Breast augmentations are the most popular form of plastic surgery in the UK. But when should you really get a boob job?
Undergoing breast surgery is a major commitment and if you’re thinking critically about your decision you are on the right track. We can’t tell you when to get a breast augmentation, but we can offer you the key data to consider when it’s the right time for you.
Breast Development 101
Did you know that breasts start developing when a female is a fetus? It all starts with the formation of the milk duct system forming in an infant. Breasts continue to develop throughout childhood and into puberty.
Breasts experience the most physical changes during puberty. Prior to puberty, most of the developmental changes to the breast happen underneath the skin. A woman’s breasts are typically fully developed around the age of 18, but they can continue to grow into a woman’s early 20s.
So what does this mean for breast augmentation? Women with healthy breasts may want to wait until their breasts are fully developed before considering getting a boob job. So, if you’re 18 to 25 years old it’s best to consult a doctor to figure out if your breasts have fully developed before undergoing breast surgery.
What’s Your Intention for Breast Enlargement?
Why do you want a boob job?
This is the existential question every woman should ask themselves before getting a boob job. This is a very personal conversation you should have with yourself.
Some people have strong opinions for or against plastic surgery, but it’s best to let your own values guide your decision. If you are a mentally stable person who has spent the past five years not liking what you see in the mirror, that is a good enough reason to get a boob job.
Many psychological studies have been conducted on the topic of personality and appearance. Decades of scientific research shows that your appearance and how you perceive yourself directly impacts your personality. If you feel that how you look is holding you back, it’s OK to change it.
But, this conclusion usually takes time to arrive at. If you are depressed and you feel your appearance is part of the problem, it’s important to consider all the contributing factors first.
You don’t want to falsely believe that getting a boob job will solve all of your problems, undergo surgery, and then realize that your issues go much deeper. It’s also important to get a boob job for yourself and not because someone wants you too or because you think someone will like you more if you do.
Is Your Mind Ready for a Boob Job?
So how can we relate this to the best age to get a boob job? We all developmental stages of self-awareness and confidence at completely different ages.
From an anatomical standpoint, the brain is considered to be fully developed around age 25. But having a developed brain doesn’t necessarily translate to having a strong sense of self.
Self-awareness is more difficult to measure. However, researchers have suggested that you are a completely self-aware person when you have mastered a clear understanding of your personality, values, habits, needs, and emotions.
Breast Augmentation and Breastfeeding
Whether you plan to have children and breastfeed is crucial to deciding when to get breast implants. There’s no “right” or “wrong” age to have children at. Choosing the right time to have a child is a personal decision. But, getting a breast augmentation can impact your ability to breastfeed.
If you’re planning to have children and breastfeed, you should have an in-depth conversation with your plastic surgeon. Here are some key ways breast surgery can impact your ability to breastfeed:
- The type of breast surgery, the surgical techniques used, and the location of the incision
- The number of damaged nerves and breast tissue
- The amount of scaring to the milk ducts
- How much milk-making tissue you have before and after surgery
- The size of the implant and how it’s positioned
Even if you plan to get pregnant in the future but don’t want to breastfeed, you should keep in mind that your body will still change.
Women are the most fertile in their 20s. Reproductive age begins to decline from age 30. By age 45 it’s difficult for most women to conceive. The average age women have children in the United Kingdom is between ages 30 and 31. The total number of women having children in the UK has decreased.
But, when you break down birth rates by age group, the number of women in their 20s having children has decreased. The number of women having children in their 40s has increased. These numbers can fluctuate based on the cities you live in and the cultures you’re part of also.
What’s the Magic Age for a Boob Job?
The decision of when to get breast implants is completely personal. This post simply exists to provide you with the important facts you should consider prior to making the decision of whether to get a breast augmentation.
If you’re planning to have children it’s best to wait until you’ve finished childbearing. Which statistically seems to be anywhere between ages 32 and 45. If you don’t plan to have children, it seems that the optimal time for your health is after age 25.
Are you considering getting breast implants? Check out all of our testimonial videos about the breast surgery experience of our patients.
