Travis D'arby's Links

Salon.com
JUNE 2, 2009 11:16AM

Should Tennis Star Simona Halep Have 34DD Breasts Reduced?

Rate: 14 Flag

Seventeen year-old tennis sensation Simona Halep has vowed to have her 34DD breasts surgically reduced. The 5'5" Romanian says "The breasts make me uncomfortable when I play. It's the weight that troubles me - my ability to react quickly."

simona-halep-busty-_813509a

Fans of the world's 317th ranked player reacted with outrage. One remarked it "will be a crime against nature" if Halep goes through with her threat while another group started a "Save Simona Halep Boobs" petition. So far 450 fans have signed the petition, which they promise to present to the Romanian government.

Personally I think these national treasures should be protected. Imagine the uproar if other Romanian monuments like the Hunyadi Castle or the Painted Monasteries of Moldavia were bulldozed over because they took up too much room?

Historic Hunyadi Castle of Romania

I'm usually pro-choice--it's a woman's body and she can do what she wants with it--but I think this is taking things a step too far. How much will the surgery actually help her career? Will she rise from 317 to 217? And really, who will care if she does?

If she keeps the breasts God gave her, Simona Halep has the chance to become this generation's Anna Kournikova. Kournikova, who never won a singles tournament and peaked at #8 in the world rankings, is today more famous and wealthier than her biggest rival Martina Hingis--who won five Grand Slam tournaments and spent 209 weeks as the number one ranked player in the world. Why? Because Kournikova knew how to use her sex appeal.

Halep has the potential to develop into a global icon, the likes of which we haven't seen since Dolly Parton. Parton flaunted what she had and used her assets to give back to the poor and rural Appalachian countryside into which she was born, opening the Dollywood theme park there in 1986 and bringing thousands of jobs to the area.

Does Halep not owe it to her people to do likewise?

simona

If Halep goes through with this, she'll regret it. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of her life.

And if she goes under the knife? Much like Humphery Bogart told Ingrid Bergman at the end of Casablanca that "We'll always have Paris", we male fans will always have YouTube.

 

 

 

 

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The poor thing looks top-heavy. She should have kept her mouth shut and simply done what she needs to do with HER BODY. Performing at a professional level it will probably help her game significantly.... specially in long rallies.
Those of you who are not saddled with 34DDs have no idea what it takes to lug these damned things around all day every day. I have many, many fantasies about breast reduction surgery.

But before she does that, by the looks of that first photo? The woman simply needs to invest in several Enell sports bras. Size S. Trust me.
*Speechless* Why are fans even having this conversation?
Well, as someone who has had a bilateral reduction, I wish her well. It's quite refreshing to go from DD to C ... even if you're not a professional athlete. I'm with Harp, perhaps she should have just kept it to herself, but at the same time answering those questions after (and it would have been noticed) would probably be just as uncomfortable.

Her boobs. Her choice. I just hope she doesn't spend a lot of time on the internet researching it. I swear, there are so many horror stories. I was terrified going in, because of what I'd read, but my procedure went off without a hitch!

A while ago there was a post called Stop Bashing Menopause or something ... because of the horror stories that abound and that maybe women are supposed to just age naturally and have hot flashes and lose their sex drive. I wanted to do a post called Stop Bashing Breast Reduction ... maybe your nipples were supposed to be lopsided. I decided against it.
I'm with Harp and Verbal. She needs to do what is best for her.

Breasts in the double D range can bring problems with them and I don't blame her for wanting a change. I mean, its not like she'll go from a DD to an A.

This makes me thankful and content with my small C's, lol

Rated, Boobs are cool!
Lady Miko: Definitely agree with your boobs are cool comment. I'd hate it if my wife ever decided to get her 34 Ds reduced. :)

Harp: Women's tennis careers are short. Haleps could be set for life if she played off her sex appeal a la Kournikova. Otherwise? What will a lifetime of playing tennis earn you in the real world? It's not much of a credential if you're trying to break into corporate @ 25.
Shaggylocks: thanks for the link. I'll have to show it to my wife.
I just watched the Youtube video. If scientists could figure out how to generate electricity from boob-bounce, I think we'd solve our power crisis.
Written by a man, of course. Does it occur to you that the large bags of flesh hanging on her chest will flatten and stretch and stretch and will be in her shoes in the near future? Do men like breasts stretched down to the crotch and thighs? If you do, however, keep it to yourself! There's already too many men who disappoint in this world!!
You said: "Harp: Women's tennis careers are short. Haleps could be set for life if she played off her sex appeal a la Kournikova. Otherwise? What will a lifetime of playing tennis earn you in the real world? It's not much of a credential if you're trying to break into corporate @ 25."

