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Is Italy's Ban on Teen Breast Implants Reasonable?

asked 3 years ago by anon
Latest answer by Paul C. Zwiebel, MD
Question viewed 1,344 times
Tags: teenager

Teen girls in Italy under the age of will soon be banned from having breast implants, according to Bloomberg News. What is the standard in the US? Is this ban in Italy even reasonable?

20 answers to Is Italy's Ban on Teen Breast Implants Reasonable?

Age Limits for Breast Implants

There may be appropriate situations for a teenager to have implant surgery, as for reconstruction of deformity. Cosmetic breast augmentation is generally not judicious in teenage women who are physically still actively developing. No less importantly is consideration of the implications for psychosocial development and self-image. Under ideal circumstances, the determination of appropriateness of elective surgery results from a thoughtful and informed decision by an adult in... more

Paul C. Zwiebel, MD
Denver Plastic Surgeon

www.pzwiebel.com

Age Limits on Implants

Yes its true that girls under the age of 18 in Italy will not be allowed to get implants. However this is a fair call because your body is still growing at that age and getting implants when you aren't sure what size you will be after you are finished growing is just not smart. In the USA there is not age limit but i would not recommend and implant to anyone so young. The only age thing in the US is that you have to be 22 years old for a silicone implant, however if you are that... more

Kimberly A. Henry, MD
Greenbrae Plastic Surgeon

Italy bans breast implants for young girls

The ban on breast implants will be for patients under 18. This is not unreasonable but should have exceptions for special circumstances. There are some problems young girls may face that should be allowed to be treated with breast implants. For example, some women are born with one breast REALLY different from the other. This can be uncomfortable socially for obvious reasons. Then there are some girls born missing one or both breasts. In these types of situations (and maybe a few others)... more

Adam Rubinstein, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Breast surgery in teens. How old should you be? (how young is too young?)

18. The FDA and Italy have decided you should be 18 before doing cosmetic surgery to change your breast. I am a girl who believes in girl power. I think an 18 year old girl in these informational times can be astute and well informed. BUT Your teens is a time of immense change. Girls mature at different times. When did you get your period? Stop growing? Is your weight fluctating? (And if not yet, have you gone to college and gotten the freshman 15?) Who you are and what... more

Lauren Greenberg, MD
Palo Alto Plastic Surgeon

FDA guidelines for breast implants

The FDA states that SALINE implants are approved for: (1) Reconstruction (primary reconstruction and revision-reconstruction) in women of ANY AGE and (2) Augmentation (primary augmentation and revision-augmentation) in women 18 YEARS OR OLDER However, in regards to SILICONE implants, the FDA approves them for: (1) Reconstruction (primary reconstruction and revision-reconstruction) in women of ANY AGE and (2) Augmentation (primary augmentation and revision-augmentation) in women 22 YEARS OR... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Italy's Ban on Teen Breast Implants

I agree with the spirit of the December 2009 Breast Augmentation on Teens Italian ban NOT with the letter. The non-Plastic surgery public, including lawmakers, do not understand the difference between reconstructive and cosmetic breast surgery. While putting an implant in a 17 year old girl just so she can fill a much larger bra is what the public is used to seeing, they have no clue of the pain and desperation of young women who have huge breast asymmetry, under developed (Poland's... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Teenage Breast Implants

Cosmetic surgery in patients under the age of 18 not recommended...however, reconstructive surgery, and even utilization of breast prostheses for correction of congenital breast anomalies, can be a fantastic use of plastic surgery resources to bring change to a young females live. However, even reconstructive surgery must be performed only after significant deliberation, discussion, counseling, preparation and education as well as parental consent. I personally do not perform cosmetic procedu more

John Philip Connors III, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Age limits on breast augmentation

The standard (not law) in the United States that most board-certified plastic surgeons abide by is not performing cosmetic breast augmentation on any women under the age of 18. This standard is accepted by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Most teenagers are not ready mentally to undergo elective cosmetic surgery. Physically, their bodies may still be developing. There are exceptions to this rule and that is why the surgeon, patient, and her family should... more

Naveen Setty, MD
Plano Plastic Surgeon

Age limits on breast augmentation

Breast augmentation and cosmetic procedures in general should only be performed in adolescents if there are clear indications. Age cut offs may be somewhat arbitrary as physical and psychological development is variable.

