Every surgeon is different in the criteria he or she uses to operate on a patient. My personal preference is not to operate on a patient for cosmetic reasons only until that patient is 18 years old which time they might better be able to understand the risks, benefits, self-image issues, etc. That is not to say if you are under 18 that you are incapable of grasping these ideas, but rather, it is simply safer to wait until the patient reaches a certain age at which here she is more likely to be able to cope with all the issues involved. As well, there are legal aspects which complicate the issue when operating under 18 years of age. Again, these are not hard and fast rules, but rather guidelines I myself work by.The upper age limit his dictated solely by the medical condition of the patient. Operating on a healthy 80-year-old on no medications is less risky than operating on a 20-year-old with congestive heart failure. Of course, when a patient is older, it is more likely he/she will need medical clearance prior to the procedure. But, that usually is no absolute adduction as long as the patient is in excellent health.Best of luck!Dr. SubbioBoard-Certified Plastic SurgeonNewtown Square/Philadelphia, PA