Q I'm 17 and have D-cup breasts. Having big boobs is affecting my confidence. People often laugh when I'm dancing or jumping because my breasts jiggle. I also have trouble finding clothes that fit me.
A While most people - mostly men - think that having huge mammaries are a big plus, few realise the social and physical problems associated with cups that runneth over.
Women who have overly large breasts are constantly besieged with back, neck, and shoulder pain. Not to mention dealing with equally hurtful boob jokes.
But you're not alone when it comes to wanting smaller breasts.
For every 10 to 15 women who want a breast enlargement, there is one who wants a breast reduction, according to a 2004 report by The New Paper.
Breast reduction surgery - which involves making incisions around the nipple and all the way down to and including the breast crease to remove excess fat, glandular tissue and skin - is the only way to achieve smaller breasts.
Actress Drew Barrymore had breast reduction surgery when she was just 16.
But apart from massive bills of over $20,000 for the surgical procedure, another consequence of breast reduction surgery is severe scarring. Scars may take one to two years to fade.
Hence, this is an option you might want to consider only when you're a little older.
Instead, why not seek better support?
Specialist lingerie boutique Chalone (01-75/76 Millenia Walk and 01-119 VivoCity) carries a range of lingerie for well-endowed women which runs from C to even G cups.
One of its brands, called Simone Per??????????????????le ($79.90 to $139), moulds its cups in a fabric called Spacer 3D, a light, three-layer contouring fabric that provides great support and contouring.
Better yet, they come in fashionable and sexy styles that will make you feel good about your curves.
But you need to be properly measured for a perfect bra fit. Chalone provides personalised fitting for all customers, and recommends you get fitted every six months in case your bra size fluctuates with hormonal changes and weight changes.
Also remember that sports bras aren't just for athletes but women who have active lifestyles. Marks & Spencer stores carry sports bras that run up to D cup, and are made with bra straps that are set close together to prevent them from slipping off the shoulders. Prices range from $29 to $69.
Q I have a lot of scars left behind by acne in my teen years. How do I get rid of them?
A First, you have to differentiate scars from blemishes, says Raffles Hospital consultant dermatologist Chris Foo.
Blemishes are normally stains or pigmentation left on the skin from pimples. These are generally not considered scars as they disappear over a period of several months.
You can try using tretinoin creams (available from a dermatologist, often prescribed to reduce fine lines and wrinkles and improving skin tone) or alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) products, as well as chemical peels (also available only through a doctor) to speed up the recovery of blemishes.
Scars, on the other hand, are depressions in the skin which are permanent unless treated, says Dr Foo.
He recommends treatments such as chemical peels, microdermabrasion, as well as laser resurfacing, which sheds off the top layer of skin and, in the process, minimises the appearance of scars.
Sufferers of severe acne may also have keloid or hypertrophic scars - thick, red lumpy scars - which can only be improved with treatments like steroid injections or silicone gel dressings.
Deep scars, however, have to be removed surgically.
Scar removal doesn't come cheap, with chemical peels ranging from $90 to $130 per treatment (around three to six treatments are necessary for results), while steroid injections cost from $50 to $100 per treatment (with a minimum of two sessions required for results).
