FAQ: Breast reduction and breast lift. Am I too young? Am I too old?

Seattle Plastic Surgeon answers Breast Reduction and Breast Lift FAQ: Am I too young? Am I too old?

When it comes to breast reduction and breast lift, the age range of patients is really, really wide. My youngest breast reduction was 14, fully developed and miserable with her gigantic breasts. My oldest breast reduction patient was 73, very active and sick of wearing an industrial strength bra.

If young woman is fully developed and mature enough to understand the tradeoffs of surgery, she is likely a reasonable candidate for surgery. If an older woman is in good health, she is also likely to be a reasonable candidate for surgery. The young women and the older women often have a different surgical experience with breast reduction and breast lift.

The young patient often has more difficulty dealing with her changed body – even a body that is changed for the better. There are often tears in the clinic at the first dressing change. Young patients usually have more post operative pain, which is likely related to relative lack of life experience. The scars from breast reduction or lift are often red and noticeable for up to a year or two in young patients. And young patients who have a breast reduction need to accept the fact that they will not likely be able to breast feed. This is usually not an issue with a breast lift.

The older patient often just sails through this operation and the recovery. I usually can’t wipe the smile off their face from the minute they wake up in the recovery room. And their scars settle down quickly. I had one older patient who, one month after surgery, bought fourteen new bras at Nordstrom. Her husband deemed it “a happy problem”.

Thanks for reading and if you are interested in a breast reduction or a lift, give my office a call at 206 467-1101 to set up a consultation. Dr. Lisa Lynn Sowder