Last week I did an interview for the All Night Long show with The Fox on Radio DenTaTa (NSFW). I believe it was broadcast last week, but the host was kind enough to put it YouTube for those of you who missed it. I’m including the YouTube clips directly into this blog, but the interview is two parts… so be sure to play both!

While a large portion of women dream of having a more buxom bosom, many are concerned with complications, scarring, & the replacement surgeries associated with saline & silicone implants. Finally the options are beginning to expand thanks to science & technology. Wish you could take that fat from your hips & put it in your breasts? Now you can! Want a temporary increase in your bust line? Its already available in other countries! Or would you rather just grow more fat in your breasts? That’s coming too! Below I’ve outlined some of the current & future options for those wanting to enlarge their bust without going the route of traditional implants.

Fat Transfer
Expect an increase of: 1 cup size
Expect to pay about: $10k

Fat transfer was what many women wanted for years, even before it existed, but it does bring a range of problems of its own. For many years the FDA did not approve of fat transfer breast augmentation because of problems with fat cells dying after transfer & causing calcification. The calcification interfered with mammograms, making it hard to discern if a woman had developed breast cancer which can also lead to calcification. The technology has come a long way though & now most of the mammogram machines work much better, so the doctors can get correct readings without as much worry over the results of implants or fat transfer. Fat transfer can generally take you up about 1 cup size per procedure. If you opt for fat transfer you aren’t just paying for one surgery though, you are paying for two. Both surgeries are pretty non-invasive & can be done quickly. First the doctor will do use a form of lipo-suction to collect the fat, then a second surgery is performed the same day to re-inject the fat into the breast tissue. After the surgery patients may be required to wear a breast pressure splint for a bit to keep the fat in place. The one major set back to fat transfer is that a good percentage of the fat often dies, leaving the patients with results that are less than desirable. On the plus side, Europeans have been using this method for many years for patients recovering from breast cancer.
Pros: Non-invasive, one time surgery, general anesthesia not required, available in the U.S.
Cons: Cost, minor increase in size, possible calcification, possible fat loss, pressure splint

Fat Transfer with Stem Cells
Expect an increase of: 1 – 2 cup sizes
Expect to pay about: $18K

Fat transfer with stem cells is the newest rage for natural breast augmentation in the United States. While it is similar to regular fat transfer it does have numerous bonuses that tend to make it better. Rather than a two part surgery the procedure occurs in three parts. First the doctor uses lipo-suction (often Body-Jet water assisted lipo) to remove the fat, the fat is then cleaned to optimize the use of the stem cells, which are then re-injected into the breasts. After surgery patients may be required to wear a breast pressure splint for a bit to keep the fat in place. The major advantage to this procedure over the regular fat transfer is that stem cells have a better survival rate (85-90%), & a much lower chance of calcification (less than 10% of patients).
Pros: Non-invasive, one time surgery, general anesthesia not required, available in the U.S.
Cons: Cost, minor increase in size, possible calcification, minor fat loss, pressure splint

Macrolane
Expect an increase of: 1 – 2 cup sizes
Expect to pay about: $5K plus travel expenses

If you are looking for a temporary breast enlargement Swedish science has the answer for you… Marcolane by the makers of Restalyn. Basically it is a dermal filler of gel-like substance created from large amounts of stabilized hyaluronic acid. Patients can remain awake while Macrolane is being injected into the breasts & actively decide how big they want to go. The results of the injections last about 1 – 2 years after which it is metabolized by the body. This is perfect option if you aren’t sure how large of permanent implants you want, or if you want to increase your wages by increasing your bust at a temporary job such as working as an exotic dancer, adult actress, model or bartender. Macrolane does come with the risks of palpable lumps & capsular contractions, some of which can be massaged out..

Pros: Non invasive, general anesthesia not required
Cons: Minor increase in size, temporary, not yet available in the U.S.

Labratory Grown “Implants” With Stem Cells
(Not yet available to the public)
Expect an increase of: unknown
Expect to pay about: unknown

The newest advancement being tested is the idea of growing an “implant” with the assistance of stem cells from the patient. Doctors are turning stem cells into adipose (fat producing) cells, which can be put into molds of different shapes & sizes. The implant grows over the period of about eight months, & can then be inserted under the skin. Trials are just now starting to begin in Australia & will first be offered to recovering breast cancer patients who have be cancer-free for two years or more.
Pros: A more natural implant
Cons: Risk of scaring similar to current saline/silicone implants

Neopec Stem Cell Assisted Breast Growth
(Not yet available to the public)
Expect an increase of: unknown
Expect to pay: unknown

