| Guidelines | | | | breast reconstruction or correction of severe |
| The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) | | | | malformation or asymmetry as in virgin hypertrophy. |
| approves breast implants under laws that govern | | | | Nor is age an indicator of emotional maturity, either. |
| medical devices. Although not binding as law, the FDA | | | | Emotional maturity is a significant factor that can have |
| also makes recommendations about breast | | | | a serious impact later on decisions made today. The |
| enlargement surgery and age related concerns. These | | | | reasons a woman wants breast enlargement are |
| guidelines are intended to ensure that a woman’s | | | | critical. For example, many women who desire to |
| breast development is complete. They also ensure | | | | impress others, to seek approval from others, or to |
| that she is old enough to make informed choices about | | | | attract male attention to her physical features outgrow |
| breast implants. | | | | these viewpoints and become satisfied with their |
| In general these recommendations state that a | | | | natural endowments. |
| woman be 18 years of age for saline implants and 22 | | | | Another group of women in the optimal age range that |
| years of age for silicone implants because each type | | | | may not be good candidates for breast enlargement |
| of implant carries different risks. | | | | are those who plan on having more children, and |
| In 2004 the American Society of Plastic Surgeons | | | | especially those who intend to breast feed their |
| (ASPS) adopted policies similar to the FDA | | | | children. Women who smoke, whose weight fluctuates, |
| recommendations. While these are the same for saline | | | | or who have any of a number of diseases may not |
| implants for women aged 18 and older, they | | | | qualify as good breast surgery candidates. |
| recommend silicone implants to be safe for women | | | | Recovery After 50 |
| aged 21 years of age, providing breast development is | | | | Recovery is slower and success rates are lower in |
| complete. If breast development continues after | | | | older women, especially after age 50. This is a time |
| Best Results | | | | when age-related diseases begin to develop but may |
| The best results, statistically, occur when women | | | | not yet be detected. Diseases such as diabetes may |
| receive breast implants between the ages of 20 | | | | affect healing and recovery times long before they |
| years to their mid-40s. During this time women’s | | | | are diagnosed. Skin begins to lose it’s elasticity, |
| weights are more stable, and the ability to heal is at its | | | | muscle mass diminishes, and a number of other |
| best. | | | | factors come into play that simply lower the prognosis |
| Exceptions | | | | for best outcomes. Older women must understand |
| Although there is the occasional adolescent younger | | | | that while a breast enhancement might improve their |
| than 18 who would benefit from breast enlargement | | | | appearance, it cannot make them look like a 30-year |
| surgery, most plastic surgeons adhere to these | | | | old, again. |
| recommendations. Such situations involve the need for | | | | |