Omphemetse Serasengwe is a 17-year-old bubbly teen. She loves school, and is generally a very happy child.
She tackles issues that teenagers face on a daily basis, and takes it all in her stride. However, there is something that adds to the teenage woes that she already faces. No, it is not the societal pressure or peer pressure of boys, drugs and alcohol.
Omphemetse's life has been made difficult by a large bosom that started developing at the age of 12.
Currently, her bra size is a whopping 44 C, and for someone of her petite size, it definitely stands out.
"I do get unwanted attention, but it does not really bother me. I am more concerned by how difficult having this chest makes my life in terms of how tired I can feel sometimes. It is not easy, and definitely affects my back," she says.
Although Omphemetse and her parents never considered breast reduction as an option, the truth is that more and more teenagers with a large chest are undergoing breast surgery to reduce their breasts.
While it may sound fickle and unnecessary, the truth is that some teens develop a very large chest at a young age, and this can have serious implications and lead to them leading a life of back pain, as well as attracting some unwanted attention.
But should you advice your teenager to undergo breast reduction surgery? What are the pros and cons, and is it something they will regret later in life?
We put all these questions to renowned plastic surgeon Dr Saul Braun from the Rosebank Medical & Dental Centre, and he walked us through the actual procedure of breast reduction.
Braun starts off by saying that the youngest age that one can get breast reduction is 16 years old.
"Firstly, the patient determines how small they want to go, but often times the doctor offers some guidance with regards to which size would be appropriate and proportional with their body.
"With regards to the actual procedure, the new nipple height is determined before the operation with the patient standing. The site is then prepared and the nipple is attached to the remaining breast tissue, and lifted into the new portion.
"Excess skin and breast tissue are removed. The suture lines are determined, the dressings are done and the patient is then put into a bra before being woken up," he says.
Braun adds that the average recovery time for the surgery is two weeks, and that with the breast reduction, most patients find that they have a renewed sense of confidence, comfort and increased self-esteem.
But what happens if the young patient changes their mind in the future?
Braun says that unfortunately, once done, one cannot go back.
"The surgery is not reversible, although the patient could opt to have a breast augmentation if they wanted bigger breasts at a later stage, which means that they could choose to add some breast implants if they felt that their reduced breast size was not working for them anymore.
"That is one of the disadvantages of more and more young people having surgery at a young age. Young patients are sometimes not mature enough to make decisions and therefore may have regrets later on."
When it comes to breast-feeding, Braun says that if the procedure is done properly, one should be able to breast-feed even after having breast reduction surgery. He does, however, caution that one should go to a reputable plastic surgeon because although he says the procedure is very safe, possible complications could include bleeding, as well as asymmetry, which means that the breasts won't be the same size.
The procedure costs R70000, which includes the surgeon's fee, the anaesthetist, the hospital and post-operative care.
Some Hollywood celebs who got surgery
More and more Hollywood celebrities are having surgery at a younger age. Here are some Hollywood celebrities who have reportedly gone under the knife:
- Kylie Jenner
Jenner has allegedly gotten lip injections to give her a more plum, fuller and luscious look on her lips.
With millions of fans worldwide, Jenner's fuller lips have inspired many young women to also want poutier lips, this after she posted a how-to video of her using a shot glass and a lot of suction to get the same pout that she has.
- Amanda Bynes
Amanda Bynes has reportedly admitted to getting multiple nose jobs to achieve the look that she desires. She has also allegedly gotten lots of botox to try and get rid of the "webbing between her eyes".
- Kourtney Kardashian
According to reports, Kourtney Kardashian was just 22 years old when she decided to get breast implants. She allegedly went from a B cup to a C cup.
- Janet Jackson
According to the Hollywood rumourmonger, a teenage Jackson went under the knife to get a nose job. Jackson allegedly admitted to this once in an interview, but later went on to refute the reports.
When teens have to nip and tuck
Omphemetse Serasengwe is a 17-year-old bubbly teen. She loves school, and is generally a very happy child.
She tackles issues that teenagers face on a daily basis, and takes it all in her stride. However, there is something that adds to the teenage woes that she already faces. No, it is not the societal pressure or peer pressure of boys, drugs and alcohol.
Omphemetse's life has been made difficult by a large bosom that started developing at the age of 12.
Currently, her bra size is a whopping 44 C, and for someone of her petite size, it definitely stands out.
"I do get unwanted attention, but it does not really bother me. I am more concerned by how difficult having this chest makes my life in terms of how tired I can feel sometimes. It is not easy, and definitely affects my back," she says.
Although Omphemetse and her parents never considered breast reduction as an option, the truth is that more and more teenagers with a large chest are undergoing breast surgery to reduce their breasts.
While it may sound fickle and unnecessary, the truth is that some teens develop a very large chest at a young age, and this can have serious implications and lead to them leading a life of back pain, as well as attracting some unwanted attention.
But should you advice your teenager to undergo breast reduction surgery? What are the pros and cons, and is it something they will regret later in life?
We put all these questions to renowned plastic surgeon Dr Saul Braun from the Rosebank Medical & Dental Centre, and he walked us through the actual procedure of breast reduction.
Braun starts off by saying that the youngest age that one can get breast reduction is 16 years old.
"Firstly, the patient determines how small they want to go, but often times the doctor offers some guidance with regards to which size would be appropriate and proportional with their body.
"With regards to the actual procedure, the new nipple height is determined before the operation with the patient standing. The site is then prepared and the nipple is attached to the remaining breast tissue, and lifted into the new portion.
"Excess skin and breast tissue are removed. The suture lines are determined, the dressings are done and the patient is then put into a bra before being woken up," he says.
Braun adds that the average recovery time for the surgery is two weeks, and that with the breast reduction, most patients find that they have a renewed sense of confidence, comfort and increased self-esteem.
But what happens if the young patient changes their mind in the future?
Braun says that unfortunately, once done, one cannot go back.
"The surgery is not reversible, although the patient could opt to have a breast augmentation if they wanted bigger breasts at a later stage, which means that they could choose to add some breast implants if they felt that their reduced breast size was not working for them anymore.
"That is one of the disadvantages of more and more young people having surgery at a young age. Young patients are sometimes not mature enough to make decisions and therefore may have regrets later on."
When it comes to breast-feeding, Braun says that if the procedure is done properly, one should be able to breast-feed even after having breast reduction surgery. He does, however, caution that one should go to a reputable plastic surgeon because although he says the procedure is very safe, possible complications could include bleeding, as well as asymmetry, which means that the breasts won't be the same size.
The procedure costs R70000, which includes the surgeon's fee, the anaesthetist, the hospital and post-operative care.
Some Hollywood celebs who got surgery
More and more Hollywood celebrities are having surgery at a younger age. Here are some Hollywood celebrities who have reportedly gone under the knife:
- Kylie Jenner
Jenner has allegedly gotten lip injections to give her a more plum, fuller and luscious look on her lips.
With millions of fans worldwide, Jenner's fuller lips have inspired many young women to also want poutier lips, this after she posted a how-to video of her using a shot glass and a lot of suction to get the same pout that she has.
- Amanda Bynes
Amanda Bynes has reportedly admitted to getting multiple nose jobs to achieve the look that she desires. She has also allegedly gotten lots of botox to try and get rid of the "webbing between her eyes".
- Kourtney Kardashian
According to reports, Kourtney Kardashian was just 22 years old when she decided to get breast implants. She allegedly went from a B cup to a C cup.
- Janet Jackson
According to the Hollywood rumourmonger, a teenage Jackson went under the knife to get a nose job. Jackson allegedly admitted to this once in an interview, but later went on to refute the reports.
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