Olivia Hutchinson, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Italian ban on breast implants in teens--a good idea?

Government, in my opinion, has no business practicing medicine. It is up to the surgeon, the patient, and her family (parent or guardian) to decide what is right for the patient. I'm not a particular advocate of teenagers having breast augmentation--in fact, many should NOT, as their breasts and bodies are still growing and changing. However, breast implants can make a huge positive difference in a girl's life if they are used to correct significant breast... more

Carmen Kavali, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Age requirements for breast augmentation

Breast augmentation can be performed for cosmetic and reconstructive purposes. In young patients, there may be an overlap between these two surgical goals. In most cases, both surgeon and patient should exercise good judgement before proceeding with a breast augmentation. In all cases, it is difficult to be judgemental about age requirements for breast augmentation until you carefully examine the specific factors in each case.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Italian ban on teen breast implants

Breast augmentation is the most popular cosmetic surgery in the United States because it provides women with the opportunity to effectively change the shape and contour of the breasts and consistently get beautiful results. Like all cosmetic surgery, patients need to be fully informed and understand the benefits and risks. For this reason, we only perform these type of procedures in women who are at least 18 years old. When a young woman presents to our practice for a breast augmentation,... more

B. Pat Pazmino, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Italy's ban on breast augmentation in teens is an invasion of privacy.

Operating on teenagers for cosmetic reasons must be done with great deliberation. Breast augmentation is uncommonly done and must be with the advise and consent of the parents. Some young women can be served well by the operation if all involved are properly motivated. I don't think it is any business of the government to dictate who can and cannot have aesthetic procedures.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Age for Breast Augmentation

The standard in the US for breast augmentation for cosmetic purposes is generally considered to be 18 years of age. For silicone implants, the FDA mandates an age of 22 years old. In certain congenital breast deformities, implants and tissue expanders may be used at a younger age to both improve psychosocial development as well as reconstruct anatomic deformities. Thankfully in the US, decisions as to the appropriateness of surgery are still made by the physician and the patient,... more

David Bogue, MD
Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

www.drbogue.com

Augmentation Age in the US

There is no hard and fast guideline for a minimum breast augmentation age in the US. For silicone breast augmenation, the FDA requires patients to be 22. However, this does not apply to severe asymmetry cases, chest wall deformities, or severe underdevelopment. Women under 22 with any of these conditions can utilize the silicone implants. For saline, there are no such rules in place. As a society, the American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS) does not... more

Christopher V. Pelletiere, MD
Barrington Plastic Surgeon

Teenagers should not be offered breast augmentation.

Hi. I think it is totally reasonable to prevent adolescents (whose bodies and minds are not fully mature) from having elective cosmetic surgery such as breast augmentation.

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

No Breast Augmentation for women under 21

I do not perform breast augmentation, or any aesthetic plastic surgery procedure on people under 21 years of age. Although most females are fully developed by the age of 18, in some circumstances, women, especially very athletic women, can have breast development until age 20 or 21. I also believe that a person is better equipped to make a decision about the kind of permanent change they would like to their face or body with more maturity. This policy has not made me the most popular... more

Michael Law, MD
Raleigh-Durham Plastic Surgeon

michaellawmd.com

Teenage breast augmentation

In the US, I believe women should be over 18 years of age to get breast implants, or if someone has a congential deformity of the breast, like Poland's syndrome.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

FDA indication for breast implants is women over 18 years old

The FDA indication for breast implants is for women over 18 years of age. Also most plastic surgery societies affirm this position. However, there really is no legal enforcement. Exceptions are made, of course, for patients under 18 with congenital or traumatic deformities.

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

US Standards for breast implants

The US standards regarding breast implants : 1. No silicone implants for females less than 22 years old. 2. No breast augmentation for less than 18 years old. 3. In general I think that all board certified plastic surgeons address every breast augmentation case very carefully, when a young female even older than 18 will come to the office. I think that the Italian ban for real young females is reasonable. Hope that helps!