I think many women forget (or are unaware) that the cost of breast implants is only part of the price you’ll end up paying for the procedure. Okay, so you buy yourself implants and go away pretty satisfied with the results.

But do you know that you may have to consider other costs sooner than you think? Research shows that 170,000 breast implants were removed within a recent three-year period.

Although most of the women walked away satisfied with how their new breasts looked, complications had occurred with one implant or both. One of the more common complications was rupturing. Another recent study reported that after 20 years, those few implants that haven’t ruptured will begin to do so.

So if you plan to get implants, factor into the costing the possibility that you’ll need additional surgery on one or both breasts.

Another thing to consider is that regular checkups will have to be added to the tag prices of whatever breast enhancement procedures you have done. For instance, the only way to detect a ruptured implant would be to undergo an MRI.

An MRI can set you back by as much as $2,000. Of course you have the alternative of waiting till you feel pain or your breast changes shape, but who wants to do that?

When you consider the cost of breast implants you’ll also have to deal with the fact that your insurance will probably not cover it – or any medical attention you may need when complications arise as the result of your implants.

I’d think that’d make anyone want to hit the gym instead of going under the knife, wouldn’t you?

The best exercises for getting a bigger bust are those that exercise the pectoral muscles. The pectoral muscles are the platforms on which your breasts rest.

The unfortunate thing about gym training and aerobic fitness drills is that, although we women lose weight, sometimes our breast mass decreases. This is because our breasts are made up of fatty tissue. The more fit we become, the less body fat we are able to maintain.

The good news is that a leaner, fitter body tends to have firmer, perkier breasts.

Breasts that are big simply due to high body fat are more likely to sag in time. But if your breasts are elevated due to muscle mass, and you maintain your training regimen, you can keep your breasts firm past the age when other women will no longer be able to NATURALLY do so.

Practice these exercises for getting a bigger bust the next time you hit the gym.

• bench presses
• triceps kicks using the bench
• dumbbell pulls

The fastest way to create big pectorals is free weights. Make sure you do no more than 8 to 12 repetitions using heavy weights that offer enough resistance and strain. You should feel the strain when training. If you can easily reach 12 reps, the weights are too light. Ask the resident gym trainer to suggest a staggered weight program and to check your posture.

Before you think of popping pills to enhance your breasts, think twice. The effect that any breast enhancement tablet has on the human body is largely unknown.

This means that it may or may not lead to breast enlargement, just as much as it may or may not cause breast cancer.

The typical breast enhancement tablet marketed today contains phyto-oestrogens. The effect of this plant-sourced chemical is still unclear.

One study shows that they actually affect hormones in some way, although not necessarily leading to breast augmentation (George Washington University, 2003).

Another study shows that women who have lots of soy products in their diets had lesser breast tissue density than those low in soy (US National Cancer Institute, National University of Singapore, and Cancer Research UK, 2002). Studies have shown a connection between dense breast tissue and breast cancer.

Some scientists have cautioned that these supplements (available in capsule or tablet form) may possibly cause the growth of cancer cells in human breasts.

I don’t know about you, but wanting larger breasts does not make me want to play Russian roulette with my health. Until further studies are done, it’s probably better to stick to breast enhancements through workouts at the gym.

If you want your breasts to appear larger or you want to enhance their existing shape, but surgery isn’t an option, then you can simply use a breast enhancement insert bra.

It’s great that breast enhancements are now actually available as silicone inserts for lingerie. Many of these augmentation devices even have raised nipples! And the shapes are quite realistic and come in a full range of sizes that the enlargement can appear quite natural if you know what to choose.

Sizes typically range from cups A to C, with some manufacturers even providing AAs.

Using a breast enhancement insert bra can feel quite natural. The insert can fit snugly over your breast or insertion may also be done in the cookie pockets of bras that have them.

Silicone implants may be delicate, so you’ll have to gently wash them with soap and warm water, especially if you plan to wear them in your swimsuit. You will also have to take care that hard, sharp objects don’t puncture them. If you take care of your bra implants, you can use them over a hundred times.

I don’t know about you but inserting implants in my bra is a better alternative to going under the knife (who knows how many times?)!

For women who do not necessarily want larger breasts, but just want to improve the appearance of their natural assets, a good breast enhancement exercise regimen may be all they need. Exercise makes the whole body look and feel good, and there are plenty of upper body exercises that will specifically enhance the breasts.

The best breast enhancement regimen uses a combination of weight training and posture improving exercises. Weight training tones and grows the pectoral muscle behind the breast tissue, causing the breast to look firmer, higher, and… read on: breast enhancement exercise