I thought the issue was the SHE wanted to have the reduction surgery and was dealing with fans who complained. Surely SHE is aware of the life expectancy of a tennis star. I'll bet she is also aware of the liklihood of back troubles and personal sensitivity to being the object of such scrutiny. Cashing in on her attributes is obviously one way to get ahead... but I would hope she is thinking long term and maybe more than just the financial implications.
As long as she leaves them just the way they are, she will soon be able to make more money in endorsements than she would as the greatest tennis player ever. I would rather watch her lose a tennis match as she appears to today than watch her win one without as much to, ahem, show for it.

I hope she comes to a tournament near where I live. I would gladly spend the big bucks for a ticket high up in the end zone and bring my binoculars to watch her serve!!
The only thing that surprises me is that this post isn't an EP. Yet. :)
I think the thing is that Kournikova had a charisma that this child might not have. Second, when she gets a bit older, those things are gonna be an even bigger burden than they are now. Plus, she can still have great sex appeal with 34 C's or single D's. Is she really shooting for the front page of Big Boobs for You.com anyway?
Her body and she can make that decision for herself. I would hate to have my wife ruin what I think is a beautiful asset, her 48 DD as they are where as Dylan said I take shelter from the storm...
I have also had a reductin from DD to a C. best thing i have ever doen. unless you have to haul these things around i suggest you keep your trap shut.
Emma, it's most viewed, that is always telling. Three ways to fame: Most viewed, most rated and EP. One out of three is not bad. The masses speak.
Stellaa: Do you think the masses are responding to my well-written argument? :)
I get dizzy watching that video.
Travis, it's about the words.
her back must be killing her!
Are we all talking about our breast reductions? Me, too: DD ->C. Maybe I should post a picture of them and you can say if I have any sex appeal left ;-) Seriously, I've done some research. Big tits are actually an unpleasant side effect of modern nutrition. We evolved to starve periodically, and the breasts have first call on any nutrients, right after the brain, because of the importance of keeping your offspring alive. Just getting enough to eat can result in the phenomenon of over-large breasts, even for women who are slim. Women in primitive hunter-gatherer cultures do not have large breasts. Go review your dad's National Geographics -- you'll see I'm right.
I know 3 women who have had this surgery and not one of them regrets it. sorry boys but having people watch your boobs bounce around on you-tube is not the serious dream of many female athletes. to you it might be all about sex appeal, cash and endorsements, but you aren't considering back pain and in some cases increased chances of breast cancer (if she has more dense tissue) from those things on her chest you're watching while she focuses on her game.
i also have to admit i find it funny: the men who post here arguing persuasively in favor of natural breasts when it comes to reduction surgeries (which are usually done to reduce pain)...

....would any one of you also be willing to put up a post in favor of natural breasts the next time an actress or athlete opts for implants...or is what God intended less imortant in enhancement surgeries (even though these are done usually purely for asethetics and involve an actual insertion of alien tissue into the body with questionable at best long term health consequences)? Just wondering the scope of your disinterested involvement.
As a woman who has always been top-heavy, was wearing a training bra by age 8 and is now a 42DDD (yes, that does have 3 Ds), I admire her for doing what she feels needs to be done. I've also looked into breast reduction but admit I have been frightened by the horror stories. I've been trying certain excercises and creams to see if that helps but it seems like my tits just keep getting bigger. The reality of this means that I always have to buy much larger tops than pants and skirts, not to mention the constant back pain. There are limits to things I can do because of this.

