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Often, women seeking breast surgery such as an augmentation or reduction ask us about the best age for these potentially life-changing procedures. However, the answer is different for every patient and depends on several factors.

Why Do Women Get Breast Surgery?

There are many reasons a woman might desire to undergo breast surgery. For example, a younger woman who feels self-conscious about the size, shape, or symmetry of her breasts may opt for the procedure.

Breast surgery can help adult women of almost any age feel sexier and more confident about the look of their breasts. In fact, younger women who opt to get breast surgery may experience an easier recovery process, since their skin is more elastic and tends to bounce back more quickly.

Is There a Minimum Age for Breast Surgery?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not recommend breast surgery for women under the age of 18. That’s because, for best results, a woman’s breasts should be fully developed before undergoing a surgical procedure.

Because no two bodies are completely alike, two women of the same age may reach physical maturity at different rates. Even after going through puberty, many women find that their breasts continue to grow and change up through their early 20s, while other women’s breasts are fully developed in their teens.

Deciding on an ideal shape and size is more challenging if the breasts are not fully finished developing. If you are a younger woman thinking about getting a breast augmentation, keep in mind that waiting for the breasts to settle into their fully developed size and shape will help you and your cosmetic surgeon decide what type of breast implant is right for you, as well as where to place it.

The FDA has approved silicone gel-filled breast implants for breast augmentation in women age 22 or older, and for breast reconstruction after surgery or injury in women of any age.

Breast Augmentation for Women in Their 20s

Women who decide to have breast augmentation surgery in their 20s must take several factors into account before undergoing breast surgery. These concerns are:

Although breast implants will not negatively impact your ability to get pregnant or breastfeed, the effects of pregnancy, such as weight gain and stretched skin, can cause sagging and stretch marks, which may negate the results of a breast augmentation. As a result, some women who had breast implants before one or more pregnancies may find they need to undergo an additional augmentation to restore the size and shape of their breasts.

To avoid future surgeries, breast surgeons advise women to wait until after they are done having children before they undergo a breast augmentation – especially if they are planning to breastfeed. Though there is minimal risk that the implants will hinder women’s ability to breastfeed, they may cause the breasts to sag even further. However, if you do not plan to have children, or if you understand and accept that you might want to get another breast surgery, there is no medical reason you can’t have a breast augmentation in your 20s.

Breast Reduction for Women in Their 20s

Most women who opt for breast reduction surgery are seeking physical benefits more than cosmetic ones. Large, heavy breasts can cause neck and back pain, and in some cases, may even limit the activities a woman can participate in.

Again, in most cases, it is better to wait until a woman’s breasts have fully developed before getting a reduction surgery. However, for women whose large or sagging breasts are putting them in significant discomfort, we can perform the surgery earlier, provided the patient is mature enough to fully understand the procedure. As with breast augmentation, we do not recommend breast reduction for women who plan to breastfeed.

Contact Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery With All Your Breast Procedure Questions

If you’re a younger woman who is weighing the options of breast surgery, fill out our convenient online contact form or call our Beverly Hills office at 310-746-5439 to speak to our friendly staff. We would be happy to schedule a private consultation with our qualified cosmetic surgeons.

 

 

 

A woman in her 40s typically enjoys more stability in her life. By this point, you’re probably done with childbearing, your children are likely out of their toddler phase, and your life goals are nicely falling into place. For these reasons, more and more women in their 40s are deciding to undergo breast augmentation for the first time.

Many women feel that this is the ideal time to undergo breast surgery, allowing them to embrace a new decade with confidence. If you’re like others who are taking advantage of this transformative procedure in their 40s, the following guide will help you know what to take into consideration.

Why Get a Breast Augmentation in Your 40s?

While women seeking a breast augmentation in their 20s and 30s typically want to increase the size of their breasts, the 40s present additional cosmetic concerns. Women in their 40s generally choose to undergo a breast augmentation for the following reasons:

Aging

Women in their 40s often have cosmetic changes to their breasts due to age, including sagging, loss of volume, and asymmetry. A breast augmentation can completely restore what age has claimed by providing fullness and improved shape. Breast surgery allows you to take control of unwanted signs of age so you can feel more comfortable with your figure.

Effects of Pregnancy

Children can be a gift in life, but as any mother knows, the physical strain of childbearing can permanently change a woman’s body. Weight fluctuations and breastfeeding may lead to overstretched breast tissue, which contributes to an overall “deflated” appearance. And no matter how much you diet or exercise, flattened breasts cannot be improved without surgery. Fortunately, a breast augmentation performed with a breast lift is the perfect way to correct these cosmetic issues with long lasting results. This particular combination is a popular choice for women undergoing a Mommy Makeover treatment. And since most women are finished having children by their 40s, you can enjoy the results of your breast surgery for many years to come.

Revision Surgery

For some women, breast surgery in their 40s isn’t the first time they’ve undergone a breast augmentation. Many choose to have an additional breast augmentation for revision purposes. This can be done for several reasons. Some patients may be dissatisfied with the results of a breast augmentation they had in their 20s and 30s, and now they finally have the time to get a revision surgery to achieve their aesthetic goals. Likewise, some women want to take advantage of breast implant advancements that have developed since their first breast augmentation. Regardless of the reason, a breast augmentation revision can match your figure with your ideal cosmetic tastes.

Implants After Breast Reduction

Excessively large breasts can cause a host of health issues for women, including chronic neck and back pain. But some women simply don’t have the time or resources to undergo breast reduction surgery in their 20s and 30s. And due to hormonal fluctuations, breasts may continue to develop even throughout a woman’s 20s and 30s, which is why many women wait until their 40s to have a breast reduction.

A breast reduction is an excellent way to eliminate excessive breast tissue, but for optimal results, some women prefer to also have implants to fully improve the shape of their breasts. Breast reduction often focuses more on the relief of troubling physical symptoms rather than cosmetic improvement. For women in their 40s undergoing a breast reduction, augmentation after a reduction can offer optimal cosmetic enhancement.

What You Need to Consider

There are some additional considerations to keep in mind before making the decision to augment your breasts in your 40s:

Mammograms

Doctors generally recommend that women start getting regular mammograms at around age 40 to 45, but you will likely be required to also have a mammogram before getting breast implants. This is because implants can obscure mammogram results, so doctors prefer to have a baseline mammogram that they can refer to in the future. Breast implants will affect your future mammograms as well, so when you go in for your regular breast cancer screening, you’ll need to notify your mammographer so that he or she can adjust the procedure appropriately. You may require additional views for adequate breast imaging.

Issues Related to Sagging

Women in their 40s have likely started to notice that their breasts no longer have the perky appearance they once had. While a breast augmentation is excellent at enhancing the size and shape of breasts, augmentation alone cannot lift the breasts. If you’re thinking about having a breast augmentation in your 40s, then you might want to consider a breast lift as well. This combination surgery is the procedure of choice for mothers who want to restore their pre-baby body, but it also offers optimal breast rejuvenation for women who’ve never had children.

Your 40s are all about knowing what you want and going after your goals. And with a breast augmentation, you can fully embrace this exciting time in your life and restore your confidence. Ready to take the next step? Contact Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery today at (310) 746-5439 to schedule a consultation for breast augmentation.