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Is 17 Too Young for Breast Reduction Surgery?

17-year-old Romanian tennis star Simona Halep, who won the junior French Open last year, has announced that she will have a breast reduction later this year. Is 17 too young for such a drastic surgery? What are the risks of having a reduction so early in life?

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teenager

17 is NOT too young.

I have done thousands of breast reductions and I have done woment from 14 to 88 years old. Many woment have breast reductions before going off to college. They are usually 17 or 18 yrs old and they want to arrive at their new school with their new sporty figure. We have many teen age women who are happy to speak with prospective patients who are considering this surgery.

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Grant Stevens, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Juvenile Breast Reduction

Thank you for the question. Juvenile breast hypertrophy Is associated with physical and psychosocial symptoms of living with very large breasts. In other words, the breasts are too large for the frame causing both physical and psychological distress. As long as the patient has done her homework and understands the potential risks and complications associated with breast reduction surgery and understands that further surgery may be necessary in the future (for... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Breast Reduction at age 15

Breast reduction is a fairly big operation and it is usually done for women who have very large and heavy breasts which cause symptoms such as neck and back pain, shoulder notching, postural problems, hygiene issues and interference with performing sports and other normal activities. If you and your parents feel it is in your best interest to have the procedure and a board certified plastic surgeon agrees,then you can certainly do it. Bear in mind that you probably will grow more... more

William H. Gorman, MD

Austin Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Appropriate age for breast reduction surgery

There are a number of factors to consider when contemplating breast reduction surgery in a younger patient. In my practice it is not uncommon to have a patient undergo breast reduction in their teens. One of the important factors to consider is how many years has the patient had macromastia, and for how long has the breast size been stable. Some other factors are social ostracism, degree of symptoms from heavy breasts etc. This type of a decision is not... more

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Boris M. Ackerman, MD

Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Breast reduction in teenagers

No, it is not unreasonable. Some girls with the beginning of breast devlopment can develop a condition known as juvenile hypertrophy of the breast. This is when breasts gain weight and size out of proportion to the size of the body. They are heavy, cause a person to be off balance and create posture and gait problems. 15 years ago, I was asked to reduce the breasts of a sixteen year old girl who was a tennis protege and scheduled to attend UCLA. in a tournament that lasted over four days... more

Gary H. Manchester, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Teenager breast reduction

I do not think 17 is too young for a breast reduction. Women are done growing by this point. In addition in her case she is clearly very fit and the size of her breasts has nothing to due with being overweight. So it's a genetic issue that will definitely interfere with her game and life. She deserves the best medical treatment and a breast reduction is that.

Christopher L. Hess, MD

Fairfax Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Need to separate Functional from Cosmetic reasons for surgery

You really need to separate functional from cosmetic reasons for having surgery. She obviously needs a breast reduction surgery and age should not be a limiting factor in the decision making.

David Shafer, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Appreciate your concern

Eva, I appreciate your concern for Simona's well being. Obviously, being of somewhat celebrity status, she has consulted with a board certified plastic surgeon who would be counseling her on what is appropriate for her situation. Imagine what she'll accomplish in the tennis world with five pounds less to carry around!

Kenneth R. Francis, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

17 is not too young for breast reduction if growth has reached a plateau

The most important factor is probably the growth curve and not necessarily the chronological age. If the patient has reached a plateau and has demonstrated little if any growth over the preceeding 6 months, than I would not feel that a breast reduction is cointra-indicated. Of course the risks are overcorrection or undercorrection, with the former being more likely. At her age and body weight, it is highly likely that she will sustain additional increase in size of breast volume... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Balance risks and benefits for best patient outcome

Eva S: Seventeen would be an age less than most, but not inappropriate, if other factors are right. Breast growth should have ceased. The goal should be treatment of functional problems such as back, neck and shoulder pain, posture problems, interference with activities, etc. In addition, a surgeon would want to assess the motivation and level of emotional maturity of the patient. The surgery wouldn't be considered drastic in the patient who stands to benefit greatly. The risks would be... more

Sutton Graham II, MD

Greenville Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Is there a correct age for breast reductio surgery??

