An Alternative to Breast Implants
June 4, 2009

Okay, let's talk about this idea of women putting their health and lives at stake in an effort to acquire a more desirable body.

I surveyed two groups of men last week and asked if they would encourage their wife, girlfriend, or daughter to get breast implants? The first survey was sent with my weekly email to an almost exclusively Christian group and 93% of you said "no" and 7% said "yes." The second survey was administered at a secular sports site I frequent and 60% of the men surveyed said "no" and 40% said "yes." So it seems most of the guys I surveyed oppose the women in their life going under the knife to look better. Of course, as I expected, far more of the men who get my email oppose breast implants than my friends at the sports site.

I got some great emails in response to the survey. One man mentioned the case in which his wife had a mastectomy and had reconstructive breast surgery. I don't think many men would oppose such surgery.

Another man said he thought breast surgery was no different than other things women do to enhance their beauty, like using makeup or stylish clothes.

While I'm not going to sit in judgment of someone on this issue, since I don't see a specific biblical prohibition, there are some good reasons I would never encourage my wife to get breast implants. For one thing, we're talking about major surgery here in which the patient is put to sleep. Sometimes patients don't wake up. That's what happened to Stephanie Kuleba, the 18-year-old Florida cheerleader who died in 2008 due to a fatal reaction to anesthesia during breast augmentation surgery.

There are other issues with implant surgery. I know a woman who had implants and one of the implants leaked. She couldn't afford to have the problem fixed and so she had one breast that stood at attention while the other slumped. Another woman I know had implants that proved problematic and so she had a second surgery. When this procedure created more issues she had the implants removed.

There are thousands of women whose bodies have been scarred and their health ruined because of failed breast augmentation surgery.

I would never encourage my wife to risk her good health and life so she might look better. I love her too much and would never be able to live with myself if something went wrong.

Now don't get me wrong. I want my wife to look great. I'm glad she works out and does what she can to look her best. And yet I know the weight of aging weighs on her. However, I think there is great value in aging gracefully. I think it speaks volumes to our children for our wives to accept their bodies as God made them while doing what they can to look their best. At the same time, how we love and accept our wives not only tells them of our love, but tells our kids a person's lovability isn't based on their breast size or firmness.

Single guys need to let their girlfriend know they love them as they are--even with their physical imperfections. Married men need to tell their wives and daughters the same thing.

Once a man no longer finds his wife attractive, it indicates his relationship with God and his wife is strained to the breaking point. Something on the inside needs attention.

When that happens marriage is no longer a playground, but a prison from which he wants out. And his wife is an obstacle to his own sensual gratification, someone he must change to meet his needs or get away from so his needs can be met by another woman--or an image of a woman.

Such thinking opposes God's intention for men. He has commanded us to focus our sexual energies on satisfying our wife--not ourselves. As men we must remember that our body is there for our wife--that means our eyes are to look upon her naked beauty and enjoy her beauty alone (1 Cor. 7:3-5). Solomon said it this way: "...rejoice in the wife of your youth. As a loving hind and a graceful doe, let her breasts satisfy you at all times; be exhilarated always with her love" (Proverbs 7:18-19).

So what does a young-man do with his wife's imperfect breasts? Find satisfaction in them. And what is he to do when his wife's breasts begin to sag with time? Remember her in her youth and rejoice in the beauty she once had.

There is a healthy alternative to breast implants...be exhilarated with your wife, find satisfaction in what God has given her and you.