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What Age Should I Get Breast Augmentation? What About a Lift?
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Many women find that as they age, their breasts no longer retain the size or shape they desire. Cosmetic procedures, such as breast augmentation and breast lift, have been further refined over the years to help address these issues. While these procedures can be beneficial for many women, for some, it can be confusing to determine when the optimal time may be to have surgery.
What Are the Criteria for Breast Augmentation?
When considering having a breast augmentation, it is prudent to make sure that your breasts are not still growing. Most find that their breast growth stops by their mid-teens, with some continuing to age 18, rarely even older. When you have seen no change in breast size for a while (except that associated with weight gain), you can better determine whether a breast augmentation would be “necessary” or desirable.
Another consideration is regarding plans for pregnancy. Breast implants should not disrupt the ability of the breasts to produce milk, providing proper techniques are employed. However, pregnancy can change the size and shape of the breast even after augmentation. Therefore, Dr. Turkeltaub suggests that women who are planning to become pregnant in the near future may want to wait until after childbirth before undergoing the procedure.
There are no official age limits, young and older, on getting a breast augmentation. However, it is generally a very common standard and prudent choice of plastic surgeons to set the minimum age at around 18 years old with some rare exceptions at 17. The vast majority of women undergoing this procedure encompass the age range between 18 and their 50’s. However, there are women even in their 60’s and 70’s seeking out breast augmentation for the first time. If they are healthy and good candidates for the procedure, why shouldn’t they also enjoy the benefits of the results?
What Are the Criteria for Breast Lift?
The criteria for breast lift surgeries are more based on want, need, and health. As with breast augmentation, it is more prudent to have completed one’s breast growth and being at least 18 years of age. Short of massive weight loss issues, it is not very common that those less than 18 would wisely benefit from a breast lift.
When performed alone, a breast lift can increase the perkiness of a breast at the cost of a little reduction in size. As such, many women choose to have breast augmentation and a lift performed simultaneously to avoid any size reduction or to obtain a desirable enlargement with more firmness and fullness.
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and plans for substantial weight loss are issues to consider when deciding to pursue a breast lift and the timing of it. These will significantly impact the quality and volume of breast tissue, skin elasticity and structural support of the breast and shape.
The age range for a breast lift is pretty much the same as that for breast augmentation, though concerns about breast size, shape, and position issues vary and change with time. The same is true for “need.” A woman in her early twenties is more likely to want breast augmentation rather than a breast lift, whereas a woman in her seventies is more likely to want and need a breast lift than a breast augmentation. Obviously, there are countless “exceptions.”
Interested in Learning More?
Women in good health, ranging in age from eighteen to even their seventies and eighties, have found satisfaction with cosmetic breast surgeries. If you are healthy and are strongly considering having a procedure, contact Dr. Turkeltaub at the Arizona Center for Breast Surgery for a consultation by calling (480) 451-3000 or filling out our online contact form.