Breast augmentation surgery is not a decision to make lightly. Surgery is surgery, no matter how popular the procedure, with all the risks inherent to a surgical procedure. It is even more important to weigh all your options carefully when it is a teenage girl inquiring about having breast augmentation, considering the fact that the teen’s breast size and shape are still changing and will continue to change until her mid-20s. While your teen may feel her breasts are ‘too small’, she may not realize everything could change in a short period of time. However, if breast augmentation seems like a solution after careful consideration and a thorough consultation with a board-certified cosmetic surgeon, this additional information will be helpful to you:
Although breast augmentation surgery is statistically safe, there are risks, including:
• Anesthesia risks
• Likelihood of another surgery in 5-10 years
• Potential breast pain or hardness and nipple numbness
• Breast implant replacement in several years
• Implant issues such dimpling, wrinkling or puckering upon removal
• Expense: Health insurance may not cover necessary corrective surgeries
• Mammography may be interfered with
Consulting with a reputable board-certified plastic surgeon and with hospital operating privileges at the hospital where you would like your procedure performed is very important. Additionally, your surgeon will take the time necessary to fully evaluate your teen’s needs, both physically and psychologically.
These tips from The American Society of Plastic Surgeons are very important:
• Your teen must make the final decision on her own. While parental support is important, your teen will have to live with the decision to have surgery.
• Realistic goal setting is key. Surgery has limitations. Breast augmentation will not solve the problems many teens face simply growing up.
• Learn all the facts before making a final decision. Recovery from breast augmentation surgery can be painful. Rules of recovery must be followed explicitly speedy and complete recovery. Your teen must be emotionally mature enough to make the commitment to recovery.
• Teens who are highly emotional, abusing drugs or alcohol, or suffering from depression are strongly encouraged to wait until an older age to have the surgery.
Most importantly, teens and parents must take the time to patiently and calmly discuss the surgery, any costs out of pocket, and how the recovery period will be managed. In today’s society, a great deal of peer pressure is placed on female teens regarding looks and sexuality. It seems the ‘beautiful people’ are rewarded, so it is no surprise teens are demanding breast augmentation surgery at younger ages. But that breast implant surgery may be a permanent solution to a temporary problem, since teen breast size and shape resolve as the teen matures into her 20s and beyond. It is very important for teenagers to feel they fit in, so be sure to talk honestly with your teen before making any decision to move forward with breast augmentation. Between 2002 and 2003, teen breast augmentation jumped 24%. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons recommends females be 18 years of age and older before undergoing breast augmentation and cautions that this surgery should be carefully considered over a period of time.
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