It's no easy thing to go under the knife, especially for something which is so thoroughly defined as being part of female sexuality. She should be applauded and admired for her courage, not ridiculed by a bunch of wimpy men who are more afraid of losing their hard-ons than they care about a woman's health and comfort. Good grief, it's her body and her career. I also laugh at the absurdity that being a sex symbol is a way to a longer shelf-life. As an athlete, she can do coaching and spoaksmanships long after the fashion industry decides to trade her in for a teenager.
Man, what a photo. She oughta have those puppies bronzed or something.
@Lena -- "would any one of you also be willing to put up a post in favor of natural breasts the next time an actress or athlete opts for implants"

Absolutely. Natural breasts are much better than the artificial kind, even if they're great big huge von zepplin style appendages.... or not, whichever. I myself am more of a fan of the small to mid-sized ones anyway. But every once in awhile you see a set that you just have to stand up, take your hat off and salute.
Tell her to get off the birth control pills first and see if they shrink up enough.

If she's not on the pill then reduce, reduce. She will be gleefully happy.
My doctor told me it was the only procedure that he had 100% customer satisfaction from.
The fact that she plays at all, let alone at a professional level, with such large breasts is amazing. And the fact that you care enough to write a post about it is....I just don't know. Iguess this is supposed to be funny, but I'm finding some of these comments disturbingly primordial, in a bad way. And I'm not at all adverse to random perversity and crudeness. I think this is mean and very degrading to a woman athlete.
Travis,

As I recall you were going to attempt a polar expedition in search of recognition as a writer. I don't think you need to do that at all. This post about Simona's breasts has garnered over 18,ooo views in a few short hours. You may have found your raison d'etre, your true forte.' Just travel to women's sporting events, capture some great photos and extol the virtues of their mammaries.

I think you could turn that into a paying gig.
Reduction today or back surgery tomorrow. Her body, her call.
As I understand it she is considering surgery to increase sports performance. Are we OK with this as a society while we condemn athletes who take pharmaceuticals (specifically testosterone) to increase their performance?
are you sending your poll results to her to help in her decision? i'm sure she'd appreciate the input.
I'm with Verbal: before she goes under the knife, she should invest in a really good bra, and be professionally fitted. The right bra in the right size is a total game-changer. Phewf, what a difference!
I am perhaps naively horrified by the amount of attention this "debate" has been given. The fact that this beautiful, talented, young athlete has been reduced to a set of boobs saddens me. Admittedly, I am the one who chose to click on the post in the first place. Definitley her choice. How would you know, Travis D'Arby, if she will regret it? Have you personally had the procedure done yourself?
obviously this is not a real news story, but an interesting [sort of] human interest story nonetheless. why this has gotten so much attention is that men love the female body, and some men love large breasts to the point of a fetish. also, we live in a star-struck society and the tennis player in question is part of the sports-entertainment-celebrity culture. of course, what she does with her breasts is her business. whether surgery will significantly improve her performance is doubtful. look at serena williams - she has a phenomenal physique and has been a dominant, championship winner player for years. she is also the only reason i watch tennis!
I don't know that a 17 year old anybody should be making irreversable, irrevocable decisions about anything.....317 in the world doesn't exactly make her the next Steffi or Martina....Has anyone taken a good look at Serena Williams lately? A 17 year old's body is still in the adolescent developmental stages. The harm she may cause is not out weighed by moving her rank from 317 to 300 or even 100, which is not likely without overwhelming improvement in her game, which is not suffering in any but a psychological way because of her cup size.....Any physician worth her/his salt would reccomend that she wait until she stops growing and is a little more mature before determining that a reduction is appropriate and at least less hazardous to her physical, psychological and emotional growth and development...In other words, she should become a mature woman before making a decision that a mature woman has every right to make for herself.........
Lena: Lots of guys, myself included, find fake porn star tits to be a turn-off. I'm all for organic, no matter the cup size.

Aaron Rury: Quite frankly, I think Anna Kournikova's guy fans could care less about her charisma. They're just into her because she's a sexy blonde.

Ablonde: Thanks for the advice. This post has over 50x the views of the serious post I wrote today on living a friendless life so perhaps I should just stick to writing about tits. :)

BethIngalls: I was not trying to be funny. And if find these comments crude, you should check out the ones on Reddit.

