What age is right for breast augmentation? Many young people are considering undergoing breast implant surgery, as are some older patients, as well. Some patients are thought to be too young, while other patients inquire if they are too old. Although there is certainly no singular cookie-cutter answer, which fits all situations, there are some guidelines which do apply to most women who are interested in implant prosthetics.
Remember, the answer to this question depends greatly on the motivations, and specific case parameters, which are driving the prospective patient to want implants.
What Age is Too Young for Breast Augmentation?
Many young girls, or their parents, write to us and ask if 16, 17, 18 or 19 is too young for breast implants. A plastic surgeon may have already told them that they will perform the operation, if desired.
In almost every case, we advise waiting until at least 21 to make a final decision.
Breasts continue to develop well into the 20s and some women simply catch up in size a bit later than others.
Additionally, the serious choice of getting implants requires a learned and mature mind and younger girls just are not prepared for the lifelong implications in some cases.
We know that it can be hard to wait for something you want so badly, especially when social pressures are felt so strongly in the youthful years. However, this remains our advice in almost every patient inquiry.
The exceptions to the rule include girls who require breast reconstruction, due to trauma, disease or juvenile breast hypertrophy surgery and a few other rare scenarios.
What Age is Too Old for Breast Augmentation?
Many women also write in asking if they are too old for breast implants. Some women say that they feel silly working so hard to improve their bodies at an advanced age, while others are not sure of the health consequences or if they are fit enough for elective surgical procedures.
These are all excellent queries to be sure. Again, given good health and medical clearance, our answer is almost universal: Go for it.
There are many reasons not to have breast implants, but advancing age should never be one of them.
Women who suffer the loss of a breast from mastectomy may elect to have full reconstruction well into their elderly years.
Other women of age may elect to simply have implants for pure cosmetic improvement. There is nothing at all wrong with these goals and age should not be a factor, as long as their health is satisfactory.
After all, if you are still breathing, then there is tangible benefit from the unification of body and mind, facilitated by achieving a satisfying body image via cosmetic or plastic surgery.
What Age is Right for Breast Augmentation Summation
We hope this article helps you to answer your own age-related breast implant questions. Just remember that you are who you are, at any age, and it is never too late to create the body which pleases you.
However, in some cases, it may be a bit too early and patience can indeed be a real virtue.