When people think of breast augmentation, they often envision a younger woman enlarging her breasts to enhance her confidence. Although many women do seek this surgery at a younger age, breast augmentation is not a procedure exclusively for woman in their 20s. In fact, more than half of women who get breast implants are age 35 or older. If the only thing that has been holding you back from enhancing your bust is your age, board-certified plastic surgeons Dr. Garrett Harper and Dr. Robert Graper explain why you are probably still a great candidate for this surgery.
Age Requirements for Breast Augmentation
The only age-related recommendations the FDA has made when it comes to breast augmentation are minimum age requirements. They suggest women be at least 18 years old to have the surgery, and almost any doctor would agree. The breasts continue to develop throughout puberty, and it is a good idea to let them finish growing before deciding to augment them. For silicone implants specifically, the FDA suggests waiting until age 22, mainly because research on silicone implants was conducted on patients who were at least that age, not because there is evidence that they are unsafe in women aged 18 to 21.
Older age does not preclude a woman from having breast augmentation unless she has certain health problems. So long as a woman is in good enough health to undergo an elective cosmetic surgery and her reasons for wanting the surgery are sound, it should not be an issue.
Why It May Make Sense to Have Breast Augmentation Later
Getting breast augmentation later in life has its advantages. Because pregnancy and breastfeeding can change the shape and size of your breasts, waiting until after you have had children (if you choose to become a mother) can help your results to look as you intend them to for as long as possible.
As you get older, you may weigh more or less than you did in your 20s and wish to create a breast profile that is proportional to your current frame. Aging also leads to skin sagging, which can cause the breasts to hang lower. Although breast lift is the procedure that best addresses drooping, it can easily be combined with breast augmentation for great results completed in a single surgical session.
Speak to North Carolina’s Top Plastic Surgeons
If you are only considering breast augmentation now that you are more grounded and established in life, you are in good company. The outstanding team of surgeons at Graper Harper Cosmetic Surgery have helped many women in their 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond to achieve their ideal breasts. To schedule a consultation at our office in Charlotte, NC, please call 704.375.7111 today.