For women considering breast augmentation in San Diego, there are many questions about the perfect age for the procedure. While some women will want to wait until a bit later in life for augmentation, there are many benefits for having surgery while still in your 20s.
Regulatory Requirements
Patients are required to be at least 18 years old in order to undergo breast augmentation, according to the current FDA regulations for saline implants. Those who wish to have silicone implants instead will have to be at least 22 years old. Regulations aside, most patients who are younger than this simply lack the appropriate maturity level to make a decision of this magnitude. Additionally, breasts may still be growing and maturing into the early 20s.
Benefits of Younger Bodies
One of the perks of undergoing breast augmentation in your 20s is having all the benefits of youthful skin and tissue. This means a reduced chance of scarring, faster recovery and greater muscular tightness to help hold implants in place.
One reason surgeons used to be reluctant about younger women choosing augmentation were concerns over future pregnancy and breastfeeding. With recent medical advances in implant technology and surgical technique, women rarely experience complications during nursing or pregnancy related to their implants.
There is also the question of self-image. Women who have spent their late teens feeling upset over their bodies are probably struggling with low self-confidence. This may be holding them back from successes in work and relationships. Breast augmentation earlier rather than later can help restore a positive self-image.
Dr. Alexander received his Medical Degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, one of the country’s first medical schools, and then had five years of intensive general surgery training at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, serving as chief resident in 1993-1994. There he was one of two residents honored “Outstanding Teacher” by the Whitehead Society.
After becoming Board Certified in General Surgery, Dr. Alexander attended the University of California San Francisco, one of the premiere Plastic Surgery programs in the United States. There he completed two additional years of residency training in Plastic Surgery. Dr. Alexander is double board certified in Surgery and Plastic Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
Dr. Alexander specializes in facial rejuvenation, and was the first surgeon in California to perform the QuickLift,™ a revolutionary surgical procedure that takes years off the face with less downtime than traditional facelifts. He is a specialist in chemical peels and laser surgery and was selected to author the chapter “Facial Resurfacing” in Plastic Surgery, the premiere textbook of the specialty. He also specializes in facial cancer reconstruction and endoscopic, minimally-invasive procedures, publishing his own original research about endoscopic plastic surgery. He lectures in medical forums and has presented his results at both national and international surgical meetings.
