Can you buy a better bust?

Are you unhappy with the shape, size or appearance of your breasts? Now a number of operations and procedures can correct and improve on what nature gave you. But do these methods really work and in the long run, are they worth the cost? Leah Hardy investigates the options.

Loss of firmness

Around half of all women say that pregnancy and breastfeeding leave their breasts noticeably less firm. But most don't want or need surgery or implants, just a tone-up of breast tissue.

Simple Solution: AquaTherm Anti-Gravity Breast Treatment AQUATHERM uses specially formulated gels and creams under a thermal mineral mask, which is left on for 20-30 minutes. The gels stimulate circulation, delivering fresh nutrients, and instantly tightening and firming. A one-hour treatment costs £60. Call Depeche Mode on 01628 674644.

Serious Solution: Beautytek This non-invasive body-shaping technique combines modern technology with traditional Chinese therapies. Designed to lift and firm breasts, the Beautytek machine supplies energy to the body's acupressure points with the use of a hand-held wand. Each treatment lasts 50 minutes and costs about £150, or 12 for £1,500. Call London Aesthetics on 020 7722 1758 or visit www.beautytek. co.uk for suppliers.

Sagging

Most of us experience some sagging with age, though weight loss can be a cause. 'Many surgeons offer the wrong treatment for sagging,' warns London-based cosmetic surgeon and breastsurgery expert Mr Lawrence Kirwan. 'By lifting and adding an implant under the skin, they weigh the breast down further, making the problem worse.'

Simple Solution: CACI Bust Contour. More famous for their face-lifting ability, CACI treatments can also lift and tone the bust, with microelectrical impulses that tone and firm the underlying muscle tissue.

The CACI Bust Contour lifts the bust by up to half-an-inch after one session and helps to restore shape by toning pectoral muscles. A 30-minute session costs about £30. For your nearest salon, phone CACI on 020 8731 5678.

Serious solution: Breast-lift. A technique called SAMBA involves cutting away skin around the nipple, which lifts the breast. An implant is placed behind the chest muscle, rather than just behind the skin where its extra weight can cause more drooping.

A WAMBA breast lift for severely drooping breasts involves incisions around the nipple and one vertically below it, and removal of excess skin to lift the breast. The skin around the nipple is gathered to reduce skin and lift the breast. A breast lift costs £6,000 without an implant, £8,000 with an implant. Call Mr Kirwan on 020 7467 8559.

Too big

Very heavy, pendulous breasts can make life a misery. Not only can it be hard to find clothes to fit if the breasts are out of proportion to a woman's frame, but large breasts can cause back, neck or shoulder pain and skin irritation under the breasts.

Simple solution: Losing weight. If a woman is overweight, losing weight can dramatically reduce bust size. Sometimes women who would like to exercise to lose weight find it difficult because of the size of their breasts.

Serious solution: Breast reduction. The disfiguring anchor-shaped scars of traditional breast reduction surgery are now unnecessary. Today, surgery leaves a single vertical scar from the nipple to the chest and around the nipple. The operation costs £6,000 to £8,000.

Wrinkled and sundamaged cleavage

Cleavage that is lined or marred with brown sun spots can deter some women from showing off their breasts.

Simple solution: Spa Marine Body Firming Gel. This silky-textured gel with firming properties helps to restore elasticity, combating dryness and sagging skin. With a high concentration of algae extracts, it helps preserve collagen and elastin, and improve texture, avoiding flaccidity and premature ageing. It also claims to help firm the bust. Use with use an SPF30 sunblock to prevent further skin ageing. Spa Marine Body Firming Gel costs £28.50. Call 01784 259988 for stockists.

Serious solution: Photo rejuvenation and collagen injections. Photo rejuvenation treatment uses pulses of visible white light to remove fine veins, reduce irregular pigmentation, freckling and sun spots. It provides smoother skin, while reducing pore size and fine wrinkling.

'Photo rejuvenation is great for sun-blemished, wrinkled and pigmented skin anywhere on the face or body,' says Dr Hilary Allen of the Woodford Medical Clinic. 'It also improves the texture. Three treatments are best, but even one session can reduce age spots by 50percent.'

One session costs £450, three cost £1,295. Call 0845 602 1161.

With collagen cleavage treatment, collagen is injected into the neck, chest and cleavage area to plump out lines and wrinkles in a 30-minute treatment.

'Collagen contains Lidocaine, which is a light anaesthetic, therefore a lot less painful than other fillers,' says Jim McGrath, head of the medical team at Collagenics.

Prices start from £200 for the first treatment. Often a second treatment is required after three weeks at a further cost of £200. Call Collagenics on 0845 330 3077.

Prominent nipples

Some women are embarrassed by very large or prominent nipples that show through clothes.

Simple solution: Petal nipple shields. Petals - small fabric patches that adhere to the nipple - are specifically designed to hide prominent nipples and can be worn with or without a bra, say manufacturers Fashion Forms.

Petals are made with medicalgrade-adhesive and have a soft cotton centre for extra comfort. They are available by mail order from the U.S. (tel 001 888 530 2727, fax 001 888 639 0760 or www. lingeriesolutions.com). They cost $5.75 (£3.60), although UPS delivery is $26.50 (£16.50).

Serious solution: Surgical nipple reduction. Mr Kirwan has invented what he says is 'the perfect nipple reduction'. V-shaped segments are cut out of the nipple and it is then sewn together to make a perfect round shape, only smaller. He says: 'Because of the irregular texture of the nipple, you can't see any scarring.'

Stretch marks

Pregnancy, weight loss or gain and breastfeeding can leave breasts with disfiguring red stretch marks. These fade with time into thinner, silvery streaks.

Simple solution: Thalgo Stretch Mark Cream. Celebrity Davina McCall swore by this product for prevention and healing of stretch marks. It improves the skin surface and encourages the diminishment of existing marks.

Stretch Mark Cream includes centella asiatica extract to reduce stretch marks, tamanu oil to soften and improve skin texture, and wheat germ oil with vitamin E. Thalgo Stretch Mark Cream costs £19.50 per 100ml tube. Call 0800 146041 for stockists.

Serious solution: Futur-Tec Skin Regenerator System. The Futur-Tec skin regenerator system combines laser, microcurrent and vacuum in one treatment. It also uses ultrasound to remove dead skin cells and therapeutic laser to promote tissue growth.

Manufacturers claim this halfhour treatment will make ugly stretch marks and unsightly scars a thing of the past, and leave skin feeling softer and more refined.

A course of ten treatments is usually needed. Each treatment costs £80-£90. Call 0800 028 7222 or visit website www. lasercareclinics.co.uk