Symmetry and balance. This eye-appealing ideal is almost the epitome of classic physical beauty - in both men and women. It has been studied and pondered for thousands of years. What deciphers beauty from homeliness, mediocrity from perceived superiority, and what place does beauty really hold in our society today?

It has been well documented that the perception of feminine beauty is in large part attributed from a woman's proportions, or overall body symmetry. What does this mean? Well, in the realm of a women's breast size and shape, it means that we have assigned a great deal of perceived femininity, sexiness and power to the contour of a woman's body, largely defined by how proportionate her breasts are in relation to the rest of her body. Basically, it is all one big, confusing mathematical equation that we don't want to get into here for sake of brevity.

Like it or hate it, this is the perception of feminine beauty in today's society, and many women are feeling the pressure of filling out their clothes just so, and loving the self esteem derived from being able to fill out bras and tops that are so coveted by today's standards of feminine beauty.

Surgical breast enlargements have become so popular that they were dubbed the second most performed elective surgery in the United States not too long ago. It seems like before you know it, no one will be able to tell who's breasts are real and who's are fake, since such a large amount of women are choosing to have this elective surgery.

You should know, many women who have had this procedure are satisfied with their results. The most common complaint is that they don't feel or look real, and feel hard many times compared to real breasts. Other than that, there seems to be enough positive feedback on breast enlargement that more and more women are opting for this surgery as a means of permanent breast augmentation, to feel better about themselves and more confident.

There are a few things you should know and take into consideration before you elect to undergo this costly surgery. First, make sure you find a board certified doctor. A board certified doctor that comes highly recommended by a friend of acquaintence is even better, since this greatly lends to the credibility and accreditation of the plastic surgeon.

Make sure you can see lots of before and after pictures of the surgeon's work. A reputable surgeon with a lot of experience and a lot of satisfied clientele will be able to provide these without hesitation.

Beware of deeply discounted surgeries. This should send up a red flag immediately. If you are thinking of have your breast augmentation performed by a surgeon who provides the service at a fraction of the cost, make sure you thoroughly investigate their credentials. Sometimes you can even look a plastic surgeon up on Google and see if they have been reported for any infractions or have had consumer complaints or lawsuits filed against them.

Be sure that you have thoroughly researched the breast size you would like to achieve through the breast enlargement surgery. The best way would probably be to investigate this information online by looking at plenty of before and after pictures of women who underwent the procedure having the same current breast size you have, and what they came out with.

Breast implant size is determined by the cc's, which is a fluid measurement gauging how much they will fill the implant with the saline solution, which directly determines how large your breasts will be.

Be sure you question your surgeon about expected recovery time, how long you will be out of work, exact cost of the surgery, risks involved, follow up care routines, and other questions you have listed for yourself that may be of particular personal concern. Know that breast implants are not lifetime devices. They do wear out, and they do need to be replaced about once every ten years. Talk to your doctor more about that too.

If, in the end, you decide not to have surgery, and you want to achieve natural breast enlargement with your own natural, soft breast tissue, there are also some effective ways you can achieve natural breast enlargement through nonsurgical means. Thousands of women have done it, so it's not just a marketing ploy or wishful thinking. Check it out, it's worth a try if you're considering surgery to try a natural option first or in lieu of surgical augmentation...