All the evidence points to making sure young women have reached a level of physical and mental maturity that will allow them to make a wise choice before moving forward with breast implant surgery.

Here is the FDA's official stance on correct ages that young women can safely obtain breast implants:

• May 2000: Mentor and Allergan implants were FDA-approved for saline-filled breast implants in women 18 years or older.


• November 2006, Mentor and Allergan were FDA-approved for breast augmentation in women ages 22 and older.
  

Although some young women seek breast enlargement upon graduation from high school or even earlier, this is not generally advisable. Girls' bodies have not matured fully at this stage of their lives. Young women will not actually stop their growth activity until they are in their early twenties.

Maturity is another key factor to consider. Girls as young as 16, 17 and 18 may have a high degree of dissatisfaction with their bodies, often for no good reason. As they grow older and more mature, they develop a higher level of comfort with who they are. If they have elected to have breast enlargement surgery, they may even want their implants removed. By this time, their natural breasts may have become stretched from the implants, and they may not be able to regain their youthful form. With a few exceptions, such as highly asymmetric breasts, we encourage young women to wait before committing to breast enlargement surgery.

Finally, a woman must consider whether she might want to have children later in life. Although there is no health risk posed to mother or infant by breast implants during either pregnancy or breastfeeding, the effects of pregnancy on breast implants is uncertain and may lead to a very undesirable appearance which will require revision surgery.

If you or a loved one are in the La Jolla or San Diego, California areas and are interested in the exploring the possibilities of breast enlargement, please call our office at 800.715.5052 to schedule a breast enlargement consultation.