Breast Augmentation and Teenagers - An Important Choice

Breast augmentation is a cosmetic surgical procedure that is becoming more popular with teenagers. Although the FDA has approved the medical devices called implants for young women at varying ages, some adolescents even younger are opting for the surgery. The Food and Drug Administration is a governmental watchdog agency that oversees the safety of foods, beverages, medicines and medical devices in the United States.

Research and years of testing is required before the FDA will give its stamp of approval. This oversight agency has given the green light to saline filled implants for patients by the age of eighteen; the silicones have been okayed for patients who are over twenty-one. The reason that these stipulations are in place is to make sure that young women’s bodies are fully mature as well as their judgment and decision making skills. Deciding to undergo any type of elective surgery is a big step with lifelong ramifications.

Besides the choice between saline and silicone, implants have other options to choose from. They come in a variety of sizes, shapes and protrusions. As long as there is enough breast tissue to work with, flat chests can be transformed from AA bra sizes to Cs, Ds and beyond. The shapes come in oval or round; the protrusion should be chosen depending on the natural curves of the pre-implanted figure.

Teens have long opted for surgeries such as rhinoplasty to fix their noses and otoplasty to reshape their oversized ears. Ears and noses are not so dependent on the body’s maturity to properly assimilate. The numbers for adolescent girls going under the scalpel for larger bosoms has been growing. Two states where this operation is the most popular are Texas and California. Most of the time the procedures are chosen as physical enhancements but sometimes there’s a medical reason. Asymmetry or breasts lost to cancer are medical reasons which may be covered by health insurance. Operations which are strictly elective are not covered by insurance policies.

Twenty years ago fewer than one-thousand teen girls had augmentation but by the latest counts show numbers close to four-thousand. That’s a huge jump – and can be attributed to the internet viewing ability of “before and after” photos, reality TV, countless busty starlets that girls idolize and the realization that appearance does, in fact, affect a person’s success in life.

During the adolescent years, hormones and self image change like a fun-house mirror. Nearly every human during that age span undergoes some sort of identity crisis as the adult persona emerges. Some girls are late bloomers and may not develop their full bustline till they are closer to aged twenty and for this reason, it may be wise to wait and see. For young females who are plagued with the flat-as-a-pancake physique that their moms, aunties and grannies had, they can probably read the writing on the wall. Going through life feeling terrible and ashamed of your body is not a good thing. If a breast augmentation can enhance a budding adult’s self esteem and quality of life, it may be a wise graduation gift after all.