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What age is old enough for a breast reduction?

I have a 15 yr old daughter who is already wearing a size 36G bra. We have to have her fitted at a very pricey store where her bras are close to 125.00 each, even more expensive than that when it comes to the sports bras. She is a very active teenager...she swing dances, is in weightlifting class, etc...but her breasts are just too much for her to handle. She has a hard time running, they just get in the way, and of course, I have 30 yr old men hitting on her because with breasts like her's, there's no way she's only 15. So, I guess I'm curious as to how old is the typical female when their breasts stop growing...and if a breast reduction is done at her age, and if she's not done growing, with she continue to grow after the reduction and then defeat the purpose of having it done to begin with? This is definitely an issue right now. She will no longer be in weightlifting class after May 15, and I'm positive that class is the only thing preventing back problems. Let me rephrase a portion of that...I don't have 30 yr old men hit on her, I have to DEAL with adult men who view her as being much older than she is. According to the height/weight charts, and the BMI caculator, she is about 10 pounds overweight. But I couldn't see her losing ANY weight anywhere other than her breasts...she's extremely active and a healthy eater...can't pinch an inch on her.

Public Comments

1. Mine stopped at about age 17, but you really need to ask a plastic surgeon.
2. Aaahh - you really need to be consulting with an M.D. on this, not a bunch of bored typists.
3. She could get it, but how much does she weigh?. If she is overweight (which at that size is likely), she can reduce her breast size by weightloss. If she is rather fit and they are still that large, surgery would probably be necessary, because breasts that large would cause back problems.
4. Just a quick question. Is your daughter overweight? Going on a strict diet would most likely reduce some of the size. But at the earliest, you should have the surgery at 18.
5. u can do it now.. ive read an article about that in a teen magazine about a 16 yr old who got it done and now is so much happier
6. holy hell. that poor girl! I think 18 is the legal age for anything like that done however if her doctor were to okay it and you as her parent I don't see why not. I don't think it'd be fair for her to miss out on stuff because of it or get raped because of it. That's what worries me. I'd look into it for sure though.
7. Contact your OBGYN, see what they say, or call a plastic surgeon's office. Good luck, if she's not reduced she may start getting back pain.
8. Aww that's awful poor girl, I have had Large ones forever and its hard being a young lady and dealing with this. You are always look at like a sex object. That can be scaring for a young girl. I would think you should be able to get them done now with the complaint of Back problems. I would tell her Dr. that its a serious problem and you want some more info on the matter. I would push it.
9. Age is not important in this decision, because it is a medically necessary surgery. My friend in high school had a similar situation that led to serious back spasms. You should have it done asap before it gets way more serious
10. It depends. when she 18 years old or 19 years old she can have a breast reduction done she still growing right now. after she finishes growing she have one done.I do not think she can have a breast reduction done at her age shes probably to Young right now.
11. I would definitely contact a plastic surgeon and look into a reduction sometime in the near future. I can't imagine what a G cup looks like and as a 15 yr old she must get teased tremendously. I would think that she can have surgery around 16...girls have had implants that young so why not a reduction. I've added a link with alot of info on the procedure itself.
12. I guess it depends on your weight. If your body's getting fat, then your breasts will get fat too. And if you lose weight, your breasts lose fat too. Breasts are just parts of your body. Similar to your belly.
13. the best age would be about 23, to 24 because your body doesn't stop growing till age 23 or so. however if her breasts hurt her back, or is in a case like hers, then I suppose it would be OK...but to be on the safe side, you should find a good surgeon, and talk with him about it.
14. Usually if it is hereditary and it is causing her back pain and unable to function well in normal activity there is no age limit as to when she should get a breast reduction. I work in the operating room and I see most girls young as 13 yrs are getting breast reductions. As for myself I had mine done at 16 yrs because of back pain and unable to do athletic activities. I had self-esteem issue due to the fact that men always was attracted to my breast and not me. That made me very uncomfortable and I am sure she feels the same way at time. i feel a whole lot better after the surgery because I was able to wear nice shirts without the excess bulk and my back pain and shoulder scars disappeared. In the long run having a breast reduction will be very beneficial to her because she won't have to worry about the heaviness, back pain, breast getting in the way of things, and going through bra sizes like crazy. But I must tell you that since she is 15 she has hormonal changes and through the years after a breast reduction there is the possibilitiy for breast tissue to regrow back and cause the same problem again. But now is a good time for her to get that done because of her being athletic and physically active.Hope that was helpful for you in making your decision.
15. Out breasts constantly grow and skrink with fluctuations in our weight and hormones. You should speak with your daughters doctor about getting a reduction for her health. The extra weight around her heart could lead to cardiac problems, not to mention the back problems she is bound to run into. Since there is a medical necessity for the surgery, as long as her doctor is willing to do it and both you and her agree on it, she should be able to get a reduction, even at 15.
16. I know how your daughter feels! I had a breast reduction done at 21 years old. I wish I could have had it done sooner. I am 5'5", weighed like 160 lbs, and had 36E breasts. I was not skinny by any means. (Some times weight does not matter, and I can tell you, I never lose anything in my breasts when I lose weight. She may not need to lose anything.) Go to your normal doctor, they can give a medical approval for the surgery, recommend a surgeon, and then your insurance company will help pay for it. If you go first to a plastic surgeon, then you risk not having the surgery payed for because it could be considered cosmetic.. so go through your doctor. I am 29 now, and have never regretted the immense scars I have from it, or wish I could go back to before the surgery.
17. You should wait till she is at least 18-21 to have a breast reduction. If you do it now, she may not be done growing yet and if you do it now she may need another one in the future. Consult with your doctor and a plastic surgeon, since she is a G cup at 15 already (I feel for you!!!) and see what they say. Losing weight did not help me lose any in my breasts (it all depends how much fatty versus dense breast tissue is in your breasts). Check out this site: http://www.breasthealthonline.com
18. I appreciate your question. I just went through this with a very dear friend of mine who is all of 27. She was a 40JJ!!! She had to ponder long and hard about her decision - not that she didn't feel it was necessary - it was - but after consultation with her surgeon, she discovered that the reprocussions could be costly afterwards. Many times, the breasts' nipple has to be moved and separated in the procedure. This may be a big concern to your daughter if she wants to breast feed in the future - it may not be an issue at all if your daughter is undergoing back and neck discomfort, expensive brassiers in order to support the weight. I would most definitely find a plastic surgeon who is qualified, certified and above board (you must do extensive research!) Ask questions! write them down and make sure you get all the answers you need to your satisfaction and your daughter's. Hopefully, whoever you select will allow you to interview patients he or she has performed the surgery on before. Additionally, look at videos, pictures and consult a therapist for your daughter - she is going to need all the support and protection, advise and administration and love she can get. My friend called her students together AND their parents to advise them of her decision and because she is a 'science teacher' made this more interesting for them and for herself. Imagine coming back after Christmas holiday and your teacher looking so different and you had no idea - the rumors and questions would have been all over the place. To avoid this - she made sure her students were comfortable knowing when she returned, she would look different - that she would not be able to hug them closely and they knew why. They were very loving and considerate and the parents also had lots of questions because of them had the same desires, but did not know anyone who had actually gone through the procedure. It is a very big deal - and I think that your decision should be based on many elements and research. The bottom line is - how your daughter is feeling now, and how she will feel afterwards. Her health: physical and mental; her emotional and spiritual welfare are crucial right now.