The common conception about breast augmentation is that it’s a younger woman’s procedure. A woman who is a bit more mature may wonder if she is too old to pursue a breast augmentation, breast lift, or both.
But when you dig a little deeper, what most women probably want to know when they ask if they are “too old” for the surgery, is really this: Are they too old to have the surgery safely?
The good news is that age is indeed just a number. The healthier you are going into surgery, the better the outcome you can expect, and there is no reason a woman in her 50s or 60s can’t be just as healthy going into elective surgery as a woman in her 30s.
If you are free of underlying health concerns and you eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, stay close to your ideal weight, and don’t smoke, chances are surgery will be safe for you. Your surgeon will perform a thorough physical exam to be sure there are no underlying issues that could complicate your recovery.
There are actually quite a few reasons a woman who has crossed the half-century mark might choose breast surgery.
Plenty of Time to Enjoy the Results
As time marches on, so does life expectancy. This means a woman in her 50s or 60s may have 30 years or more of an active lifestyle ahead of her. Enjoying those years may include doing things that boost your self-image — such as cosmetic surgery.
Having Children Later
Many women today choose to postpone having children to accommodate their careers or other interests. Rather than have breast surgery that may be affected by subsequent pregnancy and breastfeeding, they put off the surgery until later.
Menopause and Aging
The declining hormone levels of menopause along with the inevitable effects of time can conspire to cause breasts to lose their youthful firmness and lift. This can cause dissatisfaction with the appearance of the breasts with age. Surprisingly, breasts may also increase in volume with age due to increased fat deposits. Sadly, this does nothing to help lift the breast.
They Can Afford It
For many women, this is a time in their lives where their disposable income allows them to pursue a procedure they couldn’t afford a decade or so earlier. Since breast augmentation isn’t covered by insurance, this is an important factor in choosing to have the surgery.
While age alone is not an impediment to cosmetic breast surgery, age may play a role in choosing which procedure will best achieve the results you want. Women who have had children and gone through menopause may find that their breast have not only lost fullness, but they are beginning to sag. Implants alone will not rectify this issue and an augmentation combined with a breast lift will be needed to achieve the best results. Or, it may be the case that a breast lift alone will restore the appearance of your breasts without implants. A board-certified plastic surgeon is best qualified to listen to your wishes and make the most appropriate recommendations to achieve them.
If you’ve reached a “certain age” and feel that you would like to restore a more youthful appearance to your breasts, there is no reason to let your birth certificate dictate your options. Why not schedule and appointment for a consultation to discuss what will and will not work for you? The sooner you have the surgery, the longer you will have to enjoy the results.