RonPo1: Thanks for adding a mature voice to this debate.
Travis D'Arby,

You may be correct in stating that you lament fake tits in Porn Stars, but you have not written one post inviting the men of Open Salon to vote on whether or not porn stars should have this artificial process inflicted on their bodies. You have written this post in which you and many other men not only vote on her decision about how to treat her body, but openly state that a female athlete's game is considerably less important to consider in making this decision than is her sex appeal.

Do you see that this is partly what's so different about being a male verses being a female athlete. For a male athlete winning IS the same as having high sex appeal. Is there a winning male athlete who laments putting everything into the game because it's damaged his appeal to women? For a female, even for a professional competitive athlete, it's typically winning AND OR having sex appeal....but they aren't equivalent. Anna Kornikova wasn't ever as great at tennis as she was at winning endorsements with her looks. So I guess you are stating a reality there. The Michael Jorden of female athletes, if she has a horsey face, might just get bumped off the team at some point. Or more likely, she won't make the team to begin with.

This post is an interesting commentary on women's sports and the message we send to young girls playing them. But Travis D'Arby I don't think you need to worry about not having friends anymore. I suspect that you may have made Pitbulls in Spamalot or My Sexiest Men Living type fame with this show. The number of people clicking on this post to watch that girl's chest bounce might not ever end...You might as well settle in and enjoy your new found fame.
Should she make 'em smaller, make 'em bigger, or leave 'em the hell alone?

I'm not sure how I ended up getting a vote, but I'm pretty sure it isn't my decision to make.
As a fan of the Itty Bitty, she doesn't do a thing for me. As for her playing tennis, if the reduction will take her into the top pay rankings then maybe she should consider it. Until then, I hate to say it, but they are her money makers.

After she has stashed enough cash away for life, get the knife.
As another DD, and one who doesn't play professional sports but likes to be active, I say yes - it is her body, her career, her decision.

@All you guys who will miss the bouncing (which cannot help but make her game more difficult), get over it!!!

@Harp, thank you for standing with us women! You, dear sir, are a mensch!

@Verbal, forgot to PM you - just started vigorous exercise again, and regarding the bra recommendation, can only say, thank you, thank you, thank you!
I have to leave a note for RonP01 and hope he sees it. Man, you're just speculating. There is no harm from a breast reduction. They can be done now to retain sensitivity and the ability to lactate. Many teenagers have this surgery if their parents can afford it, or if, like for me, it is considered a medical necessity covered by insurance. I was a 15 year old girl who could not walk down the street without a bunch of gross, intrusive comments which I *really*a was not mature enough to handle. Ablonde mentioned the high level of satisfaction with this procedure. That is correct. Nobody regrets it. When doctors agree to perform this, it is in most cases considered medically necessary. Insurance companies have standards to cover it. Nobody is harmed by getting reasonable-sized breasts at any age. Girls are genuinely harmed by being considered a pair of walking breasts, to the point of making you feel like a freak. It is in fact better to do this operation young. I experienced my breasts as a handicap until I had them reduced in my 40s. How wonderful it would have been to be spared 30 years of physical and psychological discomfort. It was something I learned of in my early 20s and had to wait 20 years for, but I never doubted for a minute I wanted this. Once they sprout to an abnormal size, most girls are mortified and want them gone. On the other hand, nobody ever says, I considered reducing my breasts, but as I got more mature, decided I preferred huge, heavy, pendulous breasts that men stare at, that make my back hurt and bounce painfully when do the least activity, and won't fit into clothes.
@SirenitaLake
My guess is, and I am "speculating", that most breast reduction surgery is considered cosmetic and there for elective and not medically necessary....Hence, the lack of insurance coverage....

My guess is, and I am "speculating", that the teenaged girls who have had breast reduction surgery were able to do so ONLY with the consent of a "custodial" adult....

My guess is, and I am "speculating ", that a desire to move up in ranking on the women's professional tennis circuit has not yet made it to the list of medically appropriate reasons for having the surgery performed....

My guess is, and I am "speculating" that while 34DD is larger than normal for a tennis player, the proportions may not be beyond the threshold of what is "normal" for women not engaged in such activities........

