The best age to have breast augmentation

A frequently asked question we receive is “What is the best age to have breast augmentation?’ The following blog post discusses the optimum age for breast surgery and restrictions set by breast development. We discuss the importance of emotional maturity, financial stability and considering future family plans, and explore breast augmentation over the age of fifty.
Appropriate Age for Breast Augmentation
Exceptional breast augmentation results are possible to achieve for women of every age, although, the best age for successful breast surgery is typically any age between 18 and 50 years old.
Patients between these ages can look to resolve various concerns with breast augmentation. Younger women may look to address a lack of breast volume or size. Women who have had children may experience a change in breast shape or size and desire to replicate their breasts pre-pregnancy. Mature women may find that their breasts do not look how they used to, and choose breast augmentation to boost their confidence.
Although, cautions and limitations for women between these ages exist, as discussed throughout this blog.
Breast Development and Age Restrictions
The majority of UK clinics have an age limit of 18 and over for breast enlargement surgery, at which age breasts are more likely to be fully grown and developed. Some clinics may have exceptions in exceptional circumstances, but these must be discussed with your individual surgeon.
Breast augmentation can only be considered once your breasts have fully developed to ensure that implants do not interfere with their development. It would be also difficult to determine your appropriate size, profile and shape if your breasts are still developing. Additionally, implants in developing breasts would likely result in sagging, stretched excess skin.
Everyone is different however, and can experience breast development earlier or later than others. By age 18 some may not have reached full breast development and are still ineligible for breast surgery, as breasts can continue to develop in women’s early twenties.
Pregnancy and Breast Augmentation
If you’re looking to have children in the near future, surgeons usually advise waiting till you have completed your family before undergoing a breast augmentation procedure.
During pregnancy, your breasts can significantly change in shape and the volume of your breasts will increase. If you opt to breastfeed, your breasts will also continue to be large during that time. This increase in size can cause the skin to stretch, and then shrink, and those with implants face greater risk of drooping and potentially requiring a revision in the future. Therefore, postponing breast surgery till you have completed your family helps ensure sustained and most effective results for your implants.
However many women do decide to have breast implants before having children.
Emotional Maturity
Some patients prolong their breast augmentation decision till an age where they feel they can confidently make the decision that breast augmentation is right for them, and at that stage of their life, and where they feel fully informed about the procedure.
Generally speaking, however, a woman is ready emotionally for breast surgery after carefully considering the procedure and weighing the pros and cons. Patients should have realistic expectations, realise that breast augmentation produces long-lasting results, and understand and appreciate the potential complications and risks that are associated with breast surgery.
Financial Stability
Financial stability is also an important consideration factor. It is important to think about how breast surgery will affect your current financial situation at this stage of your life. Some clinics offer financing options and packages allowing you to spread the cost of the procedure over time, however, you should ensure that you have a stable income allowing you to make these payments.
Breast augmentation over 50
Women aged over 50 are also eligible for breast surgery. There is actually no age limit for breast augmentation procedures. Women in this age group must be aware, however, that the healing process will likely be slower. It is also important that patients ensure optimal health before surgery and achieve understanding of potential complications or risks with the procedure.
So women at any age can have breast augmentation. But it is very important to thoroughly understand and evaluate the complications, potential risks and benefits of undergoing breast surgery at different ages, prior to making your decision.
The Private Clinic
Some of the most respected surgeons in the industry with decades of experience; our breast augmentation surgeons have achieved outstanding results for breast augmentation patients of all ages. Our surgeons are dedicated to providing honest, transparent advice at all times, and at your breast augmentation consultation, will be able to assess and confirm your suitability for the procedure.

• Mr Adrian Richards, MBBS, MSc, FRCS (Plast.) GMC Number: 3286812
• Mr Navid Jallali BSc MB ChB (Hons) MD FRCS (Plast)   GMC Number: 4404969
• Mr Dario Rochira BS, MD GMC Number: 6130664
• Mr Davood Fallahdar FRCS (Plast) Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons (Plastic) GMC Number: 4686602
• Mr Philip Lim BSc (Hons), MB ChB, AFRCS (Ed), MRCS (Eng), FRCS (Plast) GMC Number: 4219068
• Mr Olu Olubowale, MB ChB, MSc (Sheffield), FRCSI, FRCSI (Gen Surg) GMC Number 6044974
• Mr Maisam Fazel  MA(Cantab) MB BChir MSEd FRCS  GMC Number: 4767420
• Mr Mobinulla Syed MBBS, MSc, PhD, FRCS (Plast) GMC Number: 6035480
• Mr Prashant Govilkar, MBBS MS MCh FRCS FRCS (Plast) GMC Number: 4258041
• Mr Adel Fattah, FRCS (Plast.) GMC Number: 4764599
• Mr Kenneth Kok MBChB MRCS MSc(Hons) FRCS(plast)   GMC Number: 4701147

To find out more about our breast surgery procedures, see our breast augmentation website, including answers to frequently asked questions and access to a range of breast surgery before and after photos. Our breast enlargement video guides can also be very helpful. If you would like to arrange a consultation with one of our industry leading breast augmentation surgeons, you can do so via our website or by calling 03339209135.
Clinic locations available for our breast surgery procedures include: London Harley Street, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester and Northampton.