Although age needs to be considered, it should never be the determining factor in in performing this FUNCTIONAL proceedure. The risks of NOT performing the surgery in a young patient are:1. chronic back and neck pain,2. permanent scarring of the shoulders and inframammary areas,3.postural problems 4.inability to exercise propperly and obesity 5. difficuly with clothing and emmotional difficulties and isolation at this most critical time in a young person's developement. These FAR out... more

Barry H. Dolich, MD

Bronx Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

For teenagers with extremely large breasts, reduction can be considered

For teenagers with extremely large breasts, a reduction can be a life-changing experience. If the breasts are so large that they are interfering with activities such as sports, then the surgery should be considered. Women have breast fed after redcution surgery but there is a possibility that the woman may not be able to . Also there are scars and these scars are peramnent. The scars are around the aerola, extending straight down to the bottom of the breast and under the breast. There... more

Susan E. Downey, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Breast reduction at an early age takes careful thought

Breast reduction is a safe procedure at any age, however best results and satisfaction can swing on two very important issues, physical maturity, and emotional maturity. The breast can continue to enlarge and develop into an individuals early twenties. By age 17 the chance of further breast enlargement is small but can happen. In a focused individual who suffers from physical limitation, or in an athletically gifted individual that you mention breast reduction can certainly improve... more

Peter E. Johnson, MD

Des Plaines Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

No.

17 is young, but not too young. I don't agree that it is drastic. When appropriate, it just the right thing. Very large breasats can cause social, physical, and emotional problems that can be severe. Although there are a lot of scars, they fade nicely over time, and overwhelmingly, women who have this procedure are among the most happy and satisfied with the outcome. sek

Scott E. Kasden, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Age is only one factor

Age does not automatically make someone a candidate or make someone not a candidate. It is only one factor to consider. If at 17y.o. you have fully developed breasts which has not changed for the last two years or so, you are mature enough to understand the risks and recovery involved and are medically healthy enough to undergo the surgery, then you are a good candidate. Breast reduction is the ultimate in combining reconstructive and cosmetic elements of plastic surgery. Patients are... more

Bahram Ghaderi, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

It is too young if breasts are still growing.

Hi. If a 17 year old girl has uncomfortably large breasts, and her breasts have NOT CHANGED FOR TWO YEARS, and she is emotionally mature and well motivated, then it is perfectly OK for her to have a breast reduction. She will benefit. But many teenagers' breasts are still growng. Then surgery should be put off, or it may have to be done again.

George J. Beraka, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Breast reduction and age

17 is not too young if the patient has reached full adult size or the breasts are extremely large in the case of gigantomastia. It also depends upon the maturity level of the patient, the underlying medical conditions, and the reasons for surgery.

Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Obviously the answer is different for each patient

17 is not to young if the patients breast cause them problems with neck and back ache, difficulty with dressing, difficulty with activities especially sports. Other reasons may be sever asymmetry or a significant self consciousness. It is possible that the patient may continue to grow but this is unlikely. I certainly can appreciate the desire of this top quality athlete to want to improve her body proportions so that she could perform better.

Carl W. "Rick" Lentz III, MD

Daytona Beach Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

17 is not too young if you are physically fit and emotionally mature

This tennis player is obviously fit and has disproportionately large breasts that probably significantly impact her tennis career. If her breasts have stopped growing and she is emotionally mature enough to understand the potential consequences of a reduction, she is not too young to have it done.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS

Seattle Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Every case is different

Everey patient should be looked at individually in terms of what their motivation is as well as their exam. The tennis player you refer to is, even at 17, a highly trained athelete and would benefit from the reduction in terms of her career. Having said this, there are 18 year olds who will not be mature enough to understand the ramifications of the surgery and should wait. The most important aspect is a non-hurried and comprehensive consultation to educate the patient as much as possible... more

Michael C. Edwards, MD

Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Not too young for Breast Reduction

Many patients who over-develop early can benefit from breast reduction surgery. I have seen this in young athletic women such as Ms. Halep. The weight of their breast not only cause back and shoulder tenderness, but can hinder their mobility in sports. The risks for a younger patient are not too different from the older patient. Patients need to be aware of possible loss of nipple sensation, infections, bleeding, hypertrophic scarring, and most notably for younger patients, potential... more

Scott Tucker, MD

Winston Salem Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Age is not an absolute contraindication

A number of factors go into the decision of having a breast reduction. It appears that this tennnis players breasts are disproportionately large and undoubtedly hinders her physically and emotionally. Of great importance is that she is quite obviously fit, that is not obese. If she is mature and can grasps the risks involved and knows what she wants out of the procedure, breast reduction can do wonders to a teenager's confidence, self-esteem, and physical comfort. A technique that minimizes... more

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Not if the patient is symptomatic

Juvenile breast hypertrophy, or "large breasts in a teenager", can cause a multiitude of ophysical complaints, as well as some emotional/social issues. It is certainly appropriate to consider breast reduction in these patients if the benefits outweigh the risks. In other words, if the symptoms are severe enough that the patient is willing to risk the possibility of another surgery in the future if the breast are still growing, along with all the other risks associated with breast... more