Is 18 Too Young for a Breast Augmentation Consultation?

At 18 you are old enough to make important decisions such as having breast implants. Having your parent's consent is very important. You should use the Internet to fully familiarize yourself with the various aspects of implants, such as risks, (encapsulation, infection, distortion), incision sites, placement of the implants in front of or behind the muscle.

Until you are 22 you will have access only to saline implants, but this is not a deterrent in my opinion, unless you have virtually no breast tissue. If this is the case, the saline implants may cause visible wrinkles, which is unattractive. In such a case, the implants will have to be placed under the pectorals muscle, but wrinkles still may be visible. Many surgeons prefer the sub-pectoral position for the implant anyway. These are all things you must consider when making this very important decision.

One bit of additional advice -- be conservative with the size. This will reduce the deformity if there is a complication, and you will be much more comfortable. The prettiest breast are rarely the largest. And finally, find s plastic surgeon who listens to what you want. Best of luck.

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