Date: Fri, 5 Jan 2001 11:59:58 EST

UK doctor says 15-year-old too young for breast op

LONDON, Jan 5 (Reuters) - A 15-year-old British schoolgirl, offered breast implants as a 16th birthday present from her parents, has been told by surgeons that she is too young to undergo plastic surgery.

Jenna Franklin, whose parents run a cosmetic surgery business, said an operation to increase her breasts would give her more self confidence and make her happy with her body.

But consultant plastic surgeon, Anthony Erian, who was approached by Martin and Kay Franklin to perform surgery on their daughter, said that Jenna - 16 in August - was too young to cope with the implications of the controversial operation.

"Breast augmentation is a good operation, it helps a lot of people," Erian told the BBC. "But I feel at 16 the breast isn't matured enough and that there are also a lot of psychological implications."

Erian said that the family should wait until Jenna is 18 until deciding to go ahead with a breast enhancement.

Jenna's parents said they were happy for their daughter to have the 3,250 pound operation, but added that they would respect Erian's advice.

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

Jenna is scheduled to appear next week on a Channel 4 documentary called "Perfect Breasts."