Breast Augmentation with Saline Breast Implants in Patient Under 22 years old*

This 21-year-old woman desired breast augmentation. She was interested in going from an A cup to a large C cup. Because of her age she was only offered saline breast implants. When the FDA released silicone gel breast implants back on the market in 2006 , it stipulated that it was for women 22 years of age or over. There was not really any reasonable medical reason for this other than the studies that had been done to improve the safety of the silicone gel implants did not include women under 22 years old. There certainly is nothing unique to patient under 22 years old that would exclude a silicone gel implant but that is the guidance that plastic surgeons in the US have received about placement of these implants. Saline implants still are a very good choice for most women. They're almost always placed under the pectoralis muscle to reduce palpability and visible rippling especially in thin women like this patient. This patient had placement of smooth walled moderate plus Mentor breast implants inflated to 320 cc. She was very pleased with her breast appearance and did not have any problems with easily palpable implants or rippling. Silicone gel implants can be placed in a younger age group but they are considered " off label" and patients sign a special consent but generally, most plastic surgeons still follow these guidelines and place saline breast implants for patients under age 22.