Silicone Breast Implants

Q: Dr. Eppley, I’ve been considering a breast augmentation but I have a few questions. I’m 21, and I’ve read that you cannot do silicone breast implants until you are 22. I’ve also read that it’s illegal to get silicone done under 22, but I’m not wanting to do saline. I’m curious if it’s possible to do silicone or not at my age. If it’s not how does that work. thank you for your time!

A: Let me provide clarification about age and the insertion of silicone breast implants. Because the long and extensive clinical trials for the silicone breast implants used today consisted largely of women between the ages of 22 and 65 years of age, the FDA listed that age range as the recommended ages of silicone breast augmentation. While that is the FDA guidelines for the use of silicone breast implants, it is completely up to the plastic surgeon to use them as he/she sees medically appropriate. Thus it is perfectly legal and medically appropriate to use silicone breast implants at any age below 22 years old. This is up to the decision and informed discussion between the plastic surgeon and the patient.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana