In November 2014, the actress Keira Knightley chose to pose topless for a photo shoot in Interview magazine. She stipulated that the photos must remain untouched, and that her breasts could not be enhanced in any way. “I think women’s bodies are a battleground,” she stated, “and photography is partly to blame.”
Breasts come in every shape, size, and form. In my experience, they are almost never symmetric, don’t always fill out a bra, and generally don’t conform to society’s definition of beauty. Nonetheless, they have the ability to make a woman feel sexy, powerful, nurturing, and even fearless. When women come to see me for breast augmentation, breast reduction, or a breast lift, they are seeking to change something that bothers them. In 99% of cases, the woman will come alone, as the change she is seeking is for herself, not for a significant other. In fact, I strongly discourage patients from bringing anyone else to the initial visit, as it is such a personal choice and their voice needs to be clearly heard at this time.
Aesthetic surgery of the breast comprises a large percentage of my surgical practice, and my approach is based on both adherence to solid surgical principles, and listening to the patient’s desires. Surgical planning does not mean putting in the largest implant possible, or striving to make a woman’s breasts match those of someone seen in a magazine or on a runway. It means measuring the breast width, evaluating the quality of the tissues and overlying skin, and making a recommendation based on what will naturally fill out, reduce, or lift a patient’s breasts. The goal of surgery is not merely to make a woman’s breasts look better, but more so to make her feel better about them. When a woman feels good about her breasts, they become beautiful. Ms. Knightley’s fierce defense of her body, and her confidence in it, was utterly refreshing. And although it is my policy never to comment on the physical features of celebrities, I can certainly attest that Keira Knightley’s breasts are indeed beautiful.