Can I get silicone implants if I'm 20?

The FDA has only approved silicone breast implants for women who are 22 years old and older. However, if you give informed consent, you can likely find a board-certified plastic surgeon who will agree to use silicone for your breast augmentation. Using silicone in women younger than 22 is legal; it’s just considered an off-label use, much like prescribing a medication that the FDA approved as a beta-blocker to prevent migraines. Off-label use will likely void the warranty on your breast implants though. If you want the protection of a warranty, you may want to delay your breast augmentation until you are 22 or consider saline breast implants, which can also yield beautiful results.



 

This is "off label" under the age of 22 only because the FDA did not include women under the age of 22 in their extensive studies. It is legal and common for physicians to use medications and devices "off label." As previously mentioned by other doctors in this thread, Botox is so commonly used off-label, most patients don't realize it is used off-label. Botox is only "approved" for between the brows ("glabella") and "crow's feet," but is commonly injected in the forehead and other areas to relax wrinkles and/or muscles. Similarly, silicone implants are commonly implanted in women 18-21 years old, without adverse effects or reactions. It is legal, common, and appropriate, as long as the patient is informed, and consent is obtained.Hope this helps! Use a board certified plastic surgeon with experience! 

This is a very common question from time to time here on RealSelf. Please search "silicone implants under age 22 Tholen" for my answers, as well as the answers by others. Use of silicone gel implants under the age of 22 would be considered off-label, but this is both legal and common with many medications and devices. The important thing is that you understand the pros and cons of silicone vs. saline and consent and request their use.Silicone implants under the age of 22 are perfectly legal
and appropriate for patients who have fully informed consent, and
understand that use of silicone implants under the age of 22 is
considered "off-label" by the FDA.

Off-label use is something that every doctor does frequently, when a
medication is prescribed for another reason than the primary
FDA-approved indication. For example, Botox is approved for cosmetic use
only for the frown muscles between the brows and crow's feet. I suspect that virtually
every physician who uses Botox ALSO uses it for forehead lines, and other areas as well. This is an example of
"off-label" use. We're not breaking the rules, we are simply making an
informed medical choice in conjunction with our properly-informed
patient.So , yes, it's possible; yes, it's legal; and I do this for my patients who are properly informed and choose that option. I have never had one of my implant representatives fail to honor their replacement policy, so "warranty" is NOT void. Best wishes! Dr. Tholen