Breast Surgery for Teenagers?

Breasts remain a focal point for men’s eyes and teenage girls’ minds. It seems that by age 15, girls are already worrying about whether their breasts are too small, too big, too asymmetrical--you name it.

All this obsessing about perfect breasts has resulted in some parents giving their daughters permission to have a breast reduction or augmentation operation.

Hold Your Horses!

I’d recommend delaying such surgeries, no matter how distressed your teenage daughter is at the moment. Why? Because she hasn’t stopped growing yet, which means that adding or subtracting breast tissue at this time could turn out to be an act of futility if you later find out that more surgery is going to be needed.

What to Try

A better strategy is to talk candidly with your daughter about her breast development. If she is small breasted and not progressing fast enough (based on her estimations of where her peers are), let her take advantage of padded bras (which can be further enhanced with shoulder pads) as a temporary solution to creating volume. If she has large breasts that are causing boys to stare and her back to hurt, discuss with her gynecologist the right time to consider breast reduction surgery.

If she is uncomfortable getting undressed and dressed in the locker room during gym class, then she can change in one of the bathroom stalls for now. What she will more likely find, however, is that the other girls feel the same way as she does, and soon everyone will become comfortable changing their clothes together.

Remember: You are the parent. You are the one who is supposed to take charge of her medical care, as well as prepare her for adulthood, no matter what her breast size might be today.