Breast Augmentation Candidates

There are many different factors that make a person a good candidate for a breast augmentation surgery. Age and health are two major factors when it comes to breast augmentations, but there a few other factors that may affect a patient’s candidacy. Consulting a plastic surgeon is the best way to be absolutely sure that a patient is a good candidate for a plastic surgery, but here are a few guidelines that can help individuals know whether or not they might be able to have a breast augmentation.

Good Candidates for Breast Augmentation

Most surgeons prefer for their patients to be at least the age of 18 when having saline implants placed, and at least the age of 22 before silicone implants can be placed; these are the FDA breast implant guidelines. In patients under the age of 18, the body is still growing and changing, and there may be significant changes in the breasts as patients reach young adulthood.

Most surgeons also require their patients to be healthy, non-smokers, and non-drinkers. While the occasional drink is fine, patients do need to stop drinking a week before and after a breast augmentation, so that the body’s immune system can operate properly. Smoking needs to stop a full two weeks before surgery in order for the body’s circulation to return to normal. 

Other than these factors, the woman must be willing and physically fit enough to have and recover from a surgery. Women with bleeding disorders, circulatory system issues, or other serious diseases are usually not considered to be good candidates for breast augmentations.

Those Who Are Not Candidates

There are some women who are simply not good candidates for breast augmentation, though they may be candidates at a later time. Any woman who currently has an infection will not be considered for breast augmentation, as a surgery makes the body more vulnerable to infections.

Likewise, a woman who has cancer or a pre-cancerous tumor will not be considered for breast augmentation until after treatment for the cancer is complete and she is healthy enough to receive surgery.

Pregnancy and breast feeding also preclude a woman from undergoing a breast augmentation. In these cases, the patient must finish breastfeeding before she can be considered for breast augmentation.

How to Know

A patient should carefully consider her health level and discuss any issues or concerns with her doctor. It is better to know than to wonder, especially when it comes to surgery. Any blood clotting issues or an impaired healing process can increase the risk of complications when it comes to a breast augmentation surgery and should be mentioned to a surgeon.

For more information about breast augmentation, or other types of plastic surgery procedures, please contact Crawford Plastic Surgery today. When you come to our practice for a consultation, our surgeons will discuss your goals, aesthetic concerns, and medical history to determine if you are a good candidate for breast augmentation surgery. We look forward to working with you!