Your Guide to Breast Enhancement at Any Age
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1by Beauty Blogger Emmy Owens
You are never too old or too young to do something special for yourself. Many women see a breast enhancement procedure as a way to give back to themselves, to restore a look that has faded with time, or to achieve a look they always wanted.
As we age, though, there are different things to consider before a breast enhancement experience. If you’re thinking about enhancing your breasts, check out this guide to help you make the right decisions for your body, no matter your age.
Younger Than 18
It’s hardly unheard of for teenagers to want to enhance their breasts, but it’s not always a good idea. Generally, teenagers are not the best candidates for breast augmentation procedures because their breasts are still developing. During these years, the shape, size, and feel of a girl’s breasts may change dramatically. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons® recommends that women should wait until their breasts have stopped developing before pursuing any sort of breast enhancement procedure.
The one exception is when it comes to breast reduction. In some cases, a teen may develop such overly large breasts that she is in physical pain, not to mention social discomfort. Surgeons are often willing to reduce the size of a teen’s breasts to relieve back and shoulder pain. Still, in many cases, it may be best to wait until the young woman is 18 or older to ensure breast tissue is done developing.
Years 18 to 35
Aside from puberty, these years usually bring about the most tumultuous changes for a woman’s breasts. There are essentially 2 major considerations during this period of time: development and pregnancy.
While some women are fully developed by the time they are 18, there are plenty who notice their breasts growing and changing well into their 20s. Waiting until your breasts have fully developed is essential for any successful breast enhancement procedure. Be prepared to discuss your health history with your doctor on this front.
If your breasts are fully developed and you don’t plan on having children, you should be set for your breast enhancement procedure as soon as your breasts are done developing. Generally women in this age bracket do great with a straightforward breast augmentation, reduction, or other procedure.
If you are planning to have kids, though, timing your surgery is very important. A huge proportion of breast augmentation patients get the surgery from age 20 to 25, after their breasts have stopped developing and before they are ready to start a family. Many say enjoying their enhanced breasts when they are young is a major factor in this decision, and they live happily with their results for years. If you make this choice and plan to become pregnant down the road, you should do so with the understanding that your breasts will change and may require revision surgery.
If you are considering becoming pregnant within the next year or so, it may be best to hold off on the procedure until after having children. Again, the breasts you have today may be very different than the ones you have after pregnancy and nursing.
Years 35 to 55
For many reasons, this period of a woman’s life is a great time to have a breast enhancement procedure. By this time, a woman may be in a more financially stable position to make an investment in surgery, and she won’t expect any major hormone-caused breast changes because she is long past puberty. The childbearing years are often winding down, and this may be the perfect time to reverse any negative effects of pregnancy — or simply gravity — on the breasts.
Many women within this age bracket have experienced some loss of breast volume. This leads to ptosis, or drooping, of the breasts. To address this, many women need a breast lift or a combination lift-augmentation. Dr. Christa Clark, a breast augmentation specialist in the Sacramento area, explains on her website that combining the 2 procedures can be a great option for women this age, helping to lift the breasts, improve breast shape and size, and reduce the size of the areolas or nipples. These breast procedures can even be incorporated into a larger operation called a “Mommy Makeover” that also treats the tummy and other areas, Dr. Clark’s site says.
Another consideration for any woman age 35 or older considering breast implants is that many plastic surgeons require patients to have a mammogram performed before their procedure. Others suggest obtaining a mammogram after the breast implant is first put in to help establish a baseline image for that patient moving forward. Mammograms should become part of a woman’s routine health maintenance at this period, whether she has breast implants or not.
55 or Older
It’s common for women in this age bracket to wonder whether they are “too old” for cosmetic breast surgery, but there is truly no upper age limit on breast enhancement. Just ask the vibrant Marie Kolstad, who got breast implants when she was 83 years young.
Just like any other surgery, as long as you’re healthy and have a proper recovery plan, there is no reason to be deterred from getting a breast augmentation, reduction, or other procedure. Similar to the 35 to 55 age bracket, many women older than 55 may find that they need a lift in addition to their breast augmentation or reduction to get the look they are trying to achieve.
No matter what age you are, breast enhancement is a great way to help boost your self-confidence, improve your silhouette, and help you gain the breasts you always wanted. Being aware of certain age considerations can help you achieve a safe and long-lasting result so you look and feel great.
Your Opinion?
Emmy Owens
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