|
Being large busted at any age is difficult, but when you are a teenager it's especially rough. Your peers tease you, boys make cruel and suggestive comments, finding shirts that fit in the juniors section is near impossible, and participating in physical activities such as swimming and running can cause embarrassment. Poor self esteem, embarrassment to do things you enjoy, and rude or painful comments, as well as the physical problems, all leave a lasting effect on us. There is no more effective treatment of overly large breasts than this surgery. Diet, medications, and minimizers can only do so much. But is this surgery right for teenagers?
Teenage breast reduction is a topic I've been hearing a lot about lately. Either people are all for it or feel that teens are not ready and/or able to make this change. Being a teen myself, I am (obviously) all for this surgery at any age, as long as you are doing it for the right reasons. Making the choice to have this surgery is a big decision, and should not be jumped into or taken lightly. This is something that absolutely must be for you and you must spend time thinking overall the pros and cons. I would like to share my point of view and some information I have gathered to help girls and women make an informed decision.
What are the cons in having this surgery during the teenage years? Well, they aren't all that different than if you wait until you are older. The main things are future growth, loss of sensation, breastfeeding issues, and the ability and maturity to handle this decision.
Since breast can continue to grow into your twenties and again at menopause, as well as if you gain weight, all women face the possibility of growth after surgery. I know many women who say they would have their surgery again in a heartbeat to keep their IBTs, well, itty bitty. I am the same way. You will have to decide weather on not it's worth it to you to have the surgery now, or wait until breast growth has slowed considerably (mid 20s +). As for loss of sensation, the occuance will vary from woman to woman. I myself had very little sensation on the underside of my breasts pre-op; caused by the skin and nerves being streched by the weight of my chest - I have more now than I did before the surgery. Some may even experiance increased sensation; it all just depends on the individual.
While there is a possibility that you will still be able to breastfeed after surgery (as long as you didn't have a free nipple graft), there are no guarentees. For me this was not an issue as I do not want children (yes, I know I am young). Even if I do change my mind I do not have a problem with bottle feeding - my mother was unable to breastfeed, so I was bottle fed. My sister couldn't breastfeed either of her two children because of her large breasts, so there is no certainty that you will be able to breastfeed either way. If breastfeeding is something you feel strongly about and know that it's something you want to do, it's best to wait to have your surgery until after you have had children.
Are teenagers ready and able to handle making such a big decision? The answer to that totally depends on the individual, but I feel that anyone can handle this choice with knowledge and support. My advice is to learn all you can; read books and look up information on the internet, visit the Breast Reduction Support Board at BHO, watch shows on TLC and the Health Channel ("A Personal Story" on TLC has two episodes featuring teenage BR), get advice from a surgeon, and talk to anyone that you feel comfortable sharing with. Just be prepared that if you ask someone's opinion, there is chance you will not like what they have to say. I talked with a nurse, my health teacher, best friend, and my mom; all who helped me look at this surgery from every possible angle and make an educated decision. It's also important to remember this is a reconstructive surgery - performed to correct problems caused by large heavy breasts, ie. neck/back/shoulder pain, numbness in hands, headaches, rash/irritation under or between the breasts, shoulder gooving, etc. If you are having these problems, why wait for the grooves to get deeper or the back pain to become more chronic?
This is the greatest thing I could have done for myself and I don't regret any of it. After hearing so many say they wish they had had their surgeries sooner, I am glad I had it done when I did. Now I can live my life, be myself, with out having to hide or be ashamed of who I am. My life has improved 100 fold; horseback riding is totally pain-free (at least in the boob area, I don't know about my theighs! ;-) ), I don't wear huge baggy shirts anymore and I don't have to wear three bras to try to flatten myself out. I encourage all teens who are considering this surgery to look into it, learn all you can, and to talk with your parents. Keep your surgery goals realistic and know what risks you might face. This decision takes time to make, don't rush into anything.
As long as you go into this with realistic expectations, knowledge of all the possible complications, and knowing what this surgery can and can't do for you, you will be fine.
|
