Octavia Spencer Planning Her Plastic Surgery

After winning the Best Supporting Actress at the 84^th Annual Academy Awards, The Help star Octavia Spencer said that she is planning to undergo plastic surgery, particularly with a procedure called breast lift.  It is surprising that while many celebrities tend to deny going under the knife, she admitted her plans without batting an eyelash.

In an interview with Parade magazine, the 39-year-old actress said she wants breast lift surgery which she views as her first gift to herself.

“I want my boobs where they were when I was 17,” Spencer quipped.  

The star said her breast lift surgery would likely take place in November since she will be busy working out of the country to shoot a movie until early fall.  In this way, she said that she can enjoy a long vacation until January next year.

Meanwhile, breast lift surgery is the only permanent solution for women with a real case of breast ptosis or sagging.  This aesthetic problem is manifested by a nipple falling below the breast crease while the areola complex is pointing downward.

One of the most common reasons why breast ptosis happens is pregnancy.  As the body prepares itself from childbirth, the ligaments, tissue, and skin are stretched, sometimes to the point that they can no longer retract to their original position, thereby leading to the sagging and flaccid appearance. 

Contrary to popular belief, breastfeeding does not cause sagging.  In fact, several studies have suggested that pregnancy alone—even if a mother will breastfeed her baby or not—can cause the problem.  Meanwhile, the drooping appearance can be further aggravated by weight fluctuations.

Going back to Spencer, she may be a good candidate for breast lift as long as she is no longer considering getting pregnant.  But to further ensure that the result will be long lasting, it is important that she is near her ideal weight at the time of surgery.

(Being near the ideal weight means that a person should not be more than 25-30 lbs. heavier than her recommended weight.)

Some breast lift patients need implants to create fullness particularly in the upper poles, however, women with large a bust size like Spencer may forego the additional surgery. 

But the good thing about combining breast lift and breast implants is the fact that plastic surgeons use less and shorter incisions, thereby reducing the risk of visible scarring, and potentially shortening the recovery period.

Too Young for Breast Augmentation?

In the US, the legal age requirement for breast implant surgery is 18—and that is if you are going to have saline implants which are filled with a sterile saline (saltwater solution).  But if you want to use the silicone implants, you should be at least 22 years old.

The main reason why silicone breast implants require a higher age limit is that they pose risk in the event of rupture or leak.  For this reason, you have to undergo regular MRI screening to detect any “silent leak.”

By contrast, the examination is not necessary if you will choose the saline implants because in the event of implant failure, your breasts will deflate within hours after the rupture, thus allowing you to seek revisions right away.

Generally speaking, female patients under the age of 18 cannot have breast augmentation surgery unless there is an issue of breast deformity.  The problem with younger people is that their body is still maturing and they may not yet fully understand the ramifications of cosmetic plasticsurgery.

It is important to note that even if you are flat-chested at the age of 15, there is still a chance that your breasts will enlarge as years pass by.  And with large implants and ongoing breast development, you may end up having oversized busts that look unnatural and asymmetric to the rest of your body.

Another concern is that patients below the age of 18 are not emotionally mature.  In fact, a study has suggested that teenagers see cosmetic surgery as a way to fit into their crowd.  By contrast, adults seek the procedure to stand out from the rest.

As mentioned earlier, your plastic surgeon may allow you to have breast augmentation at a younger age if you are suffering from certain types of deformity including tuberous breasts in which they appear too pointy because of the unusual structure of their base.

Breast augmentation performed at a younger age may also be necessary if you develop a very large breast on one side while the other is too small or even “absent.”  In general, age is not an issue in reconstructive plastic surgery.

While the US is quite strict when it comes to cosmetic breast augmentation, certain countries allow the procedure on patients as young as 16.  This lower age limit is not acceptable to many American surgeons who believe that the body should be allowed to mature first before any aesthetic or elective surgery is conducted.