to permanently change breast size is cosmetic surgery." Keep in mind that breast-enhancement surgery isn't the answer for every teen.
"Most doctors won't perform breast-enlargement surgery until a girl reaches 18 because the body takes time to develop, and some girls develop, and have changes in the size of their breasts later than others. Even after 18 there are certain physical and psychological risks involved with breast implants."
Is it normal to question your growth? "Everyone goes through times when they don't like parts of their bodies. These feelings are part of normal development and the process of adjusting to our changing bodies ... If you're unhappy with the size or development of your breasts, talk to your doctor or gynecologist, who can probably reassure you that you're developing normally."
Remember, you're more than a cup size. You have talents, strengths and interests that can't be measured by some measly bra -- regardless of how fancy.
-- Love, Jewel
Hey, Dave,
I hang out with a great group of guys from our college residence. But one member of our group, who otherwise is a great person, has a habit of making up stories about himself.
At first we thought he had been to a lot of places and done a lot of things, but lately we have been catching him with inconsistencies. We are positive he's playing us. Should we confront him? His tall tales are getting a bit much.
-- Undecided
Dear Undecided,
Definitely confront him. People who exaggerate or outright lie should be told that they're only doing themselves harm -- they look foolish trying to sound cool by embellishing details of stories. Who does that these days? Poseurs, that's who.
If his tall tales are starting to frustrate you and your buddies, have a chat with him. But don't embarrass him by calling him out in front of a group. Take him aside and give him the straight goods: no one likes a liar; he should be himself and tell the truth. After all, if he's trying to make friends in college, there's no need to start out being a liar. It gives off the wrong impression.
There's a good chance this guy won't listen to you. He'll keep on telling his stories because people will listen. A sucker is born every minute, right? Maybe you want to distance yourself from this guy. There are other fish in the friendship sea.
(Got a hot question for our cool columnists? E-mail Jewel or Dave at writeus(at)ypp.net or check them out on-line at http://www.ypp.net.)
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