Does Age Or Menopause Affect Getting Breast Implants?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am 57 years old and am interested in getting breast implants. I have always had small but nice and perky breasts even for my age. But due to a recent divorce, I would feel more confident if my breasts were fuller. Since I have gone through menopause when I was 50, I was wondering  if this hormonal change in any way causes long-term problems with having breast implants?

A: There are more ‘older’ women over the age of 50 having breast augmentation than ever before. Of equal relevance is that 50 plus year-old women are having their old implants replaced. They are part of the first group of women who had breast implant placed in the 1980s. They are now at the point where their implants have ruptured or deflated and are in need of replacement. The point being is that lots of women of this age group either have or are getting breast implants. There are no known adverse hormonal effects of a women receiving breast implants. The potential risks and complications of breast augmentation are the same, either before or after menopause.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana