Can I get breast implants at 15 for uneven breasts with parental consent? Or do I have to wait until I'm 18?

Question

Ok well i am 15 years old and my breasts are REALLY uneven it runs in my dads family but its soo bad i cant even go swimming and im young and i what to put on something cute but i cant. And i hate it and my mom and dad said i can get inplants but my mom and i where thinking if i could get them soon. Can i? Or do i have to be 18

Earl Stephenson, Jr., MD, DDS, MBA · Answer

Whether you can have implants depends on your surgeon's philosophy and if your breasts have fully developed.  I personally would not extend that service to you at age 15.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD · Answer

Breast augmentation in a teenagers a touchy issue. Nevertheless, the occasional teenager may be a good candidate for the operation with parental approval.

Lars Enevoldsen, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  Without photos I have to guess from your question that you have at least a cup size difference between your breasts.  If that is the case then you may want to consider reducing your larger breast to make it closer in size to the smaller one.  In my opinion that would be the best way to go for a couple of reasons.  First of all, you will get better symmetry which will allow you to wear those swimsuits and cute clothes now until you are old enough  for breast implants to be a reasonable option.  More importantly, by reducing the larger breast, when it is time for breast implants your surgeon will hopefully be able to use the same size on both sides.  While it is certainly possible to make uneven breasts the same size with different sized implants, your breasts may still look very different  and over time may become even more asymmetrical.  The larger the size difference, the more this is true.  The reason for this is that the smaller breast gets the bigger implant which will probably be a very tight fit.  This will result in a breast that will be high and "perky" and will tend to stay that way or perhaps drop just a little bit.  The larger breast gets the smaller implant which will be a loose fit and may not even give the breast any lift at all.  While you may be able to look symmetrical in clothes, out of clothes you will have two very different looking breasts.  In fact, even if they are exactly the same volume, the smaller breast with the big implant will probably appear larger than the other one.  The other thing that will happen is that the larger breast will fluctuate more with weight gain and loss meaning that you will always be dealing with changing differences between your breasts. To fully explore your options You should have a consultation with a plastic surgeon certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery and preferably also a member of The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.  Finally, he/she should be able to show you before and after photos of their own work on patients that are similar to you.  I hope that helps.

Manuel Marte, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question. i think you should wait until you get 18, cause your breast are still growing, and at that age yo can correct the asymetry of them with a surgery procedure.Glad to help and hope that you wait

Jeffrey Zwiren, MD · Answer

At 15 years of age you are not fully developed and your breast condition may change.  Although not a strict requirement most would agree that you should wait until you are 18 to consider surgery.  This may seem like an eternity to you but it is for your safety and long term result.

Lewis Ladocsi, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi  r0sa1sela.  Yes, but if you have any breast surgery before your breasts fully develop, you risk a variety of complications.  I suggest you see a local plastic surgeon who can examine you and create a treatment plan.  Good luck!

Joseph L. Grzeskiewicz, MD, FACS · Answer

This is an excellent question, and it brings up an excellent issue for discussion here. In addition to having two daughters of my own who went through the ordeal of teenage breast development, I have treated an number of patients just like you, and I understand exactly where you are coming from.  Your concerns are very valid.  The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) has a published position on breast augmentation for patients under the age of 18.  It states that for primary aesthetic (cosmetic) breast augmentation, patients should be over the age of 18.  For reconstructive cases, which would include the correction of severe congenital (something you are born with or that runs in the family) or acquired (something that you acquire during your life like from cancer surgery or trauma) cosmetic or anatomical deformities, breast implants can be used in girls under the age of 18 on a case by case basis at the discretion of the surgeon.  In general, most if not all, board certified plastic surgeons will follow this recommendation and not offer breast augmentation to girls under the age of 18 for purely aesthetic reasons.  However, if you have a deformity which bothers you enough and makes it difficult to find clothing and bras and such, you may very well be a candidate for this procedure.  And the studies have shown that appropriately chosen candidates for this surgery are some of the happiest breast implant patients we have.  My advice is for you to find a well-qualified board certified plastic surgeon who has experience in dealing with breast deformities, preferably even in younger patients, and take your parents with you to have a consultation.  You will most certainly need their input and consent.  That way the surgeon can examine your breasts and make a determination of whether or not you meet the criteria for the surgery, and if you do you can have all of your questions about it answered.  If you don't meet the criteria, it would be best for you to wait until after you turn 18 and not just shop around until you find any doctor who will do the surgery for you because those guidelines are there for a reason, and they are designed to protect your emotional and physical well-being.  Good luck.

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Unless you are dealing with an unusual situation, such as a congenital developmental breast condition, you should wait until you have fully matured physically before undergoing elective breast surgery.  Although  exercising patience may prove very difficult, this approach will serve you best in the longer term. Best wishes.

Frederic H. Corbin, MD (license restricted) · Answer

There is no age requirement for correcting a breast deformity but if your breasts are still growing even if uneven it might be best to wait till they and you are fully developed before having surgery. That said an examination is really needed to see what can and what should be done.

Dr. Corbin

Dr. Corbin

Ronald V. DeMars, MD (Retired) · Answer

Yes, you can have the asymmetry corrected at your age with parental consent, BUT it would be unwise to undertake this procedure until you are SURE you have had no change in the size of either breast for a minimum of 12 months.

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