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Am I the Right Age for Breast Implants?

Getting breast implants is one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures that is carried out across the US. Many women opt for implants for a variety of reasons, the main benefit is an increased self confidence with the enhanced size and shape of their breast.

Even though this is a very common procedure to undergo, you should still give it plenty of thought and consideration if you are weighing the decision to have a breast implants surgery. One thing you will need to think about is whether you are the right age for them.

Every year, plastic surgeons perform thousands of Chicago breast augmentation surgeries on women as young as 18 and as old as 70 years old. But is there an optimum age for this type of procedure? In this blog post, we will detail some of the factors you need to think about when considering the right age to have your breast implant surgery.

Age Requirements for Silicone Vs Saline Implants

Saline breast implants may be placed in patients as young as 18 years old.  However, according to FDA standards you may not have silicone gel implants placed for cosmetic reasons until the age of 22, under most circumstances.  There are some special situations where a breast reconstruction is required to correct an abnormality when a silicone implant may be used in patients under the age of 22.

Age for Best Results

Even though women aged between 18 and 70 regularly have this kind of surgery, they won’t all be experiencing the same effects. In fact, for best results you should try to have your breast implants placed between the ages of 18 and 50. This age group benefits the best chance of their breast implant surgery being a success. Older patients, especially those past the age of 50, will find that the recovery process is a lot slower, and it could take them a lot longer to fully heal. Not only may the healing process take longer, but there can also be an increased risk of complications resulting from the surgery at this age as well.

After Pregnancy

Most women who are planning on starting a family in the near future are usually advised to wait until they have had their children before undergoing a breast implant procedure. This isn’t because the implants will prevent breastfeeding – in fact, women who have had breast augmentation or implant surgery should still be able to breastfeed without any problems. The main reason why women are often advised to wait is that their breasts will likely change shape and size once they do get pregnant. The breasts will continue to be large after pregnancy if you decide to breastfeed. This increase in size means that the skin will stretch and then finally shrink back once the breasts decrease and go back to their original size. Women who already have breast implants before they are pregnant often find that their breasts droop more once they do return to their pre-pregnancy body.  If this does happen, then you may have to go undergo additional breast enhancement surgery to correct the drooping. This will just be an extra expense for you and will also mean that you need to spend time recovering after surgery again. So, it is optimal to wait to get breast implants until after pregnancy, then you will find that they are a lot more effective for longer, and there won’t be much need for you to return to the surgeon for any corrective procedures.

Emotional Maturity

Of course, you shouldn’t just think about the physical side of getting breast implants. It’s also necessary to consider the emotional effect that the procedure will have on you as well. Therefore, many breast surgeons encourage young women to wait until they have reached emotional maturity to get the procedure done. One way to know that you are emotionally ready to get this surgery done is to write down all your reasons for wanting it in the first place. When you read your reasons back, you should make sure that they are all realistic. It’s also important that you realize that the effects of the surgery will be long-lasting, so you need to be completely happy with your decision to get the implants.

It’s also important to note that you should be getting breast augmentation for yourself. If there is someone else who is pressuring you into getting the surgery done, then you should not have it done. There’s a good chance that the other individual doesn’t have your best interests at heart.

Financial Maturity

The cost of breast enhancement surgery can vary greatly based on the type of procedure you may be requesting.  And elective cosmetic procedures are typically not covered by any medical insurance policy.  It is important to be sure that a breast enhancement surgery is something that you can afford.  Ideally, it is best to wait until you have reached financial maturity and are in a stable position with your finances. Because of the expense, many young women are advised to wait a couple of years so that they can save for the procedure to not get themselves into debt. Most breast surgery facilities offer financing options that can help spread the cost out for clients, but that always comes with extra finance costs. This is not ideal for younger patients that may not have the means to pay off these types of loans in a timely manner.

As you can see, there are many contributing factors to consider when you are thinking about the perfect age to have breast implants placed.  FDA standard age requirements, the possibility of pregnancy, and the financial burden associated with financing breast augmentation procedures. The Michael Horn Center for Cosmetic Surgery is here to help you answer any questions you may have regarding your options for breast enhancement procedures.  Give us a call to take advantage of a complimentary consultations with Dr. Michael Horn, MD at (312) 202-9000.