There has been ongoing debate in the Netherlands about whether the minimum age for cosmetic plastic surgery should be raised from 18 to 21. Proponents argue that the brain is still developing until the mid-twenties and that young people may not be mature enough to make permanent decisions about their appearance. In this article, our plastic surgeons share their perspective on this important discussion. We believe that age alone is not the only factor — thorough consultation, psychological readiness, and clear motivation are equally important safeguards.
Last week, plastic surgeon Joost Staudt appeared on RTL Boulevard to discuss the age limit for plastic surgery. Increasingly, teenagers are seeking cosmetic procedures such as breast augmentation or lip fillers. The moment they reach the age of eighteen, they go ahead without hesitation. This is why the CDA proposed last week to raise the minimum age from eighteen to twenty-one.
On 5 June, CDA member of parliament Joba van den Berg explained in the EenVandaag broadcast on NPO 1 why the minimum age for cosmetic procedures should be raised. The party's aim is to protect people from themselves. According to the CDA, an eighteen-year-old is not yet ready for a cosmetic procedure. A minimum age of 21 would be more appropriate, as young men and women would by then have more life experience.
Yet the desire for breast augmentation often arises early in puberty. Girls with underdeveloped breasts are only too eager to be helped once they turn eighteen. According to plastic surgeon Joost Staudt, raising the minimum age simply will not work. "Firstly, an eighteen-year-old is legally an adult, and secondly, what happens if you raise the age limit in the Netherlands? The chances are that young adults will travel abroad for an operation. They are often determined to undergo surgery and are not easily deterred."
It remains a difficult debate — what is right and what is wrong? Is it a problem if someone has protruding ears corrected? Or if a young woman with no breast development has her breasts augmented? It is important that plastic surgeons guide their clients, young and old, properly in these decisions. At our clinic, an eighteen-year-old with an unrealistic expectation is turned away. We do not treat someone with no wrinkles with a few injections. Liposuction is not performed on someone with very little body fat. This applies to eighteen-year-olds but equally to those over fifty. As a medical specialist, you are responsible for your clients and are obliged to give honest and candid advice. This takes into account the client's personal circumstances, of which age is one element. If an eighteen-year-old comes to a consultation with a deeply-held wish that is realistically achievable, we ensure the right guidance is in place.