Breast augmentation is one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries in the United States, with nearly 300,000 procedures performed by board-certified plastic surgeons per year. However, deciding to get breast implants is a personal choice that requires careful consideration of several factors.
Not everyone is an immediate candidate for breast augmentation – there are medical, physical, and psychological considerations to evaluate before moving forward. Below, we outline the key criteria and questions to ask yourself to determine if you meet the requirements for breast implants and if this transformative procedure is right for you.
Why Breast Augmentation?
People pursue breast augmentation for a variety of reasons, and understanding your own motivation is an important first step. Common reasons include:
- Enhanced Confidence: Many women seek breast implants to feel more confident in their bodies or to improve their self-image. Larger or more shapely breasts can boost self-esteem for those unhappy with their current size or shape.
- Restoring Volume: Some individuals want to restore breast volume lost after pregnancy, breastfeeding, or significant weight loss. Augmentation can help rejuvenate the breasts’ fullness and shape in these cases.
- Improving Symmetry: Breast implants can correct mild asymmetry by adding volume to a smaller breast so that it better matches the other side. (Keep in mind, perfect symmetry is not guaranteed; minor differences exist naturally.)
- Reconstruction: Others may choose augmentation as part of breast reconstruction after mastectomy or injury, rebuilding the breast contour for a sense of wholeness.
Understanding why you want breast augmentation will also help your surgeon ensure your goals are achievable and align with a positive outcome. Dr. Laverson, for example, will discuss your personal motivations during the consultation to make sure surgery is for you and not due to external pressures.
Age and Breast Development
One basic requirement for breast augmentation is that your breasts must be fully developed. This generally correlates with age. According to the U.S. FDA, saline breast implants are approved for women 18 and older, and silicone gel implants for women 22 and older. These age minimums exist to ensure that breast growth is complete before surgery is considered. Developing breasts or undergoing augmentation too young could lead to unpredictable changes as your body continues to mature.
Beyond the legal guidelines, being older than the minimum age can also mean you have the emotional maturity to make an informed decision. There is no strict upper age limit for breast augmentation – healthy women in their 30s, 40s, 50s, and beyond can be good candidates as long as they meet the health criteria. The key is that you are an adult with a fully developed body and a well-considered desire for the procedure.
General Health Requirements for Breast Implants
Being in good overall health is crucial for any surgery, and breast augmentation is no exception. Surgeons will evaluate your medical history to ensure you don’t have conditions that could increase surgical risks. You may be a candidate for breast implants if you meet these health criteria:
- Good Physical Health: You should be free of any serious uncontrolled medical conditions. Issues like untreated high blood pressure, uncontrolled diabetes, or certain autoimmune disorders can elevate the risk of complications. Your surgeon might require medical clearance or that such conditions be well-managed before approving you for surgery.
- Not Pregnant or Breastfeeding: Being pregnant or currently nursing disqualifies you from elective breast surgery. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) notes that candidates should not be pregnant or breastfeeding. If you’ve recently had a baby, it’s wise to wait a few months after breastfeeding ends so that your breast size stabilizes.
- No Active Infections or Untreated Cancer: Any infection in your body should be resolved before surgery. Additionally, if you have breast cancer or a suspicious breast lump, those issues must be addressed medically prior to cosmetic augmentation. A pre-operative mammogram may be advised for women with a history of breast issues, just to ensure all is clear.
- Fully Healed from Prior Surgeries: If you’ve had recent surgeries or treatments, your body should be fully healed and recovered before undergoing breast augmentation.
Meeting these medical requirements helps ensure that the surgery can be performed safely. Ultimately, patient safety is paramount, as your plastic surgeon Dr. Laverson will only proceed if you are medically cleared and in a condition to handle anesthesia and the healing process well.
Weight and BMI Considerations
When it comes to weight, there is no strict number on the scale that either qualifies or disqualifies someone from breast augmentation – there is no official weight requirement for breast implants as long as you are healthy. That said, surgeons do pay attention to your Body Mass Index (BMI) and overall body composition for two key reasons: safety and results.
- BMI and Surgical Safety: Most surgeons recommend that patients be at a reasonably healthy weight (commonly a BMI of 30 or below) before elective surgery. Obesity can increase the risk of anesthesia complications, infection, and delayed healing. In fact, if a patient’s BMI is significantly over 30, many plastic surgeons will advise losing weight first to reach a safer range. This isn’t a hard rule, but a strong recommendation to improve outcomes and reduce risks. Being within a healthy BMI range also often indicates you maintain a balanced lifestyle, which can aid recovery.
- Stable Weight: It’s important that your weight is stable leading up to surgery. Significant weight fluctuations (either loss or gain) can affect your breast augmentation results. For example, losing a large amount of weight after getting implants could cause your augmented breasts to appear smaller or saggy as your overall volume shrinks. Conversely, major weight gain could increase your breast size and change the aesthetic balance you achieved. Surgeons typically advise patients to be at or near their ideal, maintainable weight before undergoing breast augmentation.
