What Makes a Beautiful Breast?

TAMPA, FL, June 09, 2011 (Press-News.org) Men generally consider a woman's breasts one of the most important features in determining her attractiveness. Studies have shown that when asked to evaluate a woman's attractiveness, 47% of men will fixate on her breasts first, 33% on her waist, and only 20% on the rest of the body, including her face. Women also are constantly looking at the breasts of other women and evaluating them. According to a recent survey, 90% of women admitted to looking at other women's breasts at least 7 times a day, and 40% admitted to "breast envy" of a friend or coworker.

But what are the qualities that inspire breast envy? What makes a breast beautiful?

Breast Size

Size is obviously one of the most important factors in breast attractiveness. We might base this on the popularity of breast augmentation, which is the most popular plastic surgery procedure in the world. Or we might base it on evolution. Compared to our primate relatives, humans have enormous breasts, so breast size is likely driven by evolution. Most evolutionary psychologists speculate that human breasts are designed to emulate the buttocks, a transformation that occurred after humans stopped walking on all fours and began walking upright. Just how similar the two are can be seen if you take one of the numerous "crack or rack" surveys on the Internet.

But how big is the optimal size? In general, surveys show that men think the optimal breast size is larger than women, but in terms of assessing whether an individual is attractive, the main factor is not absolute size, but rather a number of key ratios. One crucial ratio is the bust to underbust. In other words, the projection of the lower part of the breast is a key visual cue for attractiveness. Also key is the ratio between the bust and the waist, with narrow waist coupled with a large bust as being key. The ideal bust-to-waist ratio mirrors the waist-to-hip ratio, creating the ideal hourglass form. As the ideal waist-to-hip ratio hovers around 0.7, the ideal bust-to-waist ratio hovers around 1.3.

Breasts that are too small do not provide the visual cues for fertility and therefore may not trip the pleasure centers of the brain associated with looking at a beautiful form. Breasts that are too large can look crowded on the chest and connote obesity rather than fertility and therefore also may fail to stimulate the pleasure centers.

Breast Shape

As important as size is, breast shape is also a major factor in making breasts attractive. The attractive breast should have an attractive slope, should not sag, but should have a slightly pendulous underbreast. The slope of the upper breast is either slightly convex, straight, or slightly concave.

The slightly convex breast is the effect commonly produced by supportive garments, mimicking the shape of smaller, youthful breasts that have no sagging, but also mimicking more closely the shape of buttocks. This breast shape is becoming more popular with the prevalence of breast implants, which create fullness in the upper pole of the breast.

A straight slope for the upper breast is normal for youthful, moderately sized breasts. This is the equilibrium point achieved by strong supportive breast tissue and gravity. When combined with perky nipples and a slightly pendulous underbreast, this is commonly described as the ideal breast shape.

A concave upper breast is normal for large, natural breasts. Though a degree of concavity is normal for natural breasts at a relatively young age, the prevalence of breast implants and garments that deform the upper breast is accentuating the perception that any concavity in the upper breast is "sagging," and therefore making women stigmatize this breast shape.

Sagging is normal for a natural breast with age. In general, most agree that an attractive breast has a nipple that is above the breast fold and is slightly upturned. Breast sagging is generally considered significant when the nipple descends below the breast fold and becomes downward-pointing, at this point, many women seek a breast lift to address sagging.

A pendulous, or convex, underbreast is generally considered attractive. Breasts with no hanging of the lower pole generally look either too small or unnatural in shape. The degree of convexity in the underbreast considered attractive varies widely, since to some excessive convexity signals breast sagging.

If you are unhappy with the size or shape of your breast, there are a number of cosmetic plastic breast surgery procedures available that can help you to get the attractive breasts you desire. To learn more about your surgical options in Tampa, Florida, please visit the website of Gayoso Plastic Surgery at http://gayosoplasticsurgery.com.