Mother: Breast op teenager will wait

Jenna Franklin: Considering breast implants at 15

The mother of a girl promised breast implants for her 16th birthday has now said her daughter will have to wait another two years.

The surgeon Kay Franklin wanted to carry out the breast enlargement on her daughter Jenna, now 15, believes the girl will be too young for the operation.

Mrs Franklin said she would not be a responsible parent if she did not heed the advice.

At 16 the breast hasn't matured enough. Also, there would be a lot of psychological implications

Anthony Erian
Surgeon

Fierce controversy has surrounded the plan after Mrs Franklin bowed to requests from her daughter, who said she needed the surgery to boost her self-confidence.

But surgeon Anthony Erian from the Cambridge Private Hospital, due to see Jenna, from Warsop Vale, near Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, after her birthday in August, said she was too young.

He said: "I feel at 16 the breast hasn't matured enough. Also, there would be a lot of psychological implications.

"And I also think we have to wait to see what God gives us. Changes happen when she breastfeeds, or when you take the pill, and breasts get bigger.

Surgeon Anthony Erian: 16 'too young'

"If it doesn't change at 18 or 19 then we can think about it."

Mrs Franklin, who has had two breast implant operations, said: "Mr Erian is our preferred choice of surgeon because he is one of the best in his field in the world.

"If he says 16 is too young for Jenna to have the operation then we will respect that and she will have to wait until she is 18.

"I'm sure she may not be happy with that but if we were to do anything else then we wouldn't be responsible parents and we want only the best for her."

You've got to have breasts to be successful

Jenna Franklin

Mrs Franklin had previously said she did not want Jenna to have any "hang-ups" about the way she looked.

And she had said if that meant her daughter having a breast enlargement operation then she would gladly pay the £3,250 fee.

Jenna said earlier told BBC News: "You've got to have breasts to be successful. Every other person you see on television has had implants.

"I used to pray my boobs would grow. Then I just thought, what's the point when I can have implants when I want?"

"I just want to be happy with my body and I think having my breasts enlarged will give me more self-confidence."

Ruth Coppard, a child psychologist form Sheffield, warned Jenna could be storing up problems for the future if the operation goes ahead.

"Emotionally, she is at risk by making a decision now when she's a child that will have long term repercussions that she can't consider yet, she hasn't got the perspective."