- Weight Loss Plans: If you are currently in the process of losing weight or plan to make a major body change, it’s wise to reach your target weight before breast augmentation. As experts note, if you exceed the recommended BMI, you should work on weight reduction first and then proceed with surgery once you’ve hit a stable goal. This ensures your surgical results won’t be quickly undone by subsequent weight changes.
In summary, you don’t need to be a supermodel size to get breast implants – women of many shapes and sizes can be good candidates. Just aim for a weight that is healthy for you, and keep it consistent. A stable, healthy weight means a safer surgery and more predictable, lasting results.
Lifestyle Considerations (Smoking, Pregnancy, and More)
Your everyday habits and future plans also factor into breast augmentation candidacy. Two major lifestyle considerations are smoking status and family planning:
- Smoking and Nicotine Use: Smoking (and vaping or any nicotine use) is a red flag for any surgery. Nicotine constricts blood vessels and impairs circulation, which can lead to poor wound healing and higher risk of complications like infection or tissue necrosis. If you smoke, you will be asked to quit at least a few weeks before and after surgery to minimize these risks. Many surgeons require patients to be nicotine-free (this includes patches or nicotine gum) for a minimum of 2–4 weeks around the procedure. If you’re not willing to pause smoking, you may not be a candidate until you can – it’s that important for safety. Non-smokers, of course, have an easier time healing and are ideal candidates in this regard.
- Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Plans: If you’re planning to become pregnant in the very near future, you might consider postponing breast augmentation. Pregnancy and breastfeeding can significantly change the size and shape of your breasts (often enlarging then shrinking them), which could alter or even reverse the results of an augmentation. Many surgeons suggest that if you intend to have more children, it might be best to complete your family before having breast implant surgery. However, this is a personal choice – some women do choose augmentation before children and later accept that a revision or breast lift might be needed down the line. The crucial point is timing: you shouldn’t undergo breast augmentation while pregnant or nursing (you must wait until a few months after breastfeeding has ended), and you should have a plan for how pregnancy might affect your investment.
- Time for Recovery: Another lifestyle factor is whether you can reasonably accommodate the recovery period. Breast augmentation isn’t an overnight transformation; you’ll need to avoid strenuous activities for a few weeks and allow your body to heal. Candidates should have the ability to take time off work or duties and have some support at home, especially in the first week post-op. Planning your surgery during a relatively calm period of your life (not during a major work project or stressful event) will set you up for a smoother recovery.
By considering these lifestyle factors, you ensure that nothing in your daily life will jeopardize your surgery or results. Stopping smoking and timing surgery appropriately with your life events are temporary adjustments that make a big difference in the success of your breast augmentation.
Emotional Readiness and Realistic Expectations
Breast augmentation may change your appearance, but it shouldn’t be seen as a cure-all for life’s problems. Being a good candidate also means you’re psychologically and emotionally prepared for the procedure and have realistic expectations about the outcome.
- Do It for You: The decision to get breast implants should be yours and yours alone. The ASPS emphasizes that it’s important you’re doing it for yourself, not for someone else. Pressure from a partner or a desire to look like a certain celebrity are red flags. The happiest patients are those who choose surgery to fulfill their own personal desires – whether that’s feeling more feminine, finally filling out clothing the way they want, or restoring their body after children.
- Have Realistic Expectations: While breast augmentation can greatly enhance your figure and confidence, it has its limits. It’s crucial to understand what the surgery can and cannot accomplish. For example, implants will increase volume and can provide a mild lifting effect, but they won’t fix severe sagging or dramatically change your overall body shape (a breast lift or other procedures might be needed for those goals). Also, every body has anatomical limits – if you have a very petite frame, there’s a limit to how large an implant you can safely carry. Unrealistic expectations (expecting instant perfection or believing implants will solve all self-esteem issues) can lead to disappointment. A good candidate has a clear, reasonable vision: you understand that your breasts will be larger and fuller but not “perfect,” and you’re prepared for the trade-offs (like scars and the possibility of future implant replacements).
- Emotional Stability: Undergoing cosmetic surgery is as much an emotional journey as a physical one. Ensure you are in a stable frame of mind. If you are currently dealing with major life stress, untreated mental health issues, or if you struggle with body dysmorphic disorder (an obsession with perceived flaws in appearance), those are important to address before pursuing surgery. Being emotionally ready means you can handle the pre-surgery nerves, the recovery ups and downs, and the adjustment to your new body with a positive mindset.
During your consultation, expect your surgeon to ask about your goals and expectations. Dr. Laverson, for instance, will spend time understanding why you want augmentation and what you hope to achieve. If your expectations are not attainable, he will be honest and may suggest alternative approaches (such as adding a breast lift for sagging, or choosing a size that suits your anatomy). Patients with a healthy mindset and realistic goals are typically very satisfied with their decision to get breast implants.
Breast Augmentation and Proportionality
An often overlooked aspect of “Are you a candidate?” is whether the procedure can be done in a way that complements your body proportions. A good candidate’s goals should align with achieving a balanced, natural look, and your surgeon will consider your unique anatomy in the planning process.