This procedures is probably one of the biggest breakthroughs in the history of cosmetic surgery for implants. Doctors create a pocket in the patient & insert a biodegradable scaffold or mold in the shape of the breast, which is where the new breast tissue will form. Blood vessels which are located near the implant are re-directed to the mold to increase circulation to the area & stimulate growth of new fat cells. Stem cells are injected into the ends of the blood vessels near the mold. Myogel is then injected into the mold to help stimulate the the process for the body to create new fat tissue in the area of the mold. Over the next 4-6 months the new breast tissue forms, after which the mold either dissolves on its own or is removed by the doctor. Researchers in Australia are expecting the procedure to be available to cancer patients within three years, and a few years after that expect to see it on the cosmetic surgery market.
Pros: Natural growth shaped to your breast
Cons: Not yet available

The last thing to realize with any of these techniques is that while your bust-line is increasing, the shape won’t really change. If you love the look of the high profile implants sported by many glamour models & actress then traditional implants will provide you the results you want. Most of the options listed above are best suited for women who are already happy with their current shape, but want more of it, or women who have lost fullness from age or breast-feeding. However, some of these options can be used in addition to a traditional breast lift to give the appearance of younger & fuller breasts. If you love the look & feel of natural breasts look into your options carefully. When contacting doctors offering these services you’ll need to have a lot of patience since there are very few of them, & they are swamped with customers who are booking appointments up to six months in advance. Or, if you don’t see something that is right for you now, consider waiting until the technology you want is available. Science is rapidly changing the cosmetic surgery industry & you never know what will be available tomorrow!

I have to say, all of this drama over the photos of the 2010 Miss USA, Rima Fakih, has me more than just mildly irritated! The press and people of society have made far too much of this. I am left to wonder if they understand the English language and definition of “stripper” & “striptease”? As a “stripper” myself, 2010 Miss Nude United States Performer of the Year & 2010 Miss Burlesque United States along with other titles, I can assure you that I know a lot about the definition of the word “stripper”. I have made an entire career out of striptease,  & these photos simply do not qualify Miss Rima Fakih as a stripper or even an amateur stripper.

As much as society wants to “ham up” the Miss USA pageant, it has been marketed as a beauty pageant. If all the pageant & society is concerned with are the brains of these women then they may as well run the pageant similar to The Dating Game. The contestants would be put behind a screen, hidden from the audience, & the judges could ask them questions. Obviously, Miss USA is marketed as a beauty pageant though… which means that part of the pageant is visual consumption of the flesh! How quaint, right? If people just wanted a pretty face the pageant could post a portrait of each contestant’s face on the screen. However that is not what the pageant or society wants… they want the whole woman – brains & looks! Part of the “looks” include showing off their curves in evening gowns & swimwear.

Showing off curves is where the Miss USA pageant owes a great deal to strippers. There is a very good chance that without strippers the pageant itself would have never become acceptable or as popular as it did, after all  it was strippers and dancers who paved the way of future fashion & the visible consumption of human flesh in the United States! All a person has to do is delve a bit into the history of dance  & striptease to know that. When Madame Francisque Hutin first appeared in 1827 wearing sheer tights & showing her ankles on the New York’s Bowery Theatre stage to perform ballet she left many in the audience blushing, while others protested by walking out. As Rachel Shteir wrote in her book Striptease: The Untold Girlie Show, “showing the ankles & such was left to prostitutes and saloon girls”… not to mention can-can dancers. Revealing & form fitting clothing was simply not an acceptable way of dress for respectable women in society, nor on stage. After Miss Hutin though America saw a surge in skin as burlesque & striptease began to take over the stages across the country. Women, & sometimes men, would appear onstage in layers of fashionable costumes and slowly shed these layers to appear in a state of partial or full nudity. This act of removing clothing onstage slowly to tease the audience in anticipation became known as a striptease, and those who performed it were known as “strippers”, “striptease artists” or “burlesque dancers”. Obviously, from the pictures shown of Miss USA 2010, Miss Rima Fakih, she did not remove clothing to appear in a state of full or partial nudity… therefore it only stands to reason that she is not a stripper.

In regards to the staple of the Miss USA Pageant, the swimsuit category, striptease did change the pageant in a considerable way. First, the Miss USA Pageant would not even exist if wearing a swimsuit for publicity photos in 1951 had not been thought of as questionable. To the 1951 Miss America it seems to have been offensive, given that she refused to pose for them. As a result the pageant sponsor, Catalina Swimwear, created the Miss USA Pageant as a rival to the Miss America pageant. As one could imagine the swimwear category became an integral part of the Miss USA Pageant. As society became more comfortable with skin (partially thanks to striptease), fashion began to change – & so would the fashions in the Miss USA pageant.

