Is Age a Consideration for Cosmetic Breast Surgery?

Your age doesn’t determine if you’re a good candidate for cosmetic breast surgery. Women can have a breast lift or augmentation at any age. However, there are other variables that can affect your ability to have surgery, and some are related to age.

As a skilled breast surgeon, Matthew J. Lynch, MD, has spent years helping women of all ages achieve the appearance they desire, whether that means reducing or enlarging their natural breast size. If you’re wondering whether your age may be a roadblock, you only need to schedule a consultation to learn about your options.

In the meantime, here’s what you should know about when age can matter and when other issues can affect the success of cosmetic breast surgery.

Age concerns related to breast augmentation

Age may make a difference for cosmetic breast surgery if you’re considering a procedure to enlarge and enhance your breasts (breast augmentation). There are two issues that can be affected by your age: 

Implant requirements

If you plan to use breast implants to enlarge and shape your breasts, you must be at least 18 or 22, depending on the type of implant. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved saline implants for women aged 18 and older, while you must be at least 22 if you want a silicone implant.

These age restrictions only apply to cosmetic procedures, which means when you choose to enlarge your breasts for personal (not medical) reasons. There aren’t any age restrictions on implants if you need them for reconstructive breast surgery.

Skin quality

The quality of your skin won’t prevent us from performing a breast augmentation. But if you have thin skin, skin that has lost its elasticity, or is substantially stretched, we may need to do a breast lift before an augmentation.

If your skin can’t support the weight of the implant, it will eventually start to pull down on your skin and cause sagging breasts.

Skin quality is often an issue for women who have lost a lot of weight and/or have had multiple pregnancies. Loss of elasticity, thinning, and sagging also occur due to natural age-related changes in the skin.

Health is more important than age

Your overall health is more important than age when deciding if you’re a good candidate for cosmetic breast surgery. The three most important factors include:

Chronic disease

Chronic health conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease, make surgery riskier. Some heart conditions rule out cosmetic procedures, but in most cases, we can approve cosmetic breast surgery after verifying your condition is treated and well-managed.

Age plays a role in this issue, because your risk of having a chronic health condition increases as you get older.

Weight history

You will achieve the best and longest-lasting results from breast surgery if you’re at a healthy weight. Gaining or losing weight after breast surgery can affect the appearance of your breasts. For this reason, it’s best to reach your weight loss goal before surgery.

Nicotine consumption

You’ll need to stop using any nicotine-containing product (cigarettes, vaping, etc.) before having cosmetic breast surgery. Nicotine reduces the blood flow in the skin, which can slow down healing and potentially lead to serious complications after surgery.

Don’t let your age stop you from exploring cosmetic breast surgery. If you have any questions, schedule a consultation with Matthew J. Lynch, MD. He will give you the best options for breast surgery after reviewing your medical history, learning about the cosmetic changes you want to achieve, and examining your skin. To learn more, call 609-448-6200 or book an appointment online today.