Is 18 Too Young for a Breast Augmentation Consultation?

Thank you for your question. Yes, You are able to have a breast augmentation performed at 18. I agree that it is a good idea to bring your parents to the consultation. Just make sure you pick a board certified plastic surgeon to perform the surgery. Gather as much information out of the consultation that you can in order to make a final decision if a breast augmentation is right for you. Best of luck!Dhaval M. Patel Double board certified Plastic surgeon Hoffman EstatesbarringtonOakbrookChicago

Thank
you for your question.  At 18, you are old enough to make this decision, but I typically recommend having a parent with you during the consultation, and it's great that you have your parent's support.  The main limitation in having a breast augmentation at this age is in breast implant selection -- you can only have saline implants, since silicone implants are not permitted in patients who are under 22 years old.  The two main downsides to saline breast implants are that they are (1) not as soft as silicone (and thus less natural-feeling), and (2) saline implants are also more likely to cause rippling -- wrinkling in your skin -- and this may occur regardless of your current breast size, or if the implant is placed below or above the (pectoralis) muscle.The
next step is to find the right aesthetic plastic surgeon for you. In your consultation, be sure your surgeon
addresses all your concerns and discusses the surgery details including the
position and size of the incision used, the
risks and benefits of the procedure, recovery time, and post-operative
course.  Also, be sure to see plenty of
before-and-after pictures in women who have a similar breast appearance to
yours, and preferably at different time frames (3 weeks out, 3 months out, etc)
to more accurately predict your own surgical outcome.Most
importantly, be sure to find a surgeon
that you feel comfortable with.Good luck.
Mark K Markarian, MD, MSPHHarvard-trained Aesthetic Plastic Surgeon

Thank you for submitting your question. 18 years of age your old enough to make informed educated  decisions. When your ready, make an appointment with a Board Certified Plastic surgeon.  Many times in my 18-20 year patients they are accompanied by their mothers.  Best Wishes

Hello! Thank you for your question. Breast augmentation is a procedure
often sought by women to increase
size, add upper pole fullness and projection along with improve shape
and symmetry of her breasts. Women who have the breast augmentation
done report increased self-confidence, self-esteem, and more comfortable
with her body. In fact, it has been the most popular procedure in
plastic surgery in the US for the past few years. Many surgeons use 18
years of age as the standard for when to offer the breast augmentation
procedure to women. Maturity and the ability to make an educated
decision for yourself of whether this procedure is the right one for you
as well as factors regarding implant choice, size, incision placement,
position of the implant, other adjunct procedures, etc are major
factors. Having the maturity to understand all of the risks and
benefits of the surgical procedure is also mandatory - thus, most are
readily able to comprehend this at that age. 23 years of age is the FDA
guideline for utilization of silicone implants. Good
communication between you and your surgeon of
your expectations is warranted - choosing your surgeon wisely is the
first step. Consult with a board certified plastic surgeon well-versed
in this procedure. Research your surgeon's education, training, as
well as ability to perform this procedure. See postoperative
photographs and most importantly choose the one who you feel most
comfortable with and competent to meet your expectations. Discussion of
your wishes and having an honest and open
dialog of your procedure is mandatory (e.g, implant type, incision,
placement, lift, etc). I have found that photographs brought by the
patient is helpful to get a visualization of the appearance you wish for
in terms of size, shape, fullness, etc. In addition, your surgeon's
pre and postoperative photographs should demonstrate a realistic goal
for you. Once this has been accomplished, allow your surgeon to utilize
his/her best medical judgment during the procedure to finesse the best
possible result for you after preoperative biodimensional planning and
fitting the right implant for your breast width. Hope that this helps! Best wishes for a wonderful result!

At age 18 it is legal to have your own private consultation regarding elective cosmetic surgery, and you do not need your parent's approval, though you may certainly want their help and support, just as with many other important decisions to come. But, it is legal for you to make your own decisions about this, and of course, that also presumes you have the knowledge, maturity, and judgement (not to mention the ability to pay for surgery) to make those decisions.Many plastic surgeons will tell you that you cannot have silicone gel implants (though the majority of us feel they are superior to saline ones for a multitude of reasons) until you are age 22, because of FDA recommendations. This is incorrect!It is perfectly legal to use silicone gel implants in a woman under the age of 22 who, after informed consent, requests their use. This would simply be considered "off-label" use, much as Botox for forehead lines is used by many of these very same surgeons (Botox is FDA-approved for use ONLY in glabellar frown lines, and recently, "crows feet" periorbital lines. Botox use anywhere else is simply considered "off-label" use, is perfectly legal, and no different from using silicone gel implants in a properly-informed patient under the age of 22 who requests their use). I do this all the time and support he right of women age 18-22 to make their own informed decision about their implants.As a surgeon, my only hesitation is not related to age, but rather the capacity of the prospective patient to understand the pros, cons, and risks of this elective surgery. So schedule some consultations with ABPS-certified plastic surgeons! For more information, click on the web reference link below. Best wishes! Dr. Tholen

Hi Relle, that is a great question. Being 18 is not too young to have a breast augmentation consultation. The key is to make an informed choice about your body.  For many women in your same position, breast augmentation can help to achieve the size and look you are hoping for. A consultation is a great learning experience for you to see if you are an appropriate candidate for breast augmentation. I would highly recommend that you have at least 2 consultations with Board Certified Plastic Surgeon which will give you the opportunity to be well informed in making this decision. Make sure to ask many questions so you feel comfortable with the doctor you ultimately choose. Best of luck!

 

Breast augmentation can be safely performed in an 18 year old woman, PROVIDED that certain criteria are met.  In my practice in theses type of cases we obtained a detailed developmental history, then we assess the patient for emotional maturity as well as for family/social support. The surgical part of this equation is identical to any other patient requesting breast implants, other than only saline implants can be used for some one younger that 22.  Careful assessment of your anatomy and your expectations will dictate the appropriate size and style of implants, as well as specific surgical approach.

Thank you for your question.  No, 18 is not too young for a consultation.  You can take the attitude that the consultation is an information gathering appointment for you to have all of your questions answered and have an opportunity to learn about the risks, benefits, and possible long term effects of breast implant surgery.

Be thorough and ask a lot of questions.  I also recommend you have at least 2 or 3 consultations with board-certified plastic surgeons as this will give you the opportunity to be well-informed.

Note: The FDA has not cleared silicone gel breast implants for use in women under the age of 22.

If after a thorough look at the medical risks, you want to undergo breast augmentation, it is well within your right to do so.  Depending on the supportive relationship you have with your parent(s), you may want to include them in the process and/or the consultations.

Best of luck.

Dear Relle,

  If your breasts have matured and you are not expecting any further development, you can seek consultation for breast enlargement. Make sure your doctor is board certified and has experience in performing this procedure. While it is not necessary, having a parent (most likely your mom) present for the consult is generally a good idea. Your mom may have questions and insights that may help you in your decision making process. Good luck.

Hi there-

There should not be any reason that a seemingly well-adjusted 18 year old like yourself could not safely and comfortable pursue a breast augmentation.

Make sure you only put yourself in the hands of a surgeon Certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery. 

Good luck!