Skirts became shorter & ankles were shown… & that lack of concern rolled over to the attitudes of swimwear as well.  After much legal debate one piece maillots became popular by 1915. The maillot was a single piece of clothing similar to a tank top with short like or high cut bottoms. By today’s standards they weren’t very sexy. Hollywood was beginning to allow starlets to appear in two piece swimwear for films in the ’40′s, which showed the ribcage but still covered the belly button. In 1946 two men from France both came up with two piece swimsuits which were much more risqué… to the point that the French models refused to model them. One of the designers, Louis Reard whom created “lé bikini”, enlisted none other than… a stripper to model his “bikini” design!  The bikini made headlines around the world, and became popular on the beaches of the French Riviera.  A 1957 article in Modern Girl, while referring to the bikini, still claimed that “it is inconceivable that any girl with tact and decency would ever wear such a thing”. Note that the word “ever” was used, referring even to modern times. Modern Girl could not have been anymore wrong though. In 1960 the bikini became the hottest thing in American fashion!
[Read more from Slate on swimwear history]

From what I’ve been able to find online though contestants for the Miss USA pageant wore one piece swimwear up until the 1992 swimsuit competition when the bikini was finally seen. Luckily the swimsuit pageants before that didn’t have the contestants wearing short cut maillots all the way up until 1992, but you might say the Miss USA pageant was behind in the times. Strippers, pin-up models and women of the French Riviera helped make the bikini popular around the world & in the US, to the point that it probably seemed odd for the Miss USA contestants to continue wearing only single piece swimwear. My guess is as good as yours, but I bet that the television ratings sky rocketed the year contestants first wore bikinis in the pageant.

At any rate, I believe that “behind in the times” is the way that the press & certain members of society could be described currently regarding the photos of Miss Rima Fakih against the pole. Yes, she was participating in a “ladies night out”, as well as a form of entertainment & aerobic exercise that has become very popular amongst women of all ages. From the photos I’ve seen though, I would not even describe what she was doing as pole dancing, pole sport, or pole gymnastics. While she was leaning up against the pole, the photos of her dancing look no worse that women of her age who can be found dancing for fun in mainstream nightclubs. To be certain there was no sexual teasing of men during the dance, which we all know is seen in mainstream nightclubs free of charge! In my mind that alone makes these photos more tame that photos you might see of women dancing in mainstream nightclubs.

Here is what I find ironic about this entire episode though. People who promote pole as a form of fitness & sport around the world are working to break a stigma related to  the pole in order to get the pole into the Olympics. I support this 100% because I have seen with my own eyes that the pole does not have to be sexualized, you can read more about my feeling on this topic in my March 3rd blog entry. In addition, its not like any person with experience in pole dancing takes the Peek-a-boo poles (shown with Rima Fakih in a photo) serious, since they are spring loaded and downright dangerous. As a professional to the striptease & pole industry I wouldn’t even recommend doing an invert on a Peek-a-boo pole! Obviously this night was all in simple fun for Miss Fakih and many other women.

If anything people should be thankful for what Miss Fakih has done. She helped a group of women to have fun together, & encouraged them to explore their own sexuality, which they may use in their personal live… leading to more men staying home to watch their wives rather than professionals. Most of these women will never step foot in a strip club, & if any do they probably would have done it anyhow. Miss Fakih may have helped allow these women to explore pole dancing for fitness & personal growth… giving more dance studios teaching this style a new group of students. Those new students need instructors, & many times those instructors are either professional strippers looking to retire or a part time worker. By allowing these women the opportunity to explore fitness in a new way, &  the press publicizing it – which shows popularity, she is helping to create jobs. I don’t see any issue with this at all.

My understanding is that Miss Rima Fakih will remain on as Miss USA 2010, & I believe she should. She has done nothing to harm the integrity of the pageant, & is keeping up with modern times. Personally, I think she is a fantastic representation of current American women, & I wish her the best of luck!

Fun fact: The criteria for Miss Nude USA 1979 included “taste in clothing”.

On a similar note, the Gentlemen’s Club Expo is usually held at Mandalay Bay in August. This year the Miss Universe pageant will be at Mandalay Bay on August 23rd, while the Gentlemen’s Club Expo tradeshow will be  August 24th & 25th at the Mirage Hotel & Casino. August would be a great time to come out to Vegas and show your support for some of the most beautiful women in America from mainstream & adult entertainment!