Is 50 too old to get breast implants?

As common as it is for women to wonder if they are “too old” for breast implants, there is no medical reason that you cannot have breast augmentation at age 50 or above. In fact, I regularly include this procedure in surgical plans for my patients over 50 in order to meet their goals for their body, whether they are looking for an enhancement or to reverse some of the effects of aging, childbearing, and/or weight loss. 

Below, I discuss why women seek breast implants after 50, as well as some considerations that may help you decide if breast augmentation is right for you.

Why do women seek breast implants later in life?

Many of the women we see for breast augmentation after 50 have concerns that are age-related. Aging can cause a loss of volume, and combined with gravity, this can lead to sagging breasts. If you’ve had children or if you have lost weight, these experiences can exacerbate age-related sagging and give your breasts a flattened appearance.

In addition to the natural causes of breast sagging, many women are seeking breast augmentation after 50 simply because they are waiting longer to start their families, and therefore pursuing breast augmentation to reverse the effects of childbearing later in life.

This does not just apply to patients looking for breast surgery: seeking any aesthetic procedure after 40 is very common. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgery, patients ages 40-54 received 6.1 million cosmetic procedures, or 45% of all procedures, in 2020, and patients ages 55-69 came in a close 2nd place with 3.9 million procedures total.

You may need a breast lift—here’s why.

Breast implants offer attractive fullness, but you will not see optimal results if you have noticeable excess skin: while implants can add volume, the skin of the breasts is particularly delicate and sagging will worsen if you add the weight of implants without adequate support. Thus, for women over 50, it is typically necessary to also perform a breast lift, or mastopexy, in a combined lift-augmentation procedure.

A breast lift involves removing excess skin, adjusting the placement of the nipple-areolar complex, and creating a firmer foundation in the lower pole of the breast to support breast implants.

While breast augmentation is typically accomplished via a discreet incision along the inframammary fold, incorporating a breast lift requires an additional lollipop-shaped incision circling the areola, with a vertical line extending down to the breast fold. As such, you will see more noticeable scarring with a breast lift—but breast surgery scars fade with proper care, and most patients feel the significant shaping benefits of a breast lift are worth having a few extra incisions. 

Note that combined lift/augmentation is an especially nuanced procedure that should be fully customized to achieve the proportionate lift and fullness you desire, making it critical to choose a plastic surgeon with extensive experience in all types of breast surgery. (I feel my years of breast reconstruction experience have significantly contributed to my skill with aesthetic breast procedures.)

Keep getting your mammograms!

It is important to be screened for breast cancer after 40, and the recommendations do not change if you have implants. (The American Cancer Society outlines the guidelines here.) While a mammogram with breast implants may sound daunting, rest assured that experienced mammography technologists are well-equipped to scan your breast with implants. They will take special views of breasts with implants, called “Eklund displacement views,” in addition to the normal mammogram views.

It is important to let your screening facility know you have implants ahead of time for practical reasons, and you may choose to take this opportunity to talk with them and confirm that they are well-equipped and experienced with breast implants. Be sure to also remind your technologist that you have implants when you arrive for your mammogram appointment.

Contact Dr. Sharline Aboutanos for your breast augmentation consultation in Richmond

Dr. Sharline Aboutanos is a board-certified plastic surgeon offering plastic and reconstructive surgery. With over a decade of experience and a commitment to patient care, Dr. Aboutanos will be happy to discuss your concerns and your options at her Richmond, VA office. To schedule your visit, call 804.355.3410 or contact Dr. Aboutanos online.