What is the Right Age for Breast Augmentation?

Statistics about breast augmentation surgery lead many to believe that the procedure is most appropriate for younger women, but this surgery has benefits at any age. At Taylor Plastic Surgery, we take the approach of learning what women want to change about their bodies and recommend procedures that help them achieve those goals, including breast augmentation.

Breast Augmentation for Younger Women

Breast augmentation provides women with the chance to get the breasts they’ve always desired. By the time a woman reaches the age of 18 her breasts are generally done growing. If at this point they are unhappy with the size and contour, then breast augmentation is an option. The only age consideration is that the FDA has approved silicone implants for women who are at least 21 years old, whereas saline implants can be used by women who are at least 18 years old.

Benefits of Breast Augmentation for Mothers

Pregnancy changes a woman’s body. Breasts can enlarge so she can breastfeed once her baby is born. The skin often stretches beyond the limitations of elastin, a protein that helps the skin expand and contract. As the breast milk subsides, women find that they have sagging and loose skin. Breast augmentation may be combined with a lift procedure to restore the pre-pregnancy shape and size of the breasts.

Breast Augmentation to Correct Signs of Aging

As we get older, our skin has less collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid – three important substances that are abundant in young, firm skin. Like other areas of the face and body, the breasts go through a transformation due to these changes. Breast tissue is no longer held in place by the skin, and gravity takes over, pulling the breasts lower on the chest. Women also lose fat volume in the face and body as they age, and this may deflate the breasts. A breast lift with implants removes extra skin and relies on implants to add volume to the breasts.

Health Considerations for Breast Augmentation

For adult women, age is not the primary consideration for breast augmentation. Rather, Dr. Taylor assesses your overall health and desired results from the procedure. Breast augmentation may help you feel more confident, but it should not be viewed as a way to boost self-esteem or improve body image. Health factors that are evaluated prior to recommending breast augmentation are:

• General health status, including any medical conditions or risks associated with general anesthesia
• Ability and willingness to follow post-surgery instructions for six months to one year
• Plans for having children, as pregnancy can affect the results

Any potential changes to your weight may also be considered. Losing or gaining weight may change the way your breasts look after augmentation, so it is ideal to be at or near your goal weight for at least one year. If you do experience changes in your weight, revision surgery may be recommended to preserve the improvements to your breasts.

Breast Augmentation is About Personal Goals, Not Age

Dr. Taylor works with women of all ages who want to improve their breasts, and he understands that each woman has her own personal criteria for why she is considering plastic surgery. He advises his patients to not exclude procedures simply because the general perception is that some procedures, such as breast augmentation, are reserved for women of certain age ranges. We encourage you to schedule a consultation with Dr. Taylor to learn more about breast augmentation and find out if you are a good candidate.