- Matching Implants to Your Frame: One size does not fit all in breast augmentation. The “right” implant size and shape for you will depend on factors like your chest width, shoulder and hip proportions, existing breast tissue, and skin elasticity. Surgeons strive to recommend an implant that enhances your figure without overwhelming it. For example, a patient with a broader chest or hips might carry a larger implant well, whereas a very petite patient might face back pain or an unnatural look with the same implant. Dr. Laverson’s aesthetic philosophy aligns with this – he dislikes anything overdone or disproportionate, favoring results that look believable and harmonious with your body.
- Impact of Future Changes: As discussed in the weight section, body changes can affect proportions. Significant post-surgery weight loss could lead to implants that appear too large for your slimmer frame, while weight gain could make your augmented breasts larger than you intended. Similarly, if you become pregnant after augmentation, your breasts will change. A good candidate understands these possibilities and either plans accordingly or is comfortable with potentially needing a revision procedure in the future to maintain ideal proportions.
- Natural vs. Dramatic Look: Think about the look you want. Some candidates desire a subtle enhancement that most people won’t immediately recognize as a “boob job” – just a naturally fuller bust. Others want a more pronounced change. Neither is wrong, but your desired outcome should be achievable given your starting point. Your surgeon will measure your tissue and may limit how big an implant can be safely used. It’s important to be open to professional guidance here. The concept of proportionality is central to long-term satisfaction; implants that suit your body tend to age better and keep you comfortable in the long run (both physically and in how you feel about your appearance).
In essence, you’re a good candidate when your vision for breast augmentation aligns with what’s surgically and aesthetically appropriate for your body. This is a big part of the consultation process – aligning expectations with reality to choose an implant that fits you (literally and figuratively).
Dr. Laverson’s Philosophy and Approach
Every surgeon has their own approach to evaluating candidates. Dr. Steve Laverson of Feel Beautiful Plastic Surgery is known for a patient-centered, safety-first philosophy combined with an artistic eye. Here’s what sets his approach apart:
- Emphasis on Natural Beauty: Dr. Laverson believes in “stealth” cosmetic surgery – meaning the results should look natural and not obviously surgical. When assessing a candidate for breast augmentation, he considers how an implant will complement the patient’s overall body and works to avoid the “overdone” look. His goal is that you still look like yourself, just enhanced. This aligns with his dislike of anything overly stretched or disproportionate. Candidates who share this philosophy (seeking an improvement that still looks like them) will find Dr. Laverson’s approach a perfect match.
- Thorough Candidacy Evaluation: With over 30 years of experience as a board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Laverson has developed a keen sense for who will benefit from breast augmentation. He will carefully review your health history, body characteristics, and personal goals. If there are any concerns – be it a health issue, unrealistic expectation, or better alternative treatment – he will discuss them frankly. His extensive surgical expertise (he is certified by both the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Plastic Surgery) means patient safety comes first. You can expect him to only recommend surgery if he truly believes it’s in your best interest and can be done with a high degree of safety and success.
- Personalized Care and Compassion: Patients often note Dr. Laverson’s compassionate and honest demeanor. He understands that deciding on breast augmentation is a big deal emotionally and physically. His team provides robust support – from educating you on the process and risks, to helping you select the right implant, to attentive post-operative care. Dr. Laverson’s philosophy is that confidence and beauty should be accessible to everyone, and that trust and communication between surgeon and patient are paramount in achieving the desired result. He takes the time to ensure you feel comfortable and informed at every step.
By choosing a surgeon like Dr. Laverson, who prioritizes natural results and patient well-being, you increase the likelihood that your breast augmentation journey will be positive. His unique approach means that if you are deemed a candidate, you can move forward knowing you’re in very skilled and caring hands.
Your Next Steps: Consultation and Confidence
After reviewing all these considerations – from health and weight to mindset and surgeon philosophy – you might have a better sense of whether you could be a good candidate for breast augmentation. The final step is to have a professional evaluation. Scheduling a consultation with Dr. Laverson is the best way to get personalized answers. During this one-on-one meeting, he will examine you, discuss your goals in detail, and determine if you meet the requirements for breast implants at this time.
Remember, the candidacy decision is ultimately about ensuring your safety and satisfaction. If you check most of the boxes above (healthy, stable weight, non-smoker, emotionally ready, etc.), chances are you’ll be cleared as a candidate. If not, Dr. Laverson can guide you on what steps to take – for example, quitting smoking for a period, managing a health condition, or waiting until after a planned pregnancy – to become a better candidate in the future.
Embarking on a breast augmentation is a collaborative process. By doing your homework on the candidacy criteria and consulting with a reputable surgeon, you’re setting the stage for a successful outcome. If you’re in the San Diego area and considering breast enhancement, we welcome you to reach out to Feel Beautiful Plastic Surgery. Find out if breast augmentation is right for you and take the next step toward feeling confident and beautiful in your own skin. Your journey to a new you begins with that first conversation – and we’re here to help you every step of the way.