18 for Saline, 22 for Silicone
In the US, the FDA has set minimum ages for women who wish to undergo breast augmentation using breast implants. Saline filled breast implants for reconstructive or cosmetic purposes may be used for women who are at least 18 years old. On the other hand, silicone filled breast implants may only be used for women who are a minimum of 22 years old. Why the difference?
Well, according to the FDA these restrictions were put into place to protect the consumer (like all restrictions, right?) The FDA believes that younger women may not be able to make an informed decision due to their age and may not understand all the risks and complications that are related to the procedure. Another reason is that a woman’s breasts continue to develop even past their teens, and undergoing breast augmentation too early may affect development or achieve undesirable results.
As for why the minimum ages are different for saline and silicone breast implants, the FDA reasons that this is also a way to protect the consumer. Silicone filled breast implants tend to feature more risks and complications than saline, such as those related to undetected rupture. As a result, a level of maturity is required that younger women may not possess.
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