One of the most common questions we receive is: how old do you need to be to have breast augmentation? In the Netherlands, the minimum age is 18, but many surgeons recommend waiting until breast development is fully complete — typically around 20 to 21. This article explains the reasoning behind age guidelines, what to consider if you're a younger patient, and how Blooming's surgeons assess readiness for surgery beyond just meeting the minimum age requirement.
Dissatisfaction with the volume or shape of the breasts occurs in both younger and older women. Women under the age of 18 regularly enquire about the possibilities for a breast augmentation. In this article, we discuss the age limit for plastic surgery and why plastic surgeons sometimes advise waiting a little longer before undergoing a procedure.
Plastic surgery from the age of 18
Under Dutch law, everyone from the age of eighteen is considered an adult, and all procedures are permitted, even without a medical indication. Plastic surgery procedures are performed on minors, but only with a clear medical indication, such as the correction of prominent ears or the removal of an asymmetrical mole.
Why a breast augmentation?
Many young women considering a breast augmentation are dissatisfied with their cup size, the shape of their breasts (for example tubular or tuberous breasts), or a significant difference between both breasts.
Fully developed body
Although most women stop growing after the age of seventeen, breasts can continue to develop until the age of 21. This varies from person to person and cannot be predicted in advance.
Consultation prior to the procedure
At Blooming, we always invite you for a consultation to discuss your wishes. With younger women, we sometimes advise waiting until the body has fully developed, so that the plastic surgeon can provide appropriate advice regarding the volume of the breast implants.
Breast augmentation at Blooming Plastic Surgery
At Blooming, we only perform breast augmentations on women over the age of eighteen, in accordance with the guidelines of the NVPC (Dutch Association of Plastic Surgery).