Breast Augmentation: How young is too young for breast implants?
by Marianne Guarena
Clearly this is a very controversial subject. Nonetheless, teen breast augmentation is on the rise, coming to a city near you—and fast! According to the American Society for Plastic Surgery, in 2006 there were approximately 329,000 breast augmentations in the United States. 9,104 of them were for patients in the 13 - 19 year old category, plus 80 explant operations on top of that. That is a 12% increase in teenage breast augmentation from 2005 to 2006! Post-graduation breast augmentation gifts may be gaining in popularity but honestly, is it really good for your body at this age?
Firstly, I want to make it very clear that I do not condone breast augmentation for what many doctors deem, “bi-lateral micromastia” (simply put, small breasts) in those under the age of 18. I am not an advocate for two reasons, the first being the natural growth cycle of the female breast. Although everyone is different, your breasts may continue to normally grow until the age of 19. Your breasts will be affected by weight gain, in addition to naturally occurring and supplemental hormones such as the birth control pill, should you decide to go that route. Some even theorize that drinking and eating dairy products derived from cows which have been given growth hormones can affect your natural growth. Although this had not been definitively proven.
My second reason is the lack of mental maturity for an operation such as this. In my opinion, and if you are a young teen, having small breasts will not kill your self-esteem no matter how much you think it will. Your self-worth is not determined by your breast size, I promise you. And girls, don’t hate because I know what I am talking about. The mental maturity needed for the recovery after breast augmentation surgery is more than you think. In the event that you experience complications, it is not a cakewalk. I’ve been there; it happens. Plus, the ramifications of having a mature set of breasts on a very young, and still-developing body, and the negative attention it can bring, can be disastrous to the psychological maturation period. Looking back now I know I would have flaunted them and used them to garner interest from men, thereby getting myself into further trouble at a very young age. It would have also attracted older men, men who should NOT be looking at young women under the age of 18. When you are a teen, you should be worrying about your grades and getting into a good college, not having a rack that would put a Playmate to shame. I suggest wearing a push-up or padded bra, or silicone breast enhancers that you can take out when appropriate, and let your body and your mind finish growing.
If you’re asking yourself why you should even remotely be taking what I say with a grain of silicone, I speak from experience. I, too, had small breasts when I was younger. I, too, was teased about having ant bites and big hips. I survived. However, oral contraceptive pills changed all that. In my teens I went from about a small B cup to a full C and then later on when I gained weight in my very early twenties, a double DD. Once I got off of the pill, I deflated considerably, resulting in saggy C’s. Yes, I did eventually get breast implants when I was 26. But I was 26, not 16.
Since the age of 26 I have had two breast augmentation surgeries resulting in very large breasts. My first set was a DDD/F cup, the second set also an F but then after getting back on the wonderful birth control pill again, they quickly turned into a G cup. No fun, I assure you. Now before you retort with, “I would never get a DD or above” it is common for most women to get a D or DD with their first breast surgery. And then there is what we call boobie greed. This is when you become accustomed to your new, surgically-enhanced breast size and then want them even bigger. Although I did not experience this because I made the mistake of going so large in the first place, the grass is always greener. And here I sit, explanted and FOUR breast lifts later with large B/saggy C’s again. I have come full circle.
I had my explant surgery on April 12, 2007, plus had yet another peri-areolar lift (also known as circum-areolar or donut lift) where the incision is made only around the areola. These peri-areolar lifts can fail, as my first three did, when you have large, heavy breasts. So, this time around and with a different doctor, my implants were removed, I had a peri-areolar lift with an areola reduction, and I had to have my right breast crease raised, and the right axilla (armpit) area tacked. During my recovery period the lack of breast weight will keep my incisions from stretching back out and will allow my skin to heal properly. Although the thin skin will never fully recover. At the moment, if I lie on my back my breasts pretty much resemble chicken skin pancakes. Nice. Now must wait until September where I will have a second peri-areolar lift, and add small implants, placed under the pectoral muscles.
So When Is It “Okay”?
Severe asymmetry and reconstruction, however, are entirely different issues. I am all for these types of corrective surgeries in patients under 18 years of age. There is a difference in having a pair of small breasts and having a pair of breasts greatly unequal sizes. You may think me hypocritical, but imagine having an A cup on the left and a D cup on the right. Now imagine yourself in gym class having to undress in front of your classmates. Although, if this were you, you would survive, the difference is obviously a non-debilitating deformity. I’d like to add that these procedures are actually very low in occurrence, and even many of these ladies often wait until they are 18 years of age. Even in this case, wearing an external prosthetic breast such as a silicone breast enhancer within a bra can usually be hidden from classmates if the young lady does not need to take a public shower.
Breast cancer in teens is extremely rare, so reconstruction post-mastectomy is almost non-existent under the age of 18. However, if the case did arise, I am sure no one would feel it unreasonable that a young woman would want to regain the breast tissue that she may have lost to cancer.
So ladies, if you feel you absolutely must have a great pair of D’s for your 16th birthday or your graduation present, please rethink it. I know that one or two years may seems like an eternity, but it really isn’t. Yes, life is short and you may feel that since your Mom has small breasts you are forever cursed to walk the earth with a concave chest. Just wait. You will be 18 before you know it and you can do with your body as you wish.