I agree with you that a young girl can be harmed by being taunted or hounded because of the size of her breasts...It shouldn't happen...But I am not certain that that factor alone qualifies the procedure as "medically necessary". The problem is a social problem not a medical problem. The fact that some girls' parents are able to "afford" the procedure does not mean that all girls should desire or need to have access to what is perceived to be cosmetic without evidence of disease or the threat thereof.....

And what of all the women who have made plastic surgeons rich by getting breast implants......Are they all wrong because they wish to alter their appearance in the opposite direction? These decisions should be made by each woman for her own reasons, of her own volition and of her own accord....

As an attorney, I would argue that a 17 year old girl is not yet old enough or mature enough to make the decision to surgically reduce or increase her breast size for herself no matter how cosmetically desirable or preferable the outcome might be. Under the laws which govern such matters, she is considered a minor child and on that there is absolutely no "speculation" what so ever....

However, I am curious, why did you have to wait for 20 years?
The fans who think they know better are morons. DDs are heavy and the back problems are almost certain with such weight 24/7. It must be very hard to play intensive sports with those. The girl has the right to do what she wants to do about it, it is her back and her health we are talking about. Why we are even having this conversation? Women are no property.
@RonPo1:

As an attorney, I would argue that anything that causes her pain or discomfort, or that interferes with her life or her professional abilities is medically necessary.

As the partner of someone with DDD breasts, I don't have to speculate to know that there are real life issues with having very large breasts. Aside from the chronic back and shoulder pain and the permanent divits in the shoulders, they absolutely limit physical agility, subject the person to myriad social difficulties, create problems finding bras and clothes, and simply interfere with everyday life.

There is absolutely no reason for any woman to endure this for years or decades. At 17, her breasts are long since done growing, but even if they still were, that is no argument to delay the surgery. The problem would only get worse, not better.

And I'm so sorry to report this, but other women's breasts do not exist for your sexual titillation or gratification. They do not belong to you, and though no one can stop you, you are not entitled to have an opinion about what women should or should not do with them. As an attorney -- sheesh! -- I would argue that you do not have "standing."

And I can't help but suspect that what's behind all these arguments by men is some latent fear of having their precious dicks cut off. The very thought of someone cutting off part or all of their dicks makes men cringe. But it's not the same for women and their breasts. Bigger is not always better, and having super huge tits is not a source of feminine pride the way having a huge cock is proof of masculinity. And the fact that you might enjoy looking at big boobs is completely irrelevant.

But insofar as you enjoy watching big, bouncing boobies, I give you this: http://www.shockabsorber.co.uk/bounceometer/shock.html
I would agree that I have no standing but no one in this conversation does have standing...a custodial parent would have standing and if the parent, the youngster and the physician agree that reduction is the course to take then by all means she should go forward...I am not an expert in the matter of health issues regarding female anatomy so I will defer to those who do have the benefit of superior knowledge in that regard. I have no interest, or desire to watch "bouncing boobs". When I watch tennis, or any other sporting event, I watch to see good close competition....I would not presume that my status as a fan of the sport gives my any weight in a discussion of this nature. As for the size of someone's body part or the disposition thereof: "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn...."
her breasts, her bras, her choice. I find the best looking breasts are in proportion and way up firm and high, like in the song -- and surgery can help insure they stay that way. No 34 DD is EVER going to stay that way. Come back and visit her look in 10 yrs. Or mine for that matter...no takers? Nah, I thought not. Anyone gaggle Kate Gosselin lately? A nice up there 'c' that's going to last. Anyone have an extra $8K I could borrow? Even=nips aren't cheap. I'm always adjusting for the lopsided one. TMI?
Well, she should be thankful she's not a gymnast!

And if she's going to get them reduced, then maybe she should first arrange some sort of pay-per-view thing with Kournikova - at least to pay for the surgery!
Travis,
I'm with Ablonde; you've found your calling.

Concerning Ms Halep. Processing speed is the wrong reason, in my worthless opinion. Breast size hasn't seemed to slow down the Williams sisters. As many of the women have pointed out, there are many good reasons.
To All The Men I've Loved On OS: Let's strap a DD pair of goolies to your sack and see how long you carry them around...the chafing alone would have you whipping off that ball bag in an hour.