Too Young for Breast Reduction?
For women who suffer from oversized breasts, the torment often begins in adolescence. We have had patients as young as 16 or 17 consult us about breast reduction surgery in New York, and the first question they usually ask is, “Am I too young?”
As you might guess, there’s no answer that fits every case. However, the good news is that many teen girls whose breasts have grown to a size that’s both physically and psychologically hard to bear can be seen as candidates for breast reduction.
If you’re a young woman longing to reduce the size of your breasts, here are some questions we have for you to consider. Think these over while you research your condition, and you’ll be better prepared to move forward with the right plan at the right time.
Are Your Parents on Board?
As difficult as it can be to discuss a topic like this one, it’s essential that you talk it over with your parents. In fact, in most cases parental consent is required for plastic surgery for those under age 18. If you find it too uncomfortable just to sit down and talk, you might begin by printing out some information for them. The websites of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) are two good places to start.
About a year ago, the ASPS issued a briefing paper on teen plastic surgery. It addresses factors you and your parents will need to evaluate. It also makes note of the leading procedures teens seek—breast reduction being one—and mentions that more than 4,600 breast reductions were done for teen girls in 2015.
Will Insurance Be an Issue?
Insurance coverage is not usually easy to get for cosmetic surgery. Some procedures that have a corrective aspect give you a better chance for reimbursement; breast reduction is one. But plenty of documentation is usually required, and sometimes insurance companies will not consider coverage until a patient is 18 or older. This is another good reason to involve your parents. They can help you try to get coverage, and/or you’ll want to ensure they support the idea of surgery financially.
Have you Finished Developing?
Plastic surgeons will need to determine that your breasts have finished growing, or at least very nearly so. Nobody wants you to go through plastic surgery only to have your breasts continue to change. Think about when you last needed to go up a bra size—chances are any doctor you consult will want to know it has been at least a year or more since then.
Are You in Good Health?
Being at or near your ideal weight is an important factor in attaining optimum results from breast surgery. Shedding a significant amount of weight after surgery may cause unfortunate droopiness.
On top of the aesthetic considerations, understand that being overweight or obese increases surgical risks to some extent, particularly those associated with anesthesia. If you could stand to shed a few pounds, think what a motivator future cosmetic surgery could be!
Do You Feel Prepared for Surgery?
When we meet a young woman seeking breast reduction in New York, there are two especially critical aspects of surgery we explore with her. First, we want to know that she has realistic expectations for the outcome. Many teens are especially influenced by their peer group and by the media, and we need to be sure our patient will be satisfied with her own body—only better—after healing. She won’t automatically be a shoo-in for homecoming queen or the next cover model for Cosmopolitan.
In addition, we will determine whether, in our judgment, the patient is mature enough to handle the recovery period and adjust psychologically to her new shape. You and your parents will have input, of course.
Is Yours a Case of Hypertrophy?
Finally, in very rare cases teens experience a condition in which the breasts become exceptionally large—sometimes over a period of a few years and sometimes very rapidly. This is called juvenile breast hypertrophy and other related terms such as juvenile macromastia and even virginal breast hypertrophy. These patients suffer breasts that can justifiably be called enormous—weighing usually between about three and five pounds, and larger than regular bras can accommodate.
Breast hypertrophy is not well understood by the medical community but is generally associated with hormones gone awry in some way. It can occur at different times of life, not just adolescence (notably in pregnancy). Breast reduction surgery is certainly an option for many of these women, but medication is very often indicated as well. To be sure, treatment for girls and women should be a strategy determined by a medical team including an endocrinologist.
Consultation: A Good Step
Even if you’re a young teen, if you have excessively large breasts, a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon is a logical move. We advise young women who struggle with the problem to schedule an appointment to meet with us in New York. Breast reduction surgery is just one topic we’ll discuss—our aim would be to educate you and your parents about the condition and talk over your options. Then, decisions are up to you and your family.
We would love to meet you. It is our pleasure to work with young people; we perform dozens and dozens of breast reduction procedures for teen girls AND teen boys each year. Fill out our quick online form to tell